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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Galant_VR-4The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 was the range-topping version of Mitsubishi Motors' Galant model, available in the
sixth (1988–92), seventh (1992–96) and eighth (1996–2002) generations of the vehicle. Originally introduced to comply with the new Group A regulations of the World Rally Championship, it was soon superseded as Mitsubishi's competition vehicle by the Lancer Evolution, and subsequently developed into a high-performance showcase of the company's technology.
Background & competition history
Pentti Airikkala at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 in 1989, on his way to victory in the RAC Rally with co-driver Ronan McNamee.Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) sought to improve its image through the established path of participation in motorsport. The Lancer 1600 GSR and Pajero/Montero/Shogun both achieved great success in rallying and Rally Raid events,[1][2] and eventually the company planned an attempt on the Group B class of the World Rally Championship with a four-wheel drive version of its Starion coupé. However, the class was outlawed following several fatal accidents in 1986 and '87, and Mitsubishi was forced to reassess its approach. It instead homologated the recently-introduced sixth generation of its Galant sedan for the Group A class, using the mechanical underpinnings from its aborted Starion prototype. Between 1988 and '92, it was campaigned by the official factory outfit, Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe, winning three events in the hands of Mikael Ericsson (1989 1000 Lakes Rally),[3] Pentti Airikkala (1989 Lombard RAC Rally)[4] and Kenneth Eriksson (1991 Swedish Rally).[5] It was also driven to outright victory in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championships by Kenjiro Shinozuka (1988) and Ross Dunkerton (1991–92), and the American National GT Championship (1992) by Tim O'Neil.[6]
However, Mitsubishi — and their competitors — realised that the WRC cars of the '80s were simply too big and ungainly for the tight, winding roads of rally stages. Ford migrated the Sierra/Sapphire Cosworth to a smaller Escort-based bodyshell; Subaru developed the Impreza to succeed their Legacy; and Toyota eventually replaced the Celica coupe with the Corolla. Mitsubishi, meanwhile, carried the VR-4's engine/transmission over to the new Lancer Evolution, bringing to an end the Galant's representation in MMC's motorsport efforts.
Sixth generation (E38A/E39A)
6th generation
Production 1988–1992
Assembly Nagoya plant, Okazaki, Aichi
Class Compact car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
5-door hatchback
Layout Front engine, 4WD
Engine(s) 1997 cc DOHC 16v I4, turbo
Transmission(s) Four-wheel drive,
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Group A regulations dictated a turbocharged engine of 2.0 L displacement and a four-wheel drive transmission. In order to satisfy the mandatory minimum sales requirements of 5,000 units, Mitsubishi made it available in North America, New Zealand, Australia, Japan & other Asian Pacific Rim territories, with 3,000 reaching the United States in 1991 and '92.[7] In road-going trim the four-door sedan produced up to 240 PS depending on market, giving the car a top speed of over 130 mph and allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, with a quarter mile elapsed time of 15.3 seconds. This car also featured power-assisted speed-sensitive four-wheel steering: the rear wheels steered in the same phase as the front wheels above 30 mph, up to 1.5 degrees.
A liftback version was also produced, known as the Eterna ZR-4. This had some minor cosmetic differences, but mechanically was the same as the VR-4 sedan. The manual version (both VR4 and ZR4) came with a TD05 turbo while the auto came with a TD04.
Technical specifications
Engine
Configuration — DOHC 16v inline 4 cylinder
Code — 4G63T
Bore/stroke, capacity — 85.0 x 88.0 mm, 1997 cc
Compression ratio — 7.8:1
Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
Peak torque — 294 N·m (217 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm
Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
Suspension — MacPherson struts (front), double wishbones (rear)
Dimensions
Length — 4560 mm
Width — 1695 mm
Height — 1440 mm
Wheelbase — 2600 mm
Kerb weight — 1380 kg
Fuel tank — 62 L
Wheels/tyres — 195/60 R15 86H
The Galant VR-4 made its World Rally Championship debut in 1988 and won two rounds the following year, quickly becoming the most competitive car in the WRC. Its successes were not confined to the WRC however, as Galants also featured strongly in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the Middle East Rally Championship, among others well into the 1990s. Building on the worldwide success of professionals and amateurs alike, an evolution model was unveiled at the Acropolis Rally in mid-1991, its fifth year of competition. On its debut, the car was quickest on 30 of the 48 stages - a sensational debut.
