Sold in America as Diamante, this Australian car was sharp and classy. Mitsubishi doesn't get the credit they deserve, for the Galant, Sigma, and others are credible cars....
during those years, they were paired with Dodge. they were called Diamond Star Motors. They used Chrysler to help with interior bits and goodies, like the stereo (Chrysler was huge on audio back then.) and Mitsubishi handled the engines. Together, they built memorable cars. but once they separated, you could see the difference. that's when Mitsubishi started pulling cars away. by 2018, they will pull out of North America altogether
The US-spec Diamante sedán was imported from Japan until its' last generation in the '90s, but Mitsu managed to import the last gen wagon / estate from Australia, so to us some are Aussies and some don't (I suspect the Japanese copies were of better craftsmanship, something Australian US-spec export cars were not noted from until Commodores and Monaros came as Pontiacs and Chevrolets).
They're just adapting to modern market demands. People don't care about fun lightweight cars, they want boring tall egg shaped crossovers and they are simply appealing to that demand. It's because American roads have changed. People drive more than ever, and people don't drive for fun. There is nothing fun about sitting in traffic for 3 hours a day, that's why they don't make cars noone buys them.
I had 100% same-looking Sigma about 25 years ago at the age of 22, even the colour was the same, of course the driver seat was on the right side, that means left :) Before I bought it, I considered buying Audi 100 C4 as well, but I found Audi looking boring. Of course boring doesn't mean ugly, but I wanted something more aggressive-looking car and by that time was Sigma exactly that. And positive thing was, that it wasn't exactly a mainstream car, either in Estonia, but after I bought it, I started to notice more and more Sigmas on the roads. What comes to my Sigma- that was first Sigma bought new at 1992 and I was the second owner. Later I changed my Sigma to BMW 525 E34 and to be honest, I liked BMW from the first moment I drove it. BTW I have BMW 540 E34 even now :) But there's something about Sigma even now. Just love 90's cars.
I bought the very first Sigma sold in the UK from Colt Cars Cirencester as a direct result of this JC review. Note the H1 MMC number plate identifying Mitsubishi Motors Cirencester, I actually drove this press car for my test drive! I picked the car up on Friday 19th April 1991 (reg# H929 KAD) and did 93,000 miles in three years. The only thing that went wrong was the front brake discs used to warp so CCC used to send a driver to pick my car up and deliver back around midday with the brakes fixed.
Every thing has come so far in such a short time . The earth millions of years old and everything happens in the last 150 or so years . Don't tell me there isn't a plan . Actually I like cars from the 80s and 90s .I also like Jeremy .
1:20 "The only questionable piece of taste must be this button-backed upholstery". That jacket you're wearing is a questionable piece of taste as well, Jeremy. Gotta love the 90s!
These cars were actually built in Australia from 1990-1996. Known as the Magna and Verada in Australia and came with a 4G54 2.6L Astron II 4 cylinder and 6G72 3.0L V6 engine. Both engines used Manual and Auto transmissions.
It seems that many people mistake the European model for the Aussie one. The Euro-Sigma was imported from Japan and had no quality issues. I had one with 360.000 km on it and it just worked. The bare bones version with just A/C and manual transmission was your best bet as it didn't have the later year troubles of the versions with TCS and ECS.
I forgot all about this car. They weren't all that popular in the US, where it is called the Diamante. It's still a nice looking car to me. I got the impression with time though that they weren't all that great of a car.
Still driving my 2 TJ Magna/Diamante VR-X's (2001) never had a problem, goes hard and looks sooo sexy I absolutely fucking love the thing I love driving them any chance I get, even in Sydney traffic lol
This is actually based off the Magna shell with the Diamante rear end. Underside is identical to that of the same year 3000GT/GTO. the magna got this shell, but only with the SOHC engine and shitty beam axle rear end, Diamante got the works... I own both a Magna and Diamante.....Love my Diamante....20 years old and still going strong.
mitsubishi had a great R&D before, until it's fall of asian economic down turn in 97 due to the company's concentration of sales in asia while toyota, nissan and mazda concentrated in the western area during those times. and it resulted from 4th biggest company to no.17
In USDM all were DIAMANTE (diamond in Spanish), but the sedans were imported from Japan until the last generation while the wagons / estates we got were all Aussies.
