Mitsubishi plans four-paw Diamante

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Mitsubishi is trumpeting the sporty Diamante VR-X as the leader of its large car pack for 2001.

The updated six-model Diamante range has just gone on sale in New Zealand.

It gets power and torque lifts thanks to a revised camshaft and free-flow exhaust system in the reworked 3.5-litre V6 engine.

Five of the six models produce a healthy 150kW at 5500 rpm and 300Nm of pulling power at 4000 rpm, directed to the front wheels through a four-speed electronic transmission.

The sporty new $47,500 VR-X, with its colour-coded kit and rear spolier, puts out 163kW at 5500 rpm and 317Nm at 4000 rpm, delivered, for the first time in the Diamante range, through a five-speed manual/automatic transmission.

A brief drive shows the modified multi-link rear suspension gives the car a ride/handling balance far improved over the old Sport model.

But the extra oomph comes not at the expense of economy. Mitsubishi says it has changed the engine management system to improve fuel consumption by about five per cent over the previous model.

But while the carmaker - which has received much unwanted international publicity over claims its head office in Japan ignored customer complains - is applauding everything about the Diamante, it is keeping to itself plans to turn the 163kW VR-X into a 180kW all-wheel-drive flyer.

Engineers in Japan and at the carmaker's plant in South Australia are already working on getting an extra 17kW out of the Diamante's V6 engine and fitting an all-wheel-drive system to the front-drive sedan.

The addition of a Diamante equipped with subdued Evo XI dynamics is part of the carmaker's plan to lift its image through flexible option packages.

For example, the VR-X has just arrived in New Zealand but already Mitsubishi is planning improvements to go with its new policy.

The first update is expected to offer as an option the new 180kW engine and a limited-slip differential to complement the current model's traction control, standard on all models except the Advance sedan and station wagon.

"We aim to change the perception of the Diamante range and the new VR-X is the model which will allow us to do that," said Mitsubishi marketing boss Mike Alexander. "There is no doubt this car is a major advance on the previous Sport model, and out of developments on this car we are developing an option programme for other models in the range."

One of the options will be a LPG kits for the two Advance models.Standard equipment in the Diamante includes air-conditioning, stereo with CD player, ABS anti-lock brakes and dual airbags. Interior trim differs according to models. The price ranges from $42,300 to $53,300.