Junkyard Gem: 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X

Mitsubishi has been selling cars and light trucks under its own name in the United States since the Starion, Tredia, Cordia and Mighty Max appeared here as 1983 models, but only one big luxury sedan has ever been in the Mitsubishi Motors USA lineup: the Diamante. For the last few years of the Diamante’s availability here, a factory-hot-rod version of the Diamante known as the VR-X could be purchased. Here’s one of those extraordinarily rare cars, now residing in a Denver-area self-service wrecking yard.

The Diamante was the successor to the Mitsubishi Sigma, an upscale “pillared hardtop” version of the fifth-generation Galant. The Sigma sold poorly here, but Mitsubishi had hopes of stealing some American-market sales from the strong-selling Lexus ES and Acura Legend. Making a North American version of the swanky Mitsubishi Debonair didn’t seem like a wise investment (though some Debonair DNA eventually showed up here, within the Hyundai XG), and so the brand-new Diamante made its North American debut as a 1992 model.

The first-generation Diamante was available in both sedan and wagon form, with the wagon getting the axe here after 1995. The second-generation Diamante sedan appeared in American Mitsubishi showrooms as a 1997 model, with sales here continuing through 2004.

There was a facelift for the 2002 model year, after several miserable sales years in the United States, and the sporty VR-X version was added to the lineup at that time.

The VR-X got some cladding, white analog gauges, a louder audio system, some performance upgrades and a fast-and-furious optional spoiler. The MSRP for the ’03 VR-X was $27,557, or about $46,362 in 2023 dollars.

The VR-X’s engine was a 3.5-liter 6G-series V6, rated at 210 horsepower. This was just five horses better than the regular Diamante’s 3.5-liter.

All 2003 Diamantes sold in the United States came with mandatory four-speed automatics. 

This car, like the Diamante wagons of the middle 1990s, was built in Australia.

The leather seats came with VR-X embossing.

This is a good example of a rare special-edition car that’s not worth much now. Perhaps some Front Range Mitsubishi enthusiast will buy the unique VR-X wheels and other bits before this car goes to the crusher.

0% interest, zero down payment, zero payments until 2004 on all new Mitsubishis.

The Down Under version of this car was known as the Verada.