First off, it’s pronounced Ga-lawn. Pretend you’re French. What it was, was an new car from Mitsubishi, the same great folks who brought you the Starion, Tredia, Cordia (you can tell they were real good at names), the discontinued Colt, replaced by the Mirage, the Montero, and the mini-pickup sold by Chrysler. The Starion and Mirage were also sold by Chrysler under the Conquestand Colt names, respectively.
The front-drive Galant came in at a conceptually higher market level than any of the other Mitsubishi’s that came before. Although the Starion cost more, $14,869 loaded versus $13,800 for a Galant with every possible option on the menu, the Starion was aimed straight at your adrenal system. The Galant, on the other hand , went right for your gluteus maximus. The car was a tourer, a luxury tourer at that and it marked the first time Mitsubishi had made a foray into this segment of the market. Viewed in that context the car was a resounding success.
The Galant was powered by a 2.4-liter normally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that provided adequate performance. Essentially the Galant was the next step up from the Tredias and Cordias, something customers could move up to after they happily lived with either of those other two cars and were ready, financially and philosophically, for a substantial dollop of luxury, a more sedate lifestyle, and some of the bourgeois pleasures this type of vehicle offered.
Consider the Galant to be the adult member of the Mitsubishi household. As such, its appeal to the enthusiast driver was limited. To qualify for a spot in the hearts of the same clientele that snapped up Starions as quickly as they were delivered, the Galant needed more power, and the aggression dial on the suspension turned up.
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