The Mitsubishi GTO, renamed in some markets as Mitsubishi 3000GT, was built between 1990-2001. It was the Asian equivalent of the American muscle car; big and heavy with lots of power, it was the most advanced sports car in 1990. It had more technology, like four-wheel steering but at a heavy price of $40,000 it was as expensive as the Corvette and more than the Camaro Z28 or the Mustang Cobra. The Mitsubishi GTO was also sold in North America by Chrysler as the Dodge Stealth from 1991-1996.
The Mitsubishi GTO featured American muscle car styling, all wheel drive, 320 turbocharged horses and 315 lb-ft of low-rev torque that made it a terrific alternative to the nitro-Civics and Firebirds on the drag strip. Built to compete with the Mazda RX7 and other sports cars, it was the star of the Mitsubishi line.
Its superb acceleration and superior cornering were undoubtedly its best features; the all wheel drive kept it glued to the road around tight corners even on uneven or slippery surfaces, surpassing the performance of Corvette or BMW. However, the 4-wheel steering that turned the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels compromised high-speed handling even though it made low-speed maneuvers easier.
Pop-up headlights, automatically adjusting front and rear spoilers, the 3.0 litre V6 turbocharged engine, 6-speed manual transmission and 155mph top speed made it a popular sports car during its prime. At 3760 pounds curb weight, however, it was a bit too heavy but very stable with its 97.2” wheelbase and a breaking distance of 125 ft. from 60-0mph.