These were actually manufactured in Australia and were called magna. Too bad we didnt end up getting ones as nice as this for us they were run of the mill basic budget large sedans we didnt even have half this features.
The closest we got was the Verada V6xi. Had most of the same stuff apart from the four wheel steer and overdone stereo system. Oh, and we got the better end of the stick as the Magna and Verada were actually a bit wider
I really like these old Japanese cars, so much character that isn't there today with New Japanese cars that try to be something they are not (trying to be like a European car), these cars had their own class and refinement at a much cheaper price ! RIP to old but old Japanese cars ! These days the new ones are just trying to be imitations of the Germans, which clearly they are not and never be ... The Mitsubishi Sigma looked like a good car in its day, so many nice features !
Love it. A '90 car and he is talking about running on Unleaded. Off cause it does. In Australia Leaded phased out in '87. An Ozy build car it had to run on unleaded. I can't remember the passive rear stearing though. My parents had a '91 Magna Elite, the one before Clarkson's. The 2.6 4cl struggled. I got a '94 2.6 4cl as a work vehicle and it was brilliant. An SE. No ABS but the gearbox recognised the hard breaking and shifted down automatically.
@@petersargeant1555 I never see these anymore, yet they were common on the roads. Seems to be rare to see a car older than 10 years. Mine is 14 years and the cost of maintaining it is almost more than its worth, sadly.
On a newer Top Gear episode (Season 4, episode 10 I think) they made him eat his own hair... literally. Made it into an omelet and served him up on a plate I just love old Top Gear lol
I love my Diamante/Sigma. I have a US-Spec Diamante wagon and I honestly wish it would've come in manual or had a version like this come to the states. Maybe then we wouldn't have gotten the terrible, ugly, and slow 2004-2007/2008 Diamantes.
Como dicho aquí en otros posteos, éste Sigma se vendió como Mitsubishi Diamante en Norteamérica, el 4 /5 puertas de mayor precio por encima del Galant en la línea de la marca. Pero contrario a otros, puedo decir que la mayoría (por lo menos los de venta en EEUU) fueron importados de Japón con excepción de la camioneta / station wagon que se importó desde Australia (código de identificación comienza com 6M). Es gracioso que el "bravucón" de Jeremy (es su personalidad) crea en que compita con el BMW Serie 5 o con el Mercedes Clase E. Estos dos europeos eran de tracción trasera, mientras que el Diamante, al igual que el Galant, eran de tracción delantera (la dinámica de manejo es muy diferente en ambos tipos de sistemas de tracción aún cuando se le añada "doble diferencial" opcionalmente), por lo que su competidor principal podría ser en realidad el Audi 100 / 5000, que creo que era un poquito más grande que el Diamante / Sigma.
its a stretched out, widened version of the galant, and was the sigma in Europe, diamante in America, Verada (not magna) in australia and magna/v3000 in New Zealand. Sedan was built in Japan and Australia with Australian built models exported to america and nz, and a wagon was australian developed and exported everywhere. so this model would be the japanese model while NZ should have both the australian version and the japan version
@gde1989: I suggest you do some research first, The Magna / Verada are in Australia, The V3000 in New zealand early on before it was rebadged as the Diamante, The Original TM TN TP Magna were a 2,5 inch wider version of the Original Australian Mitsubishi (formerly Chrysler) Sigma which ceased production in the mid 80's after the Magna was introduced in april 1985, The TM TN TP was the 1st gen Australian Magna then the 1st Gen Japanese diamante became our 2nd gen range TR TS Magna KR KS Verada
@@cruiser6260 I see you have nothing better to do then reply to 8 year old comments, But let’s see re reading my comment and let’s get the facts straight shall we. - The Sigma was produced in Australia under the Chrysler / Mitsubishi badge from 1976 - 1986. - The TM TN TP Magna built from 1985 - 1991 where I said Sigma where the brain didn’t quite want to translate that to the keyboard was in fact a 2.5 inch wider version of the 5th Generation E11 - E19 1983 - 1989 Galant which is also what the V3000 in NZ is based off. - The Second Generation Magna / Verada 1991 - 1996 was based off the first generation Diamanté 1990 - 1995, While the 3rd Gen Magna Verada Ramge 1996 - 2005 followed suit off the 2nd Gen Diamanté 1995 - 2005. - The Australian Built Magna / Verada range that was built in Tonsley park South Australia was exported to various countries and known by multiple name plates. Much like the Pajero 1981 - 2021 is known as the Montero or the Shogun in different markets, As it’d be awkward having a Pajero in a Spanish speaking country when Pajero in Spanish literally translates in English to Wanker (don’t believe me look it up your self) That info I’ve just written is from a quick google search, Now if you don’t mind I’ve got to go figure out the electrical gremlins in my 2000 KJ Verada V6Xi.
