Mitsubishi Starion 1982
Yes, genuinely named because of a linguistic mix-up with ‘Stallion’ but the pointy-nosed coupe was great to drive and properly fast for its day, as well as debuting such high-technology as four-wheel-steering. Finnish rally ace Pentti Arikkala made his Starion dance on the Circuit Of Ireland back in the day…
Mitsubishi Galant EA1 1996
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Previous Galants had been dishwater-dull but in 1996, the EA1 version came along and all that was forgotten. Easily as good looking as a contemporary BMW 5 Series, the Galant was also pretty decent to drive and in VR4 turbocharged form, properly quick. Mitsubishi never really replaced it, more’s the shame.
Mitsubishi Colt 1987
The Colt has also been frequently uninspiring, but in '87 along came a relatively sleek, three-door hatch version that was essentially a copy of the eighties Honda Civic, but a good copy. Reliable, agile and fun to drive. In Colt terms, it's never been bettered.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V 1998
Part of a flurry of nineties rally-stage homologation specials, the Lancer Evo V was among the fastest and most furious cars ever to escape the gravel stages. Never as famous as the rival Subaru Impreza, in the hands of Tommi Makkinen, it was unbeatable in the World Rally Championship and blisteringly fast in road-going form too.
Mitsubishi Pajero 1982
The original Pajero was conceived as a rival to the Series III Land Rover and Toyota Land Cruiser and it did that job with aplomb, kicking off 34 years of continuous 4x4 excellence. Along the way it got bigger, comfier, more luxurious and racing versions came to dominate the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally. Yet even today it remains a proper off-roader, able to mud plug with the best of them. And it's surely one of the most reliable cars ever.
Mitsubishi iMIEV 2009
Possibly the most oddball car Mitsubishi has ever built, as it looks like a cross between a small personal pod-train and some kind of iridescent insect, but the iMIEV is hugely influential. It was the first production car to showcase Mitsubishi’s electric car expertise and the first electric car you could actually buy (well, lease) in Ireland. Performance is limited compared to more modern battery cars but the potential was both clear and huge.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2012
Arguably this was the first truly accepted plugin hybrid, and as such a hugely significant car. The Outlander PHEV’s biggest trick wasn’t its ability to go 50km on a full battery charge, nor its tax-friendly ultra-low Co2 figure. No, the most important thing was that here was a part-electric car that cost only very slightly more than its diesel equivalent. A genuine ground-breaker.
