Mitsubishi

Following its launch of an entirely new Galant saloon earlier 1988, Mitsubishi has added two more mod­els, one of which is a turbocharged 1.8-litre diesel.

Mitsubishi's diesel is a four-cylinder engine with twin counter-rotating balance shafts for added smoothness, though the benefit seems less notice­able than on the higher-revving pet­rol engine. The unit is transversely mounted and inclined forwards by 10 deg to allow longer inlet-manifold tracts.

There is the usual slight delay in turbocharger response, but the engine spins up quickly to diminish the effect. Turbocharged diesels can be slower to start, but Mitsubishi fits what it calls a " super-quick-glow" system to give prompt starting with less pre-heat time.

The turbocharged diesel's max­imum power is 74 h. p., giving a top speed of 101 m.p.h. and acceleration to 60 m.p.h. in 14.5 sec.

The appeal of the Mitsubishi is boosted by the unlimited mileage three-year warranty included as stan­dard. The Galant is, at £ 10.799, quite expensive, but used on high-mileage work should offer low overall trans­port cost in relation to its size and car­rying capacity. It is comfortable, has excellent instruments and a full specification, which includes seat-height adjustment. Fuel consump­tion on the Transport Engineer formula is 41.5 m.p.g.

Standard equipment includes power-assisted steering, central lock­ing, and pressure jet headlamp washers. For £ 500 extra, there is an option pack that includes electric window-lifts and sunroof. Air con­ditioning is available at £ 1.000 extra.

The second new Galant model has a four-valve head 2-litre twin overhead-camshaft engine, which Mitsubishi claims to be the first twin cam engine to have needle-roller bearings in its rocker arms (so has the diesel). This engine also has twin balance shafts.

This petrol-injection engine de­velops 143 h. p. at 6.500 r. p. m. It can run on either leaded or unleaded pet­rol without adjustment. The Transport Engineer fuel consumption is 33.4 m.p.g. The tank on all Galants holds 13.2 gai (60 litres). A top speed of 128 m.p.h. is claimed, with acceleration to 60 m.p.h. in 8.6 sec.

The power-assisted steering has electronic control that reduces the assistance as the car goes faster. The price of the 2000 GTi-16V is £ 13.199 plus £ 1.000 for anti-lock brakes, or £ 2.000 for both that and air con­ditioning. Mitsubishi evidently be­lieves that anyone who can afford the extra cost of air conditioning should also be able to run to anti-lock brakes, so the one is not available without the other. Central locking and electric windows are standard.