Sigma ? In Australia they are called magnas and the top of the range model like this one is called a verada but before the magna was made we had the sigma
So I suggest you do a simple google search of "Mitsubishi Magna" or "Mitsubishi Verada" and look at the Wikipedia site which should be the 2nd link, Because if the Magna was a NZ only thing how come I see Magna's everyday in NSW Australia aswell as Verada's Yet I have Never Seen a V3000, So I suggest you do a bit of research first, Not trying to be rude or mean but just stating the facts
I've always said this guy doesn't know a good car when he sees one. He's going on about bmw of that time. Bmws were actually awful to drive. Never had comfort like these Japanese luxury cars. Why bbc top gear kept him. Beats me.
The car every male should strive for, pure grindset.
A true sigma
I’ve got the only one left on U.K. roads.
@@rstezza bro thats mad, crazy that there’s only 1 left here… I’m sure you’re treating her well
@@googleyoutubeaccount *him, not her... It's a sigma 😎
I looked up "top gear sigma mindset" and I ended up here.
basd
Mitsubishi Sigma grindset
The OG sigma grind.
The Mitsubishi Sigma vs the Lancia Beta
The birth of a sigma grind
A car for the sigma male
Sold in America as Diamante, this Australian car was sharp and classy. Mitsubishi doesn't get the credit they deserve, for the Galant, Sigma, and others are credible cars....
during those years, they were paired with Dodge. they were called Diamond Star Motors. They used Chrysler to help with interior bits and goodies, like the stereo (Chrysler was huge on audio back then.) and Mitsubishi handled the engines. Together, they built memorable cars. but once they separated, you could see the difference. that's when Mitsubishi started pulling cars away. by 2018, they will pull out of North America altogether
Proud '97 Galant EA0 owner. For me, the best car in the world.
The US-spec Diamante sedán was imported from Japan until its' last generation in the '90s, but Mitsu managed to import the last gen wagon / estate from Australia, so to us some are Aussies and some don't (I suspect the Japanese copies were of better craftsmanship, something Australian US-spec export cars were not noted from until Commodores and Monaros came as Pontiacs and Chevrolets).
@@9890jsp where were they paired with dodge
@@9890jsp Chrysler only did what they did with Chrysler cars, not with Mitsubishi cars.
Wtf happened Mitsubishi? They were building excellent ultra modern quality cars back in 1990!
m k they used to make very good cars, I don't know what their doing now.
They make the most boring cars ever now.
They're just adapting to modern market demands. People don't care about fun lightweight cars, they want boring tall egg shaped crossovers and they are simply appealing to that demand. It's because American roads have changed. People drive more than ever, and people don't drive for fun. There is nothing fun about sitting in traffic for 3 hours a day, that's why they don't make cars noone buys them.
Have you not heard of the Evo cars??
Mitsubishi cars nowadays are still decent quality.
My dad had this car when I was younger in the US. I remember it well, it was all the bells and whistles
Sigma grind set car
That jacket had me burst out laughing.
Welcome to the 90s
was just thinking of how much i want it
ThePolandball 1990 baby
It's definitely a "questionable piece of taste"!
"Are you wearing that for a bet?"
i like that car i like old 90s cars
Sigma balls.
