What the car is and where it came from
The Mitsubishi Starion is a Japanese sports car made by Mitsubishi from 1982 to 1989. It is a two-door fastback coupé with rear-wheel drive and a front-mounted straight-four engine. It was sold globally under multiple names: Starion in the US, Colt Starion in the UK, and Conquest under Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth badges.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
It is a rear-wheel-drive two-door coupé with a front-mounted straight-four engine. Turbocharged variants use electronic fuel injection. The driver sits behind a fastback roofline, facing a conventional manual or automatic transmission. Narrowbody and widebody versions differ in width and intercooler fitment.
What it gets right
It gets the packaging right: a compact fastback shape with usable rear seats. It gets the engineering priority right: turbo response and drivetrain durability over outright peak power. It gets the market segmentation right: narrowbody for regulation compliance, widebody for performance signalling.
What it does not
It does not offer verified power figures, kerb weight, or handling metrics. It does not have all-wheel drive, a transverse engine, or a hatchback layout. It does not feature independent rear suspension in the narrowbody.
What it changed
It helped normalise turbocharging and electronic fuel injection in mainstream Japanese sports cars. It showed that forced induction could be packaged in a production coupé without sacrificing four-seat usability.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for people interested in the technical transition from carburetted to turbocharged Japanese performance. It is not for people seeking verified dynamic data, luxury appointments, or post-1990 chassis sophistication.
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you want to understand how Japanese turbo performance evolved in the early 1980s. No—if you expect modern chassis feedback, refinement, or verified performance metrics.
