What was the sister car to the Mitsubishi Starion?
The Mitsubishi Starion was a popular sports car produced from 1982 to 1989, known for its turbocharged engine and sleek, angular design. But did you know that the Starion had a sister car, the Dodge Conquest, which was essentially a rebadged version of the Starion sold in North America?
The Mitsubishi Starion
The Mitsubishi Starion was a rear-wheel-drive sports car that was introduced in 1982. It was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, which gave it impressive performance for the time. The Starion's distinctive wedge-shaped design, with its pop-up headlights and angular body, made it a standout in the sports car market.
The Dodge Conquest
In 1984, Mitsubishi entered into a partnership with Chrysler, and the Starion was rebadged and sold in North America as the Dodge Conquest. Aside from the Dodge branding and some minor styling differences, the Conquest was essentially the same car as the Starion. It shared the same turbocharged engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and distinctive design.
The Relationship Between the Starion and Conquest
The Dodge Conquest was Mitsubishi's way of gaining a foothold in the North American market, where the Starion name was not as well-known. By partnering with Chrysler, Mitsubishi was able to leverage the Dodge brand and distribution network to sell the Starion-based Conquest in the United States and Canada.
Despite their shared underpinnings, the Starion and Conquest had some differences in terms of trim levels, equipment, and pricing. The Conquest was generally seen as the more affordable and accessible version of the sports car, while the Starion was the more premium offering in Mitsubishi's home market of Japan.
Legacy of the Starion and Conquest
The Mitsubishi Starion and Dodge Conquest were both well-received by enthusiasts and critics, and they are now considered classic sports cars from the 1980s. While the Starion was the more iconic and recognizable model, the Conquest played an important role in introducing Mitsubishi's performance capabilities to the North American market.
Today, both the Starion and Conquest are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, with well-maintained examples commanding high prices on the used car market. The partnership between Mitsubishi and Chrysler may have been short-lived, but the legacy of the Starion and Conquest lives on as iconic sports cars from the golden era of Japanese performance.
What is the difference between Starion and Conquest?
The differences between them are strictly cosmetic. Conquests had body color grilles while the Starions have black grilles. Tail lights are different- Conquest tails have many ribs across them while the Starion has fewer. Starions have "TURBO" silkscreened across the top of the hatch glass while Conquests have nothing.
What is the Mitsubishi Starion the same as?
The Starion was marketed in the US as the Mitsubishi Starion and badge engineered variants of it were marketed as the Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler Conquest.
What did Mitsubishi used to be called?
In 1870, Tsukumo Shokai was established with three steamships chartered from the Tosa Clan, and three years later changed its name to Mitsubishi Shokai. The following year its headquarters were moved to Tokyo and the company was renamed Mitsubishi Jokisen Kaisha.
What is the rarest car in history?
The rarest cars in the world
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Estimated value - £56 million.
- 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. Estimated value - £1.1 million.
- 1970 Porsche 917. Estimated value - £13 million.
- 1996 Vector M12. Estimated value - £146,000.
- 1964 Ford GT40. Estimated value - £6 million.
What was the first car to sell $1 million?
1927 Ford Model-T
1927 Ford Model-T. The first car to achieve one million, five million, ten million and fifteen million units sold.
What class did the Mitsubishi Starion race in?
The Starion Competed in WRC and Touring Car Racing
Instead, this four-wheel-drive model won the Experimental class in the 1983 Paris-Dakar rally and competed in France, China, and the Middle East before Mitsubishi moved on from Group B.
Is the Mitsubishi Starion rare?
Almost every car from that decade gets lots of attention today, except for the Mitsubishi Starion. It is quite a rare car to see nowadays and almost always gets confused for either a Toyota Supra or an RX-7.
Are Mitsubishi Starion fast?
The Starion fitted that purpose perfectly. With a top speed of 135 mph and 0-60 in 7.5 seconds, not even the new Porsche 944 could fend off its challenge.
What is the rarest muscle car of all time?
1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible:
With only 11 units produced, the 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible is one of the rarest muscle cars ever made. It boasted a massive 426 cubic inch, 425 horsepower Hemi V8 engine, which delivered unmatched performance and power.
Which Mitsubishi is the fastest?
Topping the speed charts, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ 440 zips from 0-60 MPH in just 3.6 seconds, with a 440-horsepower engine!