I had 100% same-looking Sigma about 25 years ago at the age of 22, even the colour was the same, of course the driver seat was on the right side, that means left :) Before I bought it, I considered buying Audi 100 C4 as well, but I found Audi looking boring. Of course boring doesn't mean ugly, but I wanted something more aggressive-looking car and by that time was Sigma exactly that. And positive thing was, that it wasn't exactly a mainstream car, either in Estonia, but after I bought it, I started to notice more and more Sigmas on the roads. What comes to my Sigma- that was first Sigma bought new at 1992 and I was the second owner. Later I changed my Sigma to BMW 525 E34 and to be honest, I liked BMW from the first moment I drove it. BTW I have BMW 540 E34 even now :)
But there's something about Sigma even now. Just love 90's cars.
My 1995 Diamante was the best car I've ever owned (despite the gas price)
I bought the very first Sigma sold in the UK from Colt Cars Cirencester as a direct result of this JC review. Note the H1 MMC number plate identifying Mitsubishi Motors Cirencester, I actually drove this press car for my test drive! I picked the car up on Friday 19th April 1991 (reg# H929 KAD) and did 93,000 miles in three years. The only thing that went wrong was the front brake discs used to warp so CCC used to send a driver to pick my car up and deliver back around midday with the brakes fixed.
A Car beyond its time.Sigma.
@lilruc I believe Mitsubishi re-named it "Sigma" for the European market.
Every thing has come so far in such a short time . The earth millions of years old and everything happens in the last 150 or so years . Don't tell me there isn't a plan . Actually I like cars from the 80s and 90s .I also like Jeremy .
1:20 "The only questionable piece of taste must be this button-backed upholstery".
That jacket you're wearing is a questionable piece of taste as well, Jeremy. Gotta love the 90s!
Jacket is ... wwaaauuuu :)))
These cars were actually built in Australia from 1990-1996. Known as the Magna and Verada in Australia and came with a 4G54 2.6L Astron II 4 cylinder and 6G72 3.0L V6 engine. Both engines used Manual and Auto transmissions.
It seems that many people mistake the European model for the Aussie one. The Euro-Sigma was imported from Japan and had no quality issues. I had one with 360.000 km on it and it just worked. The bare bones version with just A/C and manual transmission was your best bet as it didn't have the later year troubles of the versions with TCS and ECS.
I put 200'000 km on a new V6 magna in Oz and nothing ever went wrong with it.. the first gen built in 80s, not so much
I forgot all about this car. They weren't all that popular in the US, where it is called the Diamante. It's still a nice looking car to me. I got the impression with time though that they weren't all that great of a car.
The jeremy lore thinkens
Still driving my 2 TJ Magna/Diamante VR-X's (2001) never had a problem, goes hard and looks sooo sexy I absolutely fucking love the thing I love driving them any chance I get, even in Sydney traffic lol
WHOA!!! Someone needs to turn the volume down on the jacket that Jeremy is wearing.
This is actually based off the Magna shell with the Diamante rear end. Underside is identical to that of the same year 3000GT/GTO. the magna got this shell, but only with the SOHC engine and shitty beam axle rear end, Diamante got the works...
I own both a Magna and Diamante.....Love my Diamante....20 years old and still going strong.
@Woolymatt Here in New Zealand this car was known as V3000. The Magna was the Australian name, and was decontented somewhat for certain models.
Weren't in some markets were they called a Magna
mitsubishi had a great R&D before, until it's fall of asian economic down turn in 97 due to the company's concentration of sales in asia while toyota, nissan and mazda concentrated in the western area during those times. and it resulted from 4th biggest company to no.17
this looks like the fully loaded Mitsubishi Diamante
@Manuel89km77
horrible! but, i had a similar jacket at the time. what was i on? :/
AKA in North America as the Mitsubishi Diamanti. I owned two Diamanti's and a Galant.
In USDM all were DIAMANTE (diamond in Spanish), but the sedans were imported from Japan until the last generation while the wagons / estates we got were all Aussies.
These were actually manufactured in Australia and were called magna. Too bad we didnt end up getting ones as nice as this for us they were run of the mill basic budget large sedans we didnt even have half this features.
