1994-1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

Pros :
- V8-matching power from twin turbo V6.
- Superb all-wheel-drive handling.
- Good braking power.
- Standard luxury interior features.
- Aggressive and eye-catching exterior.

Cons :
- Manual transmission could be smoother.
- Super-cramped interior with barely any headroom.
- Outward visibility severely limited.
- Weighs as much as a 747 - relatively speaking.
- No new model planned.

Interior :

---

---

Press Coverage :
The Mitsubishi 3000GT first came out way back in 1990, and the VR-4 was one of the most advanced sports cars in the world at the time. Redesigned in 1994, the 3000GT VR-4, along with the Japanese-market Nissan Skyline GT-R, were the Asian equivalent of American muscle cars - big, heavy and packing tons of power. The premise behind the 3000GT and Skyline, however, were different from the average Mustang Cobra and Corvette. Firstly, the Japanese cars packed twin turbo engines with no more than six cylinders, unlike American V8s. Secondly, they had all-wheel-drive, compared to American rear-wheel-drives. And finally, the Japanese packed more technology into their cars, like four-wheel steering, but they also cost more.
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, at a price of about $40,000 when new, cost less than a Motorex-imported used Skyline GT-R, but it was still as expensive as a Corvette, and way more than a Camaro Z28 and Mustang Cobra. The last year for the 3000GT to be offered in the United States was in 1999, although it continued to be sold in Japan under the "GTO" moniker till 2001. By then, the 3000GT had become bloated with too much technology for its own good. All-wheel-drive combined with four-wheel-steering is heavy and expensive. Additional, but largely pointless, features such as adjustable exhaust and variable aerodynamics, were offered sometime in the mid-90s, but dropped by the time the '99 model came out. These features can be considered pointless because most buyers probably never messed with the factory settings anyway.
Acceleration is the VR-4's strong point. It can sprint to 60 mph in about the same time as a C5 Corvette, with the help of 320 turbocharged horses, 315 lb-ft of low-rev torque and the advanced all-wheel-drive system. A great alternative to FWD nitro-Civics and Firebirds when it comes to dragstrip duty.
ModernRacer.com

The 3000GT is decidedly not for everyone, but it still offers a combination of performance capabilities and luxury not matched by anything else currently available. The AWD system, for instance, keeps it glued to the road during hard launches and around tight corners. You won't find this level of pure stick with the Corvette or BMW M-cars, especially if the road surface is uneven and/or slippery.
Backing up the AWD system is a four-wheel steering design that turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front at lower speeds. This makes low-speed maneuvers easier, but doesn't add much to high-speed handling traits. As with the earlier Honda Preludes, four-wheel steering has proved more expensive to develop and produce than its real-world benefits can justify. Once the 3000GT goes away, we don't expect to see this technology again on a regular production vehicle sold in the U.S.
Additional performance gimmicks, like adjustable suspension, adjustable exhaust and active aerodynamics, have been pulled from the 3000GT since its introduction nine years ago. What's left is a capable grand touring car that can snap your head back under acceleration or cradle you in comfort (as long as you aren't too tall).
"How capable?" you ask. Whatever may be wrong with the 3000GT VR4, and there is plenty wrong with it, you can't deny its sheer performance pedigree.
And since the VR4 is marketed as a "Grand Tourer," not a sportscar, its list of standard luxury equipment reads like a grocery list from "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." These include an Infinity audio system w/CD that offers some of the best sound we've heard inside of an automobile, plush leather seating surfaces, automatic climate control, power everything, and remote keyless entry. While a Corvette's base price is just under $40,000, equipping one with the same level of comfort features that come standard on a VR4 would easily make up the difference.
For insurance purposes, the car is officially listed as a four-passenger sport coupe, but sticking people in the rear seat of a 3000GT was recently outlawed under the Eighth Amendment. There's also pathetically little storage space in the rear hatch area, even for a performance car.
When all is said and done, the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 proves that even the best automotive designs need to be updated eventually. The "performance car bar" has been raised drastically since 1991 and the 3000GT just can't compete. It still offers great performance, but it is by no means a great performance car. Maybe if you're less than six feet tall, drive in less than perfect weather conditions on a regular basis, have lots of cash, and don't mind removing ugly wings and filling the screw holes with body filler, the 3000GT is worth considering. Otherwise, wait for Audi's TT Coupe with Quattro drive, or spend another 40 grand and get the new Porsche Carrera C4.
Edmunds.com

MacPherson struts up front employ negative offset steering geometry for better braking stability. The VR-4's rear suspension is a double wishbone arrangement. The VR-4 also has 4-wheel steering. Toe-control links in the rear suspension induce toe-in for greater stability when cornering and under hard braking and acceleration. It does this by adjusting the toe, or alignment, up to 1.5 degrees, steering the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels. This only occurs at 31 mph or faster. Big four-wheel vented disc brakes slow the VR-4 down. ABS is standard. The four-wheel-drive system consists of a center differential with a limited-slip viscous coupling; the rear differential also uses a viscous coupling. The normal torque split front/rear is 45/55 respectively so that the VR-4 has rear-drive bias under normal conditions. If slip occurs, torque is sent to the tires with greater traction.
It's impossible to spin the tires for a dry pavement drag race start with so much traction from the all-wheel-drive. Therefore, finesse is required with the clutch and throttle pedal for quick getaways. Once rolling, the VR-4 accelerates quickly through the gears and the driver must shift quickly to keep up. The shift lever is a stub and the throws are short. There's some resistance going into each gear and the shift pattern is narrow, so it takes a little experience to avoid missing gears on fast starts.
Fast as it is, the VR-4 is more sports car than dragster. With so much rubber on the road and all-wheel drive, the 3000GT VR-4 digs out of corners regardless of road conditions. A little sand at the apex? No problem. Some runoff flowing across the road? Got it handled. The VR-4 gets a grip on the pavement and won't let go. No doubt the 4-wheel steering has some effect, though from the driver's seat it's impossible to know. Operation is totally transparent. The VR-4 always goes where it's pointed and the rack-and-pinion steering provides right-now response.
The 3000GT VR-4 is a great touring machine for two. The suspension is firm, but it absorbs expansion joints with aplomb. Wind noise is absent, though some tire noise gets through. The 3000GT is stable under hard braking, a benefit of the four-wheel steering, which maintains alignment of the rear wheels as the rear end of the car raises.
Nctd.com

---

---

History:
1991-1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
2,972 cc / 300 hp / 307 lb-ft / 3803 lbs / 0-60 mph 5.5 sec.