Mitsubishi · 1990–2005

Mitsubishi Diamante

The Mitsubishi Diamante is an automobile that was manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors from 1990 to 2005. The first series was a hardtop introduced to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989. It went on sale in Japan exclusively in May 1990 and won that year's Japan Car of the Year award. It was created by splicing an extra 6.6 cm (2.6 in) right down the middle of the Mitsubishi Galant, which itself had won the Japan Car of the Year award in 1987. The Diamante's platform was also used for the sporty Mitsubishi 3000GT. The name Diamante was derived from the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian word for "diamond" and was adopted also as homage to the Mitsubishi badge which is composed of three diamonds. In Japan, this vehicle was sold at the retail chain Car Plaza.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History

From 1991, a more conventional Diamante-derived Mitsubishi Sigma sedan was also built in Japan for its domestic and European export markets. It became the basis of the second generation Magna independently built in Australia. Its Australian luxury derivate, sold as the Verada, became the Diamante for export markets including New Zealand and North America a year later. The Wagon version was also exported including to Japan. There have been rumors that the Diamante was either not intended for a Japanese launch, or it might have been planned as a low-volume model. The reason for this argument is that until 1989, the width of vehicles impacted the taxation class. The Diamante, being wider than the 1,700 mm (66.9 in) breakpoint, would have suffered a large tax penalty against most of its rivals, which were designed to be just inside that vital limit. At the time, Mitsubishi's international image was also considered less than ideal for the marketing of a luxury car — its most expensive offering at the time, the Debonair, was largely seen as a company car project for Mitsubishi conglomerate executives. The Diamante's introduction was the result of the Honda/Acura Legend, which caught manufacturers by surprise when it appeared in 1986, inspiring the creation of the Lexus and Infiniti divisions, as well as various executive car class vehicles to be revised as a result. Mitsubishi needed to compete with the Legend and the Diamante was the result. However, the tax situation changed in 1989, and the Diamante became the surprise hit of 1990. Amidst Japan's bubble economy, many private car owners sought an executive car in a market that had very few new offerings that year.

First generation (1990–1995)

The first generation Diamante was produced in three versions: Four-side window hardtop: a four-door hardtop with frameless windows that was solely built in Nagoya, Japan, and only sold in Japan and North America. It featured advanced electronic aids such as four-wheel steering (4WS). Six-side window sedan: a more conventional variant built and introduced in Japan five months after the Diamante. It was called the Sigma and differed by having a slightly taller roofline, a six-window glasshouse, window sashes, revised front fascia and rear styling. It was exported to Europe from Japan and formed the basis of the second generation Magna/Verada sedan, which was independently built in Adelaide, South Australia. Its luxury derivative, the Verada was intended for the domestic consumption and primary export to North America (but export to North America never happened) (hence the longer bumper bars to meet the latter's more onerous crash standards). Wagon: this was the wagon version of the above-mentioned sedan, designed and manufactured exclusively by Mitsubishi Australia. It was introduced in late 1992 for the 1993 model year. Japan. The Japanese Diamante hardtop was built from 1990 until 1995 and was available in front wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). Some models featured four-wheel steering (4WS). FWD versions featured an independent suspension design with MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link in the rear. This version was available with a range of engines listed below, some with five-speed manual in addition to four-speed automatic transmission. AWD Diamantes come in three models: the 25V 4WD, 30R 4WD and the flagship 30R-SE 4WD. All have MacPherson strut front suspension with double wishbones at the rear. Both front and rear brake discs are ventilated.

Second generation (1995–2005)

The second generation of the Diamante was introduced to the Japanese market in January 1995. The Sigma variant was eliminated and not renewed for a second generation, due to poor sales in Japan; after a strong start most Sigmas sold had become taxis and patrol cars. The Diamante was marginally larger with improved headroom. It was powered by several engines: the base engine was a 2.5-liter MVV (lean burn) V6, followed by a number of 2.5 and 3.5-liter variants, the 2.5-liter engine sported 175 hp and the 3.5-liter engine boasted 210 hp (160 kW). The new Diamante range in Japan topped off with a 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 rated at 201 kW (270 hp) at 6000 rpm and 304 N⋅m (224 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm. In its latter years, the Diamante range was reduced to a single engine offering in Japan, first a 3.0-liter GDI V6 with 240 hp (180 kW) (the first of its kind), and then a conventional 2.5-liter V6. The Australian produced Verada came off the production line on 1 July 1996, and now formed the basis of all Diamantes sold outside Japan. Both the Verada (designated the KE series in Australia) and the Magna (TE series) on which it was based, won the 1996 Wheels' Car of the Year award. Sales on the US market commenced with the 1997 model year in late October 1996, where it occupied "near luxury" segment and competed on price with vehicles like the Lexus ES 300. The Diamante featuring export-only extra equipment such as keyless entry, but never featuring the eventual all wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain that became available for the Australian and New Zealand range (respectively badged Verada and Diamante). The North American Diamante also didn't receive an automatic with a manual-shift mode until 2004, and even then it was available only in LS and VR-X models and had only four speeds. These Austral

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Mitsubishi Diamante
aka: Mitsubishi Magna, Mitsubishi Sigma, Mitsubishi V3000, Mitsubishi Verada
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors
Production: 1990–2005
Assembly: Japan: Nagoya, Australia: Adelaide, South Australia (Tonsley)
Class: Full-size
Predecessor: Mitsubishi Sigma
Successor: Mitsubishi Galant (ninth generation)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1637875CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_DiamanteCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1365706351 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:02-03_Mitsubishi_Diamante_.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.