The closest we got was the Verada V6xi. Had most of the same stuff apart from the four wheel steer and overdone stereo system. Oh, and we got the better end of the stick as the Magna and Verada were actually a bit wider
That's not 4WS, it's got traction control and ride height control.. not on Oz models. It's also a 2nd gen, the 1st gen was widened
I really like these old Japanese cars, so much character that isn't there today with New Japanese cars that try to be something they are not (trying to be like a European car), these cars had their own class and refinement at a much cheaper price ! RIP to old but old Japanese cars ! These days the new ones are just trying to be imitations of the Germans, which clearly they are not and never be ... The Mitsubishi Sigma looked like a good car in its day, so many nice features !
Love it. A '90 car and he is talking about running on Unleaded. Off cause it does. In Australia Leaded phased out in '87. An Ozy build car it had to run on unleaded. I can't remember the passive rear stearing though. My parents had a '91 Magna Elite, the one before Clarkson's. The 2.6 4cl struggled. I got a '94 2.6 4cl as a work vehicle and it was brilliant. An SE. No ABS but the gearbox recognised the hard breaking and shifted down automatically.
2DogsVlogs In Spain we had leaded until 1 January 2002
2DogsVlogs unleaded was phased out by 2002
Aussies only got the basic beam rear end.
@@petersargeant1555 I never see these anymore, yet they were common on the roads. Seems to be rare to see a car older than 10 years. Mine is 14 years and the cost of maintaining it is almost more than its worth, sadly.
And I thought Jeremy's worst wardrobe choice ever was that gaudy leather jacket from the 348 review.
Sigma grindset
I had a Black one. It is still my favorite except for its weak transmission.
Mitsubishi in its hey day was great. They should build new large cars they would be awesome.
OMG, his jacket!
its a magna in oz
OMG CLARKSONS HAIR 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
says you
On a newer Top Gear episode (Season 4, episode 10 I think) they made him eat his own hair... literally. Made it into an omelet and served him up on a plate
I just love old Top Gear lol
That is where they got the name Stig, @ 4:26
A lot better then mitsubishi ligma
I love my Diamante/Sigma. I have a US-Spec Diamante wagon and I honestly wish it would've come in manual or had a version like this come to the states. Maybe then we wouldn't have gotten the terrible, ugly, and slow 2004-2007/2008 Diamantes.
se parece en su gran mayoría al Mitsubishi Galant del año 1997
Como dicho aquí en otros posteos, éste Sigma se vendió como Mitsubishi Diamante en Norteamérica, el 4 /5 puertas de mayor precio por encima del Galant en la línea de la marca. Pero contrario a otros, puedo decir que la mayoría (por lo menos los de venta en EEUU) fueron importados de Japón con excepción de la camioneta / station wagon que se importó desde Australia (código de identificación comienza com 6M).
Es gracioso que el "bravucón" de Jeremy (es su personalidad) crea en que compita con el BMW Serie 5 o con el Mercedes Clase E. Estos dos europeos eran de tracción trasera, mientras que el Diamante, al igual que el Galant, eran de tracción delantera (la dinámica de manejo es muy diferente en ambos tipos de sistemas de tracción aún cuando se le añada "doble diferencial" opcionalmente), por lo que su competidor principal podría ser en realidad el Audi 100 / 5000, que creo que era un poquito más grande que el Diamante / Sigma.
...grindset?
WOAH jacket!
its a stretched out, widened version of the galant, and was the sigma in Europe, diamante in America, Verada (not magna) in australia and magna/v3000 in New Zealand. Sedan was built in Japan and Australia with Australian built models exported to america and nz, and a wagon was australian developed and exported everywhere. so this model would be the japanese model while NZ should have both the australian version and the japan version
gde1989 magna is in australia
90% of them in Oz were 4cyl magna, only V6 was verada.p
My mate has a base model v6 manual. Called a magna here. Went fucking hard for a piece of shit.
Hahaaa shel suit,didn't they used to be dangerously flammable
Back when Mitsubishi were cool. Obv later came evo but now they make only random suvs.
Nice
4:26
?
The Dyamante in the states
isnt that a diamante?
nice 6g72 from 3000gt
This thing of more advance than their latest products.
