The Germans never knew what hit them. The 1990s brought on an absolutely avalanche of Japanese sedans that were designed from top to bottom to compete with every luxury, near luxury, and non-luxury that European companies were offering. They were also doing it for less money. The Mitsubishi Diamanté was one of the most prime examples of this attack as it combined European styling with Japanese technology. It did it at a price point that made the European models look uber expensive and in some ways actually lacking in the very segment of the market that they effectively pioneered!
I remember that friends of my parents bought one of these cars when they were pretty new. I had seen the commercials, I had read the magazines, but then I actually got to see it, sit in it, and check it out. Even as a kid the thing struck me as pretty awesome and while I do not remember what the guy paid I do remember him bragging to my pop that it was many, many, thousands of bucks less than the comparably sized German car. (We drove there in a 1986 Ford Taurus wagon, so don’t get all baller-defensive on me here).
The other point or question that this car raises is one about Mitsubishi itself. What the hell happened over there? These guys were making all kinds of awesome stuff. From this sedan to the 3000GT, there was the Eclipse that seemed to be everywhere, the Evo, and even the little trucks were good. Now? Yikes. They make the Mirage which is just a sad little car with no features, power, or desirability, and, well, what else, the Lancer? Yikes. They were on the top of their game in 1991 and the Diamanté was proof positive of that.
I have ZERO interest in Mitsubishi garbage. Never see those on the road anymore. Keeping up with their kamikaze nature I guess.
Mitsubishi Motors, the car division, had some serious issues with their management in Japan in the late ’90s. Claims of corruption and other criminal activity not helped by the Japanese economy falling over in a big way. Getting into bed with Diamler-Chrysler pretty much sealed their fate.