Mitsubishi Diamante
| Mitsubishi Diamante | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors |
| Also called | Mitsubishi Sigma, Mitsubishi Verada,Mitsubishi Magna |
| Production | 1990–2004 |
| Predecessor | Mitsubishi Sigma (For North America) |
| Class | Full-size |
The Mitsubishi Diamante was first introduced to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989, and went on sale in Japan in May 1990. It became the second generation Magna, replacing the widened 1983 Galant Sigma manufactured and sold in Australia as a Mitsubishi Verada (the 1987 Galant was downsized, thus leaving a gap in the product range for the Diamante).
There have been rumors that the Diamante was either not intended for a Japanese launch, or it might have been planned as a low-volume model. The reason for this argument is that until 1989, the width of vehicles was a vital indication of taxation class. The Diamante, being wider than the 1700 mm break, would have suffered a large tax penalty against most of its rivals, which were designed to be just under limit. At the time, Mitsubishi's image was also considered less than ideal for the marketing of a luxury car—its most expensive offering that the time, the Debonair, was largely seen as a company car project for Mitsubishi conglomerate executives.
However, the tax situation had changed in 1989, and the Diamante became the surprise hit of 1990. Amidst Japan's bubble economy, many private car owners sought an executive car in a market that had very few new offerings that year.
First generation
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Production | 1990–1996 |
| Assembly | Nagoya, Japan Adelaide, Australia |
| Body style(s) | 4-door station wagon 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | 2.0 L V6 2.5 L 6G73 V6 3.0 L 6G72 V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | Sedan: 2720 mm (107.1 in) Wagon: 2723 mm (107.2 in) |
| Length | Sedan: 4830 mm (190.2 in) 4886 mm (192.4 in) |
| Width | 1775 mm (69.9 in) |
| Height | Sedan: 1335 mm (52.6 in) Wagon: 1470 mm (57.9 in) |
The Japanese market Diamante was a four-door hardtop with no window sashes. Five months after the Diamante's launch, Mitsubishi also introduced the Sigma, which was different from the Diamante in a slightly taller roofline, side window graphics, window sashes, and front/rear treatment.
In Japan, the Diamante was available with 3 V6 engines (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 L) of the 6G7x family; all wheel drive was available on most models. Perhaps contrary to its overseas image, Mitsubishi at the time fully emphasized the use of electronic gadgets in its cars, and the Diamante is notable for a long list of such features. This generation won the Japan Car of the Year award in 1990. The Diamante was first sold in 1992 in the United States, replacing the Sigma, which was based on previous generation Mitsubishi Galants.
In Australia, Magna station wagons had been sold there since the 1980s; like that car, a station wagon based on the Diamante/Sigma was exported back into Japan.
The First Generation Diamante is equivalent to the second generation Magna and Verada. The first generation Diamante is the car upon which the second generation Magna/Verada is based.
The first generation Diamante came in three versions:
Four-side window sedan: Unlike the Magna/Verada this Diamante did not have the rear quarter windows. The only side glass was that in the doors. All of these vehicles were built in Nagoya in Japan and were intended for the Japanese domestic market.
Six-side window sedan: Much the same as the Second Generation Magna/Verada. Built in Australia. Wagon: Introduced in 1993, again the same as Magna/Verada and built in Australia.
Japanese spec
The Japanese spec Diamante was built from 1990 until 1995 and was available in front and all-wheel drive.
Front wheel drive
The Front wheel drive Diamantes utilise MacPherson front suspension with a multiple link arrangement in the rear. The rear suspension is also unlike the Magna/Verada, the Diamante being independent.
The FWD Diamante is available with a range of engines, some also with 5 speed manual in addition to 4 speed automatic transmission.
20E
The 20E is the base model Diamante. It has a frame number of E-F11A. It comes with a 2.0 Litre 6G71 SOHC 24 valve V6 engine outputting 91 kW (122 hp) at 5500 rpm and 172 N·m (127 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm. It is available as both a 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic.
Standard equipment includes power windows, rpm sensitive power steering, power mirrors, climate control and a 4 speaker AM/FM radio with cassette.
The 20E sits atop 195/70R14 tyres with steel rims.
Optional are a rear wiper and alloy wheels.
25E
The 25E has the same features as the 20E but replaces the 20E's 2.0 Litre engine with a 2.5 Litre unit. The 25E's 2.5 Litre 6G73 DOHC V6 engine, outputs 129 kW (173 hp) @ 6000 rpm and 222 N·m (164 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm.
The 25E has a frame number of E-F13A.
25V
The next model in the tall Diamante model ladder is the 25V. The 25V is almost the same as the 25E, although is identified with a different frame number (E-F15A) It uses the same 2.5 Litre 6G73 DOHC V6 engine, outputting 129 kW (173 hp) @ 6000 rpm and 222 N·m (164 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm. It is only available in 4-speed automatic.
The 25V has everything the 20E has with 205/65R15 tyres on alloy wheels, speed sensitive power steering, leather wrapped steering wheel and ventilated rear brake discs for maximum braking performance.
Optional is a rear wiper.
25V-SE
The 25V-SE is the top of the range 2.5 Litre Diamante variant. As with its lower variants the 2.5 Litre 6G73 DOHC V6 engine is used. As with the 25V upon which it is based, it is only available as an automatic.
It features everything of the 25V and adds ABS, traction control and electric seats.
Optional is the rear wiper and leather interior.
It is identified by the same E-F17A frame number as the 25V.
30V
The 30V is the base 3.0 Litre FWD Diamante. It comes with a 3.0 Litre 6G72 DOHC V6 outputting 154 kW (207 hp) a 6000 rpm and 270 N·m (199 ft·lbf) at 3000 rpm. It is only available in automatic.
