History Car 1990s

Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

Overview Specs Highlights Characteristics

Overview

Introduced to international rallying in 1988, the sixth-generation Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (E39A) was Mitsubishi's Group A four-door, all-wheel-drive saloon. Developed by Mitsubishi and Ralliart, its 4G63 turbocharged inline-four and competition four-wheel-drive system set the technical direction for the smaller Lancer Evolution.

The road VR-4 was sold with four-wheel drive and, in some versions, four-wheel steering; that does not make every road-car device a works-rally feature. The factory progressively developed the competition centre differential, weight, durability and suspension throughout the program.

Technical Specs & Innovations

  • Regulatory category: FIA Group A; works competition Galant VR-4, approximately 1988–1992.
  • Engine: Mitsubishi 4G63, transversely mounted turbocharged inline-four; DOHC, four valves per cylinder.
  • Displacement: 1,997 cc, nominally 2.0 litres; 85 × 88 mm bore × stroke for the 4G63 family.
  • Induction: Single turbocharger with charge-air cooling; works engine calibration and intake restrictions evolved under Group A rules.
  • Published competition output: Mitsubishi's period WRC specification table lists 290 PS maximum output and 34 kg-m torque; its program history notes more than 300 hp in certain early Group A builds. These figures reflect different reference specifications.
  • Driveline: Permanent four-wheel drive; a revised viscous-coupling centre differential appeared during 1990 development.
  • Transmission: Competition manual transmissions and surface-dependent ratios; Mitsubishi tested the next-generation Lancer 4WD arrangement at the final 1992 RAC Rally.
  • Chassis: Four-door E39A Galant-based reinforced steel monocoque with rally safety cage.
  • Body dimensions (Mitsubishi competition sheet): 4,560 mm length, 1,695 mm width.
  • 1992 competition mass: A lighter 1992 works evolution fell below 1,200 kg; do not substitute the production-car kerb weight.
  • Suspension and brakes: Independent rally suspension and competition disc brakes, with springs, dampers, tyre and brake packages adapted for gravel, snow and asphalt.
  • Road versus competition: The production VR-4's 4WS and published road horsepower are not a specification for the rally car's steering or output.

Works-car caution: Power and mass evolved across five seasons; Mitsubishi publishes both a representative specification table and broader engineering commentary. The two power figures should not be treated as a contradiction requiring an invented single number.

🏆 Competitive Highlights

  • 1989: Mikael Ericsson won the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland; Pentti Airikkala took the RAC Rally, giving Mitsubishi two Galant WRC wins in the year.
  • 1990: Patrick Tauziac won the Ivory Coast Rally. Mitsubishi's programme tested a revised viscous-coupling centre differential during the season.
  • 1991: Kenneth Eriksson won the Swedish Rally; Kenjiro Shinozuka won Ivory Coast, becoming the first Japanese driver to win a WRC round.
  • 1992: Shinozuka won Ivory Coast again. Mitsubishi counts six total WRC round victories for the Galant VR-4.
  • 1992 RAC Rally: The works team used the outgoing Galant to trial four-wheel-drive components planned for the 1993 Group A Lancer Evolution.

Driving Characteristics

Four-wheel drive and the turbocharged 4G63 made the Galant effective over rough and variable-grip stages, but a relatively large saloon body required more space and inertia management than later compact rally cars. These are engineering trade-offs, not a claim that every works driver or privateer preferred an identical setup.

Mitsubishi specifically documents centre differential revisions and a lighter 1992 version as major improvements. These changes are more informative than general adjectives about the car's handling.

Development & legacy

The Galant's six WRC wins demonstrated that a production-based four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi could compete at the highest level. Its 4G63 and driveline development work fed directly into the 1993 Lancer Evolution, rather than ending with the Galant's retirement.

Sources and specification notes

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