1999 Mitsubishi Galant

There's a generational changeover in the offing for Mitsubishi's stalwart Galant, best-selling sedan in the firm's U.S. lineup. The eighth iteration of this midlevel front-driver, which was introduced in Japan back in 1969, goes on sale here this summer as an early '99. It boasts a host of major improvements from its Japanese market counterpart that debuted as a '97. We recently drove some early prototypes at Mitsubishi's sprawling Tokachi Proving Ground on the island of Hokkaido, subjecting them to both the 6-mile high-bank oval and the challenging 2.5-mile road course. Although our encounter was brief and certain hardware specifics hadn't yet been finalized, the seat time we did grab left us with a largely positive first impression.

Between its A- and C-pillars, this new Galant shares much with its domestic cousin. However, our version benefits from numerous U.S.-specific modifications. The latest version of Mitsu's RISE (Realized Impact Safety Evolution) design technology results in a stiffer, stronger, and more substantial platform that's better able to withstand front, side, and offset impacts. Its standard dual front airbags are likely to be augmented by front/side bags on the upper-level variants.

Cosmetically, the '99 Galant wears different front and rear sheetmetal from its Japanese cousin's, which further contributes to the desired image upgrading program. Inside, this mid-size sedan enjoys a similar gain in overall design status. Its unique interior treatment was developed in-house at Mitsubishi's facility in Cypress, California, and boasts a cleaner, tidier look than its predecessor's. Although the car's track and wheelbase remain unchanged, judicious juggling of various interior spatial relationships endow the new Galant with slightly more room in both front and rear quarters. A lower dash and higher seating position coupled with a larger greenhouse further contribute to the feeling of airiness, while more generous use of sound-deadening materials yields an even greater sense of serenity.

The development team paid as much attention to specific driver needs as it did to the general ambiance. Redesigned bucket seats offer better comfort and support than before, while a standard tilt steering column, highly legible white-on-black analog instrumentation, and repositioned switchgear on the central dash/center console significantly improve overall ergonomics.

One of the best bits of news about the new Galant is that, at long last, a V-6 will be available. A 2.4-liter DOHC four continues as standard issue in the entry level and midrange models (likely to remain tabbed as DE and ES), but the top-line LS and possibly a premium version of the ES are slated to get a 3.0-liter SOHC V-6. Largely carryover from the existing car, the 2.4-liter does benefit from a new torque-optimizing intake manifold and should net a slight output gain from the current 141 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. The V-6 is derived from the existing Montero Sport engine. While final specs have yet to be released, it will likely make about 195 horses and 205 pound-feet of twist. The four will come with a standard five-speed manual gearbox, while the V-6 will be linked to a five-speed "smart" automatic that features Mitsu's INVECS II adaptive learning program. We found the new autochanger struck a good balance between precision and smoothness when it came to up/down shifts.

The new Galant suspension pairs MacPherson struts up front with multilink hardware in the rear. Special emphasis was placed on improving both compliance and control. In addition, the power rack-and-pinion steering unit was massaged to deliver a bit more feedback. Both prototypes we drove displayed decent poise while being purposefully abused on the road circuit. And Mitsubishi hints that a special sport handling package also is in the works.

Final pricing was still under discussion at press time. But given the ultracompetitive nature of its segment, expect the '99 Galant to remain near its current $15,500-$24,000 range.