The evolution model didn't win during its first season, but the previous model made up for that with victories on the Swedish and Ivory Coast Rallies. In particular, the Ivory Coast saw Kenjiro Shinozuka¹s victory, the first overall win by a Japanese driver on a round of the World Rally Championship. 1992 brought the career of the factory-entered VR-4 to a close and was not especially successful. The main reason for this was that much effort was already being put into the development of the next WRC car, the Lancer Evolution, but news of Shinozuka winnig consecutively in the Ivory Coast was very welcome. Galant privateers also excelled, Erwin Weber (Germany) becoming the first driver to win the European Rally Championship in a Japanese car. In addition, Ross Dunkerton of Australia won the driver's title in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for two straight years during 1991 and '92. The Galant took the Manufacturers Championship as well.
With these six victories in the WRC, the Galant VR-4 went on to win championships around the globe and was indeed a success as a rally car. Naturally, the 4WD technology first tried in the Starion and developed in the Galant was soon to be carried over to the Lancer Evolution.
Major Rally Results Galant VR4 1988-1990:
1988 Malaysia Rally (APRC) 1st
1988 Himalayan Rally (APRC) 1st
1989 Acropolis Rally (WRC) 4th
1989 Indonesia Rally (APRC) 1st
1989 1000 Lakes Rally (WRC) 1st
1989 Malaysia Rally (APRC) 1st
1989 RAC Rally (WRC) 1st
1990 Hanki Rally (European Rally Championship) 2nd
1990 Safari Rally (WRC) 5th
1990 Jordan Rally (Middle East Rally Championship) 2nd
1990 Hessen Rally (European Rally Championship) 2nd
1990 Rally New Zealand (WRC) 4th
1990 Deutschland Rally (European Rally Championship) 2nd
1990 Indonesia Rally (APRC) 1st
1990 1000 Lakes Rally (WRC) 2nd
1990 Malaysia Rally (APRC) 1st
1988 Asia Pacific Rally Championship Drivers' Champion (K. Shinozuka)
1989 Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2nd in Manufacturers' Championship
1989 Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2nd in Drivers' Championship (R. Dunkerton)
1990 World Rally Championship 2nd in Manufacturers' Championship
Major Results 1991-1992:
1991 Swedish Rally (WRC) 1st
Hanki Rally (European Rally Championship) 1st
Indonesia Rally (APRC) 1st
Malaysia Rally (APRC) 1st
Rally Austraria(WRC) 2nd
Cyprus Rally(ERC) 1st
Valais Rally (European Rally Championship) 1st
Bandama Rally(WRC) 1st
RAC Rally(WRC) 2nd
World Rally Championship(WRC) 3rd in Manufacturers' Championship
Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) Manufacturers' Champion
Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) Drivers' Champion (R.Dunkerton)
1992 Zlatni Piassatzi (European Rally Championship) 1st
Polish Rally (European Rally Championship) 1st
Barum Rally (European Rally Championship) 1st
Rallye Deutchland (European Rally Championship) 1st
Hunsruck (European Rally Championship) 1st
Rally of Indonesia(APRC) 1st
Rallye ELPA (European Rally Championship) 1st
Rally of Malaysia(APRC) 1st
Bandama Rally(WRC) 1st
Rally of Thailand(APRC) 1st
European Rally Championship(ERC) Drivers' Champion (E.Weber)
Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) Manufacturers' Champion
Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) Drivers' Champion (R.Dunkerton)
*WRC=World Rally Championship
*APRC=Asia Pacific Rally Championship
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MIjn sticker is dus een soort eerbetoon aan die auto.
[ Bericht 0% gewijzigd door OxygeneFRL op 31-07-2008 19:26:50 ]