@gde1989: I suggest you do some research first, The Magna / Verada are in Australia, The V3000 in New zealand early on before it was rebadged as the Diamante, The Original TM TN TP Magna were a 2,5 inch wider version of the Original Australian Mitsubishi (formerly Chrysler) Sigma which ceased production in the mid 80's after the Magna was introduced in april 1985, The TM TN TP was the 1st gen Australian Magna then the 1st Gen Japanese diamante became our 2nd gen range TR TS Magna KR KS Verada
No, in Oz the 1st gen magna was not a widened sigma. Sigma was rwd. TM-TP was a widened Japanese car.
@@cruiser6260 I see you have nothing better to do then reply to 8 year old comments, But let’s see re reading my comment and let’s get the facts straight shall we.
- The Sigma was produced in Australia under the Chrysler / Mitsubishi badge from 1976 - 1986.
- The TM TN TP Magna built from 1985 - 1991 where I said Sigma where the brain didn’t quite want to translate that to the keyboard was in fact a 2.5 inch wider version of the 5th Generation E11 - E19 1983 - 1989 Galant which is also what the V3000 in NZ is based off.
- The Second Generation Magna / Verada 1991 - 1996 was based off the first generation Diamanté 1990 - 1995, While the 3rd Gen Magna Verada Ramge 1996 - 2005 followed suit off the 2nd Gen Diamanté 1995 - 2005.
- The Australian Built Magna / Verada range that was built in Tonsley park South Australia was exported to various countries and known by multiple name plates. Much like the Pajero 1981 - 2021 is known as the Montero or the Shogun in different markets, As it’d be awkward having a Pajero in a Spanish speaking country when Pajero in Spanish literally translates in English to Wanker (don’t believe me look it up your self)
That info I’ve just written is from a quick google search, Now if you don’t mind I’ve got to go figure out the electrical gremlins in my 2000 KJ Verada V6Xi.
holy crap 80s jeremy
This is 1991.
@pastorgas30 --- jezzer was BORN famous...
Jezza talking about taste whilst wearing that jacket
Its 90's fashion ffs
Sigma ? In Australia they are called magnas and the top of the range model like this one is called a verada but before the magna was made we had the sigma
Only in the 90's would they let a grown man wear that hoodie on public television...
Oh my gah, Clarkson what are you wearing
Afro FTW!!
4:23 Stig-ma? Did he already know? "Some say..."
Had technology that confused Jez? 30 yrs later you need a M.I.T degree to change the radio channel.
Mitsubishi S u g m a
That's a Verada
She’ll suit. Clarkson has the hair of a scouser too!
mitsubishi... what?
Diamante
Nice fro bro.
@ 2:38 Chavtastic!!
@MsClaireLouLou What a load of waffle... Jeremy Clarkson changed WITH the times... Like you should have done.
Rented one of these in Australia once (badged as a Magna), Terrible car. Slow and cornered on its door handles.
You must have rented a 4 cylinder car ... The V6 was a very quick car
is this the drunken guy from tv?
So I suggest you do a simple google search of "Mitsubishi Magna" or "Mitsubishi Verada" and look at the Wikipedia site which should be the 2nd link, Because if the Magna was a NZ only thing how come I see Magna's everyday in NSW Australia aswell as Verada's Yet I have Never Seen a V3000, So I suggest you do a bit of research first, Not trying to be rude or mean but just stating the facts
Mitsubishi L I G M A
Сигма
Wtf $30,000 😱
Sigma is good looking car. This era BMW or Merc is not better. This is Jeremys privet opinion and he is wrong.
the fuck is overdrive
Car for true male 😎
Кто поставил дизлайк????
More like... LIGMA
ahehahehehehe
I've always said this guy doesn't know a good car when he sees one. He's going on about bmw of that time. Bmws were actually awful to drive. Never had comfort like these Japanese luxury cars. Why bbc top gear kept him. Beats me.
worst car ever built in australia
Wrong. That mantle belongs to the EA Falcon.
Magnas are the fuckin shit youre cooked mate
@@Doubledunk go magna
First gen had problems, but so did the EA Falcon.
Any Aussie would recognise this as a Mitsubishi TR Magna.