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In 1992, Mitsubishi changed the enthusiast world forever. That year, the Japanese automaker released the Lancer Evolution for the first time. It was meant to be a rally car for the road, and it used much of the same technology found on the actual rally car used by Mitsubishi's Ralliart performance division in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
However, there was another turbocharged, all-wheel-drive rally-inspired monster before the Evo called the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. It was introduced in 1987 and marked the brand's first foray intoserious AWD performance. It was built to satisfy Group A rally homologation rules, and can be considered the granddaddy of the Lancer Evo.
The Galant VR-4 Was Meant To Win Rally Stages First And Foremost
The WRC was gaining loads of popularity throughout the world during the 1970s and 80s. The first major star of the racing series was, arguably, the Lancia Stratos. Wearing the famous Alitalia sponsorship livery, the Stratos was unstoppable during the 1970s, winning 18 WRC victories in total. It also managed to garner three consecutive Manufacturer's titles in 1974, 1975, and 1976.
Fast-forward to the mid-1980s, and Mitsubishi was keen to get in on the action more than it had in the past. The Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR had enjoyed some success already, but the scope of rallying was changing quickly, and it was deemed essential for Mitsubishi to keep up. So, the existing Galant platform was selected as the brand's next-generation rally racer, using some components from the aborted Group B Mitsubishi Starion WRC prototype. Thus, the Galant VR-4 was born.
It first hit the streets in 1987 and sported all the necessary ingredients for a formidable WRC competitor: all-wheel drive, a turbocharged inline-four engine, and four-wheel steering. The latter attribute was only offered in select world markets. As a whole, Mitsubishi viewed the road-going Galant VR-4 as a worthy adversary to models built by more-popular marques, such as Ford, Toyota, and Subaru.
It's important to note that Mitsubishi wasn't just throwing extra power and all-wheel drive at a family car and calling it a day. The Galant VR-4 was, in essence, a rally car disguised as a family car. Sure, it had four doors and a solid paint job, but underneath, it was a thoroughbred racer, and you didn't have to look very hard to see it for what it really was.
The Galant VR-4 Perfected Mitsubishi's Famous WRC Formula
The crux of the Galant VR-4's rally-racing prowess lies with its engine. It's a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit going by the code 4G63T. It belonged to the broader Mitsubishi Sirius engine family and utilized technology such as multi-port fuel injection, dual-overhead camshafts, and four valves per cylinder. Its block was made from cast iron, while its cylinder head was aluminum. Using the 4G63T, the 1987 Galant VR-4 could chuck out 205 horsepower and 217 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to tackle a 0-60 mph sprint in just under seven seconds. Examples destined for the Japanese market had their horsepower output raised to 237 ponies.
Backing up the hot motor is a five-speed manual transmission, with no option to swap it out for an automatic. Its all-wheel drive system is full-time, meaning it is always engaged, and makes use of a centrally mounted differential with a viscous coupling. With it, the VR-4 could send more power to the axle that had more grip on the fly. At a baseline, the system split its power evenly between the front and rear wheels. On the rally stage, having a system that could work in real time to maximize grip is essential.
Its suspension was tuned up over the standard model, as well. It's a four-wheel independent setup with upgraded shocks and stiffer springs. Its chassis was also reinforced for better rigidity. Its sway bars were stiffened, and all four wheels came standard with large disc brakes. Active, computer-controlled rear-wheel steering came standard, as well, but only on models destined for North America, Australia, New Zealand, and select Asia-Pacific markets, as well as Japan.
While hardcore, razor-edge performance was the Galant VR-4's main objective, Mitsubishi realized that it also needed to perform adequately as a road car. In pursuit of a crumb of creature comfort, the model was outfitted with things like power windows, locks, and mirrors, along with an upgraded stereo and a full set of instruments including a tachometer. Its seats were bolstered, and its three-spoke steering wheel was wrapped in leather. Air conditioning was standard on models across most markets.
Two WRC Stage Wins That Proved The Galant VR-4 Was The Real Thing
All of these upgrades paid dividends in the end. Throughout the 1988 to 1992 racing seasons, the Galant VR-4 managed to secure victories at notable events such as the 1989 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, and the 1992 Rallye Côte d'Ivoire. But just as the Galant VR-4 hit its stride, Mitsubishi pulled the plug – not because it failed, but because something even better was waiting in the wings.
The Evolution Was, Well, An Evolution Of The Galant. Literally
By 1992, the WRC-competing Galant VR-4 was due for a phase-out. The rallying world was shifting yet again, this time towards smaller models. That meant the mid-size Galant had become too large to compete. However, Mitsubishi had a smaller nameplate that would be perfect for receiving the torch: the Lancer. Luckily, most of the hard work in development and engineering had already been completed when the Galant VR-4 was built; all the Lancer needed to do was adopt it.
Most of the major components and systems pioneered by the Galant VR-4 were carried directly over to the hot Lancer, which would go on to be called the "Evolution". The 4G63T engine, all-wheel drive system, suspension, and chassis reinforcements were all largely adopted by the Lancer Evo, too. It also came standard with 244 ponies. The model ended up being substantially lighter than the Galant VR-4, weighing just about 2,733 lbs compared to the VR-4's roughly 3,200-lb hulk. Its 0–60 mph time was much quicker, too, clocking in at around 5.1 seconds.
However, the Lancer Evo did miss out on one or two features, such as the four-wheel steering system and the Electronic Controlled Suspension (ECS) system from the Galant VR-4, which actively adjusted the dampers while driving. The system was scrapped due to its excessive weight, being replaced by a much lighter, traditional sport suspension setup in the Evo I. In a sense, the Galant VR-4 served as a running, competing prototype for the Lancer Evo, which would go on to be even more successful in the WRC than its predecessor.
The Galant VR-4 Is Finally Getting The Recognition It Deserves
Despite the sheer historical importance of the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, it has been relegated to the corners of the automotive past simply because the Lancer Evo was so popular and so dominant. As time marches on, however, it seems the hot Galant is getting its time in the limelight as the collector car market begins to rally (pun intended) around it.
One of the largest reasons behind its surge in value lies in the parallel surge in the Lancer Evo. The latter continues to climb in price, with some well-sorted examples now fetching north of $100k. This means the average buyer can no longer afford to get their hands on one, unless they look for heavily modified, "clapped-out" examples of most Evo iterations. However, you can find clean examples of the 1987–1992 Galant VR-4 somewhere in the $15–25k price range.
It's important to note, though, that prices will likely continue to climb. As the Evos earn more money, the Galant VR-4 is likely to shadow that climb. After all, they are both all-wheel drive rally monsters; it's just that one of them has the famous name, and the other sounds like an old 1980s sedan. However, that old sedan managed to serve as Mitsubishi's jumping-off point into the realm of worldwide rally dominance.
Sources: Mitsubishi,WRC.com,CarFolio.com.
