Mitsubishi Starion
Japanese turbocharged coupé with electronic fuel injection and rear-wheel drive.
The Mitsubishi Starion, a two-door fastback coupé with seating for four, was built by Mitsubishi from 1982 to 1989. In North America, badge-engineered versions were sold as the Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth Conquest. Its front-mounted straight-four engine drove the rear wheels, and turbocharging was available on some models. The Starion was among the first modern Japanese turbocharged performance cars to feature electronic fuel injection.
Mitsubishi launched the Starion in 1982, joining a wave of Japanese grand tourer sports cars that included the Nissan Z cars, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra, and, to a lesser extent, the Honda Prelude, Isuzu Piazza, and Subaru XT. In the US, it was sold as the Mitsubishi Starion, while badge-engineered variants were the Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler Conquest. In the UK, it was called the Colt Starion.
The car came in two body styles: narrowbody and widebody. The narrower version complied with Japanese regulations that taxed larger vehicles and engines over two liters. Only the narrowbody was offered through the 1985.5 model year. The widebody’s introduction split the lineup into a non-intercooled, lower-horsepower narrowbody and a high-performance intercooled widebody. In most markets, widebody cars were labeled Starion ESI-R or Conquest TSi; markets without the widebody used the ESI-R label for cars with similar performance. Widebody models were sold in the US from 1986 to 1989. The Starion appeared in the 1984 film *Cannonball Run II*, driven by Jackie Chan.
Mitsubishi states that “Starion” is a contraction of “Star of Arion,” referencing both a star and the mythical horse Arion. The original Japanese sales brochure (May 1982) explained the name as combining “star” and Arion, Hercules’ horse in Greek mythology, to symbolize the universe, power, and high performance. Some sources suggest the name came from Japanese engineers struggling to pronounce “stallion.” An early Japanese TV commercial showed a stallion’s head with “Starion” below it, and one translation of the voiceover mentions a star and Arion. The Mitsubishi Colt and Eclipse also had equine names, with the Eclipse named after a champion racehorse, suggesting a possible layered pun.
The Starion used a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Many models came standard with a limited-slip differential and single-channel rear-only anti-lock brakes.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Mitsubishi Motors
- Production
- 1982–1989
- Model Years
- 1983–1989
- Predecessor
- Mitsubishi Galant Lambda GSR
- Successor
- Mitsubishi GTO/Dodge Stealth / Plymouth Laser/Eagle Talon / Mitsubishi Eclipse
- Class
- Sports car
- Platform
- FR layout
- Engine
- 2.0 L G63B I4 · 2.0 L G63B turbo I4 · 2.6 L G54B turbo I4
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual · 4-speed automatic
- Wheelbase
- 2435 mm
- Length
- 4410 mm (1982–87) · 4400 mm (1988–90)
- Height
- 1320 mm (1982–87) · 1275 mm (1988–89)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mitsubishi began marketing the Starion in 1982, during a period when several Japanese grand tourer sports cars were available, including the Nissan Z cars, Mazda RX-7, and Toyota Supra. The Starion was marketed in the US as the Mitsubishi Starion and badge engineered variants were sold as the Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler Conquest. In the UK it was sold as the Colt Starion. The car was manufactured in two body configurations: a narrowbody and a widebody. The narrower style complied with Japanese exterior dimension regulations taxing larger vehicles and engine displacement exceeding two liters. Only the narrowbody was offered through the 1985.5 model year. The introduction of the widebody split the car into two ranges: a non-intercooled lower-horsepower car using the narrow body style and a high-performance intercooled widebody. In most markets, widebody cars were given the label of Starion ESI-R or Conquest TSi. Widebody cars were offered in 1986–1989 model years in the US.
Reader's Guide
The Starion's significance lies in its role as an early Japanese turbocharged performance car with electronic fuel injection, competing alongside other Japanese grand tourers of the era. Its chassis was derived from the Mitsubishi Sapporo or Galant Lambda sports coupé, with MacPherson strut suspension and sway bars front and rear. Engine capacity differed between markets: American customers received the larger 2.6 L Astron engine, while most markets received the 2.0 L Sirius engine. Both engines produced roughly the same horsepower, with the 2.6 L having a slight torque advantage and the 2.0 L a higher redline. Reporters of the time considered the 2.0 L peaky and exciting, while the American market 2.6 L had plenty of torque but was less rewarding. The Starion was featured in the 1984 movie Cannonball Run II, with Jackie Chan at the wheel. Later upgrades included an intercooler, five-lug wheels replacing four-bolt wheels, rear power train changes from four- to six-bolt axles, and various fuel management and transmission upgrades. For the 1989 model year, an optional handling package was added, referred to by Mitsubishi as the 'Sports Handling Package' and by Chrysler as the 'Performance Handling Package', commonly called SHP.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Starion' is a contraction of 'Star of Arion', referring to both a star and the mythical horse Arion.
- The Starion was one of the first modern Japanese turbocharged performance automobiles with electronic fuel injection.
- A naturally aspirated version called the GX was offered in Japan, without power windows, air conditioning, independent rear suspension, fuel injection, or power-assisted steering.
- The drag coefficient was around 0.32, superior to the Mazda RX-7 and the Nissan 300ZX upon its release.
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