Next Generation Mitsubishi Galant?
October 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
In 1996 Mitsubishi Australia stopped imports of the company’s Japanese built Galant, moving focus to the Magna. Mitsubishi then built the 380 (Magna replacement) using the Galant platform. So its exciting to see Mitsubishi has developed a new platform.
There is a minor possibility that the Concept-ZT Sedan, – which will début at the Tokyo Motor Show next week – could be the next-generation global Galant sedan.
The Concept-ZT Sedan is powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine delivering 142kW of power and 400Nm of torque. The engine is coupled to Mitsubishi’s Sport Shift Transmission with power going to all four wheels.
We say a minor possibility because Robert Chadwick, Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s Corporate Communications manager, told CarAdvice the Concept-ZT remains just a concept at this stage.
Regarding the future of the company’s large car, the 380, Mr Chadwick said the model is pulling its weight in the Mitsubishi lineup, emphasising the very competitive and reduced market sector.
Our focus for the 380, like all our range, is on improving the market share. We are never satisfied with the share any of our range commands but our steady growth in past months is encouraging. Mr Chadwick said
With the shrinking large car segment, the reintroduction of the medium-sized Galant might be on the cards for the Japanese manufacturer.
There has been a lot of talk about the future of the 380 in recent months and 2008 will put even more pressure on the struggling model. The arrival of the all-new Ford Falcon will make the 380 the oldest model in the segment.
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Nice looking concept, but that because it resembles audi.
I am pretty sure the current 380 IS the Galant that is sold in the states, just renamed for our market. So technically we still get the Galant then??
Yes thats right alec,
its based on the U.S. Galant platform.
Not sure about the look… personally I think the front of the 380 looks good (could do with some projectors) its just the rear that is a major let down.
Toyota manages to sell both the Camry and Aurion in Australia, they are basically the same car. I’m sure Mitsubishi would have no problem doing the same thing.
I reckon the front is quite good, 142kW out of a 2.2L turbo diesel is very good as well. But the arse end of the car is very American, in that most US designed cars have that downwards sloping boot, so it looks like some fat bloke sat on the boot lid and it drooped down.
I don’t know if it is US designed or not, but i saw it and the first thing i thought was ‘American’. I may very well be crazy though, i’ve just always seen that design idea as american.
toyota get away with the camry and aurion because camry is technically a middle-sized car and the aurion is a large car. The 380 is a large car, so this would have to be smaller to fit in their line-up.
I much prefer the current galant/380. The Aussie 380 is based on the US Galant. They changed something,ike 70% of it…spending $600mill (the same Toyota spent on the Aurion). The 380 is so underated. I have driven many a car in my day including the VE and BF falcon and it is better than all.
I’ve seen a lot more series 3 380’s on the road recently, its not a bad looking car at all. I’ve never driven it though, but I’m glad people are buying them, sales seem to be going up
right on tom,
it must be an american thing because the camry and taurus also have similar bootlines. “looks like someoone sat on it”
yeah i hope they do well, underrated is definately the word for the 380. it is easily the best value in its class.
not bad power figures out of a 2.2 diesel.
out of a 3.0L diesel toyota only gets 120kw and 340nm (roughly)
Hey Nick,
I don’t know where the 600 million went, are you sure it wasn’t 60-100 million?? It has the exact same sheet metal as the USA Galant except for front bumber and grille. The interior is also very similar. But I agree it is a good car.
There’s something vaguely deja-vu about Mitsubishi’s new view of the future. This is nothing like as interesting as the EVO-X concept which led to the spunky new Lancer. Have they lost their new-found nerve? If this is the new 380 they are dead.
Mitsubishi 380 – fantastic car dressed up in boring styling. NEVER let yanks do the design stuff.. it just never ever works
the diesel output is Ok but not as good as a BMW 3.0tdi they are more like 170KW. Even my crappy 3.0CDTI Vectra produces 138KW. Come on Mitsu push harder.
I find the Mitsu a bit boring to look at really but then hey I’m in euroland with nice Beemers, Mercs and Audi’s everywhere
Would be great if it had EvoX specs, with a bigger motor. Need more Modeo/Vectra sized cars with AWD and DCT.
uk guido, its a 2.2L engine, of course a 3L engine produces more power.
The new concept looks nice. I am certain the new concept zt is the replacement for Galant/380 or the medium car to compete against the Camry, yes it will get more refined by the time it reaches production stage. It will probably be used to update the US Galant in 2009. Also Mitsu might do the Camry Aurion thing with the Concept zt with slight smaller car with 4cyl Petrol or diesel and the larger car with the V6. The future Mitsu Models will be global models like the lancer, Outlander. From what I have read on the net the future Galants will be a global model to save engineering costs.
Looks like a combination of the new Lancer and an Audi. I like it.
alec Says:
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Hey Nick,
I don’t know where the 600 million went, are you sure it wasn’t 60-100 million?? It has the exact same sheet metal as the USA Galant except for front bumber and grille. The interior is also very similar. But I agree it is a good car.
No, seriously 600 million was spent. Did you ever think that maybe not all of it was spent on the car but where the car was made? It was on a new platform so most of the cash would have been spent on upgrading the tonsley park factory which the abc still likes to make up bs and state that it will close. The rest of the cash was spent on redesigning the engine, materials, ect…
About time you guys put this article up. If I recall correctly, I sent you guys a message about this article some time ago and you didn’t even post a thankyou message at the end of the article. Not impressed.
if this were to be the next 380/galant, im sure that it would be an excellent car. it is bigger overall than the 380 and is roaming into falcon/commodore size. im sure also that if they added the mivec setup to the current 3.8lt V6 and dropped that under the hood and this new diesel engine im pretty sure it would be a fantastic competitor to falcon/commodore, not saying it isnt now.
keep up the good work mitsu