The 30V features everything of the 25V and adds cruise control, remote central locking traction control, 6 speaker AM/FM cassette player and traction control. Leather interior and rear wiper remain optional.
The frame number of the 30V is E-F17A.
30R
The 30R is the middle of the 3.0 Litre FWD Diamante range. It uses the 3.0 Litre 6G72 DOHC V6 outputting 154 kW (207 hp) a 6000 rpm and 270 N·m (199 ft·lbf) at 3000 rpm. As with all higher spec Diamantes it is available in automatic only.
Strangely the 30R, which sold for 40,000 yen more than the 30V has everything of the 30V except traction control and ABS. It seems the only addition is a front spoiler.
The 30R is identified with the same E-F17A frame number.
30R-SE
The 30R-SE is the pinnacle of the FWD Diamante range. It uses the same 3.0 Litre V6 as the 30R/30V and again is automatic only.
The 30R-SE has everything of the 30V as well being lowered by 10 mm (0.4 in) with Active Electronic Control Suspension. It is also given the front spoiler of the 30R.
It also shares the frame number of E-F17A with the other two 30 FWDs.
AWD Variants
All-wheel drive Diamantes come in three models, the 25V 4WD, 30R 4WD and the flagship 30R-SE 4WD. All have McPherson strut front suspension with double wishbones at the rear. Both front and rear brake discs are ventilated. The AWD Diamante sits 5 mm (0.2 in) lower than a standard FWD Diamante and has a 70 Litre fuel tank instead of the FWD's 72 Litre tank. All are available only as 4 speed automatic.
25V 4WD
The 25V 4WD is the entry level Diamante with AWD. It has a frame number of E-F25A.
The 25V comes with a 2.5 Litre 6G73 DOHC V6 engine, outputting 129 kW (173 hp) @ 6000 rpm and 222 N·m (164 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm.
Standard equipment includes speed sensing power steering, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control, leather steering wheel, alloy wheels, remote central locking, climate control and a 4 speaker AM/FM radio with cassette plater. Optional is full leather interior and a rear wiper.
30R-SE 4WD
The 30R-SE 4WD is the flagship of the Diamante range. It has the frame number of E-F27A as it is the same basic vehicle as the 30R.
The only difference between the 30R-SE and 30R is the addition of a CD player.
Australian Specification
The Australian built Diamantes all had six-side windows (one in each door and one in the rear pillar) and includes station wagons. These were exported around the world after 1992.
Diamantes in the U.S.
Mitsubishi Motors North America seemed to have sourced their Diamantes from both Australia and Japan. It was available in two trim levels, both front-wheel drive and automatic only.
ES
The ES corresponds roughly to the Ei Verada. It uses the 12 valve 6G72 SOHC 3.0 Litre V6, same as the Magna/Verada of the time.
Standard equipment includes central locking, driver's airbag, power windows and power mirrors. Optional is ABS, cruise control, alloys and sunroof.
When the Diamante was facelifted in 1994, the ES received passenger side airbag and cruise control as standard.
LS
The LS corresponds roughly to the Xi Verada. It uses a 6G72 DOHC 3.0 Litre V6 engine.
The LS comes with everything of the ES and adds alloy wheels, cruise control and ABS to the standard equipment list. A manual sunroof and leather was also optional.
As with the ES, when facelifted in 1994, the feature list changed. The manual sunroof was deleted from the option list and replaced with CD Player, traction control and power sunroof. A passenger side airbag became standard.
Second generation
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Production | 1995–2004 |
| Assembly | Adelaide, Australia |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Engine(s) | 2.5 6G73 V6 3.0 L 6G72 V6 3.5 L 6G74 V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2720 mm (107.1 in) (1995-2003) 2720 mm (107.2 in) (2004) |
| Length | 4930 mm (194.1 in) (1995-2003) 4980 mm (196 in) (2004) |
| Width | 1785 mm (70.3 in) |
| Height | 1370 mm (56.5 in) (1995-2001 & 2004) 53.9 in (1369 mm) (2002-03) |
The second iteration of the Diamante was introduced in Japan in January 1995. The car was marginally larger with improved headroom.
Several engines were available. The base engine was a 2.5 L MVV (lean burn) V6, followed by a number of 2.5 and 3.0 liter variants. The new Diamante range topped off with a 3.0 L MIVEC V6 rated at 270 hp.
The gadget trend continued with the new Diamante, including a distance/lane-keeping system that tracked lanes and the car ahead using a set of radar and camera (this was first introduced on the 1992 Debonair). Satellite navigation featured prominently on the center console, and for the first time, a 5-speed automatic transmission was installed in a transverse drivetrain, complete with the Tiptronic-style INVECS-II technology.
The Sigma model was eliminated and not renewed for a second generation, due to poor sales in Japan; most Sigmas sold became taxis and patrol cars.
For Australian market, the new Diamante (Verada) debuted in 1997. The 1997 Diamante went into production in Adelaide, Australia. The very first 1997 Verada rolled off the assembly line on July 1, 1996.
In the latter years of its life, the Diamante range was reduced to a single engine offering in Japan, first a 3.5 L GDI V6 (the first of its kind), and then a conventional 2.5 L V6.
The exterior was refreshed for 2002, and then again for 2004, the last year of the Diamante. Mitsubishi ceased to import the Diamante to North America after 2004 due to a decline in sales and unfavourable exchange rates. The U.S. market Galant grew in size, and was replaced by the upper-end GTS trim of the Galant. In Canada, the Diamante was only sold in 2004.
On June 15, 2005, Mitsubishi announced it would halt production on larger sedans within Japan by December, including the Diamante and the Galant.
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