|
|
Hailed as a good-looking distinctively styled car by the motoring media, Mitsubishi has added a body kit, provided a sports suspension and included an innovative sequential shift automatic transmission, a first for an Australian- manufactured car.
Mitsubishi's last entrant in the sports sedan segment was in 1989/90 when it launched the Elante' based on the TN Magna SE sedan. The Magna Sports V6 has been based on the extremely popular Magna Executive V6, but given a unique personality and attitude.A distinctive, sleeker, sportier look has been a feature of the pillared hardtop aerodynamic styling of TE Magna since it was launched last year. This has been enhanced for the Magna Sports V6 with the addition of a rear deck spoiler incorporating a stop lamp; front fog lamps; special paint treatment to the grille, front bumper lower grille, side air dam, splash protector and upper rear garnish; and 16" seven-spoke alloy wheels.
Internally, the Sports V6 gets a leather-bound steering wheel and gear knob' a unique interior featuring two-tone black and dark grey on the dash pad and door trims; a rainbow-coloured cloth material with "Sports" badging for the seats which is carried into the doors; and a brushed aluminium treatment in the instrument binnacle.The features incorporated into the upgraded TF Magna - speed alert, upgraded remote locking system, cupholders, mobile telephone power source and convex passenger-side mirror -. are all included in the Sports V6.
Many motoring writers have praised the handling and surefootednessof Magna in the past, and this has been improved further with the suspension refinements undertaken on Sports V6. Ride height has been lowered lOmm, and the front springs have been modified to compensate for the revised height.Revised suspension bushes and stiffer rear springs add to the handling package, as does
the fitment of an l8mm rear anti-sway bar. Surprisingly, the Mitsubishi engineers have
achieved this improved handling without degrading ride comfort.
Distinctive
16" alloy wheels are standard for Sports V6 (compared with 15" on normal Magna),
and are shod with 215/60R16 high performance tyres which put more rubber on the road than
the 205/65 tyres fitted to the standard car.
Mitsubishi is offering its five-speed manual or the innovative INVECS II "Sports
Mode" transmission on the Magna Sports V6.
This is the first time that a sequential-style automatic transmission has been available
in an Australian-manufactured car, as they are normally associated with imported cars
costing tens of thousands of dollars more than Magna.
The
"Sports Mode" transmission allows drivers to choose whether they want to drive
in automatic mode, allowing the transmission to select when gear changes are made, or
whether it is used in "Sports Mode" so they can control how and when changes are
made.
This advanced new transmission is both compact and lightweight, and makes sporty,
enjoyable driving possible in an automatic transmission car.
Mitsubishi
has retained the driveability and tractability of its renowned 3.0 litre V6 engine for
Sports. The engine produces its peak power output of 140kW of power at 55OOrpm, and
maximum torque of 255Nm at 45OOrpm. Importantly, over 90% of this torque is available over
a useable 2500 to 5500rpm range.
Mitsubishi Motors' Managing Director, Mr Mike Quinn noted: "Magna Sports V6 is an
extremely well balanced package which give cellent performance, great economy, and even
better handling in a stylish, innovative car which is rewarding and quick to drive
point-to-point."
Magna Sports V6 is available in four colours - Paris White, Calypso Red,
Frontier Green and Nautilus Blue. The last two colours are new colours to the Magna range.
