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Oct 22, 2024

That Time Mitsubishi Turned To AMG For Help With Performance

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Normally, when one thinks of AMG, images of souped-up Mercedes-Benzs' with massive wheels and more torque than a piece of earth-moving equipment come to mind. Certainly, delicate and precisely engineered Japanese automobiles don't seem to fit in with AMG's penchant for huge power and loud exhausts. However, just a few decades ago, AMG was hard at work creating something few would ever know about.

Enter late-1980s Mitsubishi. Back then, the now-famous Mitsubishi high-performance sub-brand called Ralliart was still enjoying its relative infancy. The big wigs over at Mitsubishi had aspirations for big power, but weren't quite there yet. So, naturally, they turned to those who were already relatively famous for creating powerful works of art, namely AMG. The German tuning company took the Mitsubishi Galant, a relatively underwhelming sedan, and transformed it into something they thought fit their vision of Japanese performance.

Learn more about the full history and story behind the in-house tuning division of Mercedes-Benz.

The following information pertaining to the Mitsubishi Galant AMG was taken from various sources, mainly historical press material.

When the Mitsubishi Galant AMG's story began in 1989, the Japanese brand wasn't associated with performance. Today, we remember Mitsubishi's exploits in the WRC thanks to their tuning arm, Ralliart, creating some incredibly fast machines for use on rally tracks across the globe. In fact, the Lancer Evolution was still three years off in 1992, but Mitsubishi knew they wanted to get into performance on more than just a surface level, they wanted to be all in.

The decision was made to turn to AMG, which, at that time, wasn't owned by Mercedes-Benz. They were still based in Germany, but were free to choose projects from anybody. It seems Mitsubishi's proposal of a hot Galant caught their attention, and they went for it. After all, AMG had already worked with Mitsubishi once before, on the Mitsubishi Debonair from 1986 to 1989, although the Debonair AMG mainly consisted of just some exterior styling updates and a supercharged engine.

Mitsubishi's vision for the Galant was a bit more grand, although they still wanted it to perform well as an everyday sedan. So, in 1989, the Mitsubishi Galant AMG debuted. Two versions were offered, the Type I and Type II, both offering either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. Powering the hot Galant was an AMG-tuned version of the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Galant GTi-16v and there was, reportedly, plenty of power to get the Galant where you needed it to go while also having a good bit of fun.

Customers who opted for the Type I Galant AMG received a racier version than the Type II, with a raised wing and blacked-out wheels. It also had a more spartan interior, although you could still option leather seats as opposed to the standard cloth buckets. Type IIs looked much more pedestrian, with only subtle AMG badging to give away what was truly going on.

Production lasted for five years, with the final Galant AMGs leaving the factory in late 1994. In total, 1,395 units were produced, with the majority being the Type II variation. Just five years later, Mercedes-Benz would officially purchase a controlling stake in AMG, ending the tuner's ability to work with any other automaker. While this was a good decision on Merc's part, it stopped the possibility of other strange AMG collaborations.

The once mighty Ralliart performance sub-brand is a shell of its former self. Here's what caused its downfall.

Mitsubishi Galant AMG Specs

Engine

AMG-Tuned 2.0-Liter 4G63 Inline-Four

Horsepower

168 hp

Torque

141 lb-ft

0-60 MPH

6.5 Seconds

Top Speed

134 mph

Unlike the Debonair AMG that came before it, AMG actually had its hands deep within the Galant AMG's 4G63 four-pot. Normally, the 4G63 made just 141 horsepower in 1992, which was rather underwhelming even back then. Without a turbocharger, creating significantly more power would prove to be a challenge. It turned out, AMG was just the company for the challenge. AMG was able to squeeze an extra 27 horses out of the 4G63 2.0-liter.

Suddenly, the Galant could run with some of the higher-end mid-sized sedans of the time. It now boasted a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time and a respectable top speed. To create the extra oomph, AMG did away with the weak stock pistons and installed their own, along with a new intake manifold, titanium valve springs, and an upgraded camshaft. Those who opted for the five-speed manual transmission were treated to slightly more power.

One of the AMG-tuned 4G63's party pieces was its 8,000-rpm redline, 500 rpm more than standard. Being able to get more revs out of each gear helps tremendously on a track, as it translates to less shifting and more time on the power.

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We touched on it before, but it's worth discussing the very first AMG-tuned Mitsubishi, the 1986 Debonair AMG. Normally, the Debonair was a model reserved for those who were getting on a bit, and its appearance reflected that. AMG saw potential in its looks, however, and set about securing some Debonairs to receive a makeover. After all, Mitsubishi was more than happy to supply them, as the Japanese automaker was enjoying an excess in cash caused by the 1985 Plaza Accord Price Bubble.

Between 1986 and 1989, 313 Debonair AMGs were built, with all of them receiving the same cosmetic enhancements, which consisted of a new grille, ground effects, different wheels, and a rear spoiler. The Debonair AMG also boasted a supercharged 2.0-liter 4G63 four-pot, which put out 195 horses with ease. Sadly, we can't source any other reliable performance figures for the Debonair AMG.

We all know of AMG these days, thanks to their exclusive relationship with Mercedes-Benz. It's hard to think of AMG not being attached to Merc's hip. Their affinity for taking relatively tame motors and forcing them to create mountains of power is a new feat in the grand scheme of things. Just take a look at some of Mercedes-AMG's current offerings, like the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance, which creates 671 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain.

We can't forget about others like the Mercedes-AMG One, which is one of the most impressive feats of automotive engineering. Recently, the AMG ONE broke its own lap record around the Nürburgring with a time of 6:29.090. In short, if it weren't for Mercedes-Benz and its endless wads of cash, AMG might not be the colossus it is today.

Sources:CarThrottle.com, CarsAndBids.com

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