MITSUBISHI GALANT BECOMES AN EVEN BRIGHTER MID-SIZE SEDAN

New Solar Tinted Glass Reflects Several Improvements for 1998

In a world of boring, look-alike sedans, the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant remains a welcome exception. With its sporty exterior design, powerful yet economical engine and roomy interior, the reliable Galant is a bright alternative to sedans like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or Nissan Altima. Built in the U.S., the Galant mid-size sedan has plenty of room for five, and a spacious 12.5 cubic foot trunk. A large 16.9-gallon fuel tank allows fewer stops for weekend excursions. Dual front airbags, safety cage construction, side-guard door beams and height-adjustable front seat belts protect when the unavoidable happens. And, of course, there are dual cupholders ready for a quick stop at your favorite fast food restaurant.

IMPROVEMENTS - Buy The Galant Here

Yet Mitsubishi Motors went further to make the 1998 Galant better and more reliable. New solar tinted glass helps block the entry of ultraviolet light, allowing the interior to be cooler on hot days while reducing the chance interior materials will fade. And, there's also a new heavy duty starter and battery. While Galant may be durable and practical, it also has style, performance and comfort. As proof, the Galant remains the exclusive car used for the advanced course at the Russell Driving School in Sonoma, California. According to the Russell instructors, Galant's high-torque, 141-horsepower 2.4-liter 16-valve engine provides quick and responsive acceleration. And, its sophisticated four-wheel independent multi-link suspension with front stabilizer bar, standard power steering allows agile handling and reassuring stability. It's a sporty combination that few other mid-size sedans can match.

TRANSMISSION - Buy The Galant Here

Galant even has an intelligent four-speed automatic transmission that thinks for itself. Reading the road, the transmission applies the proper shift profile for going uphill, downhill, or over a flat highway. This sophisticated system eliminates the annoying "gear hunt" of ordinary transmissions, while automatically downshifting for engine braking when Galant is traveling down long hills.

DESIGN - Buy The Galant Here

The exterior design also reflects an athletic personality. From the aggressive front air intakes, the subtly sculptured side panels to the international look of the taillamps, Galant appears to be more sports sedan than family sedan. The overall design is aerodynamically oriented to minimize wind noise while maximizing efficiency.

INTERIOR - Buy The Galant Here

Inside, Galant takes design cues from its other U.S.-assembled sibling, the Eclipse sports coupe. The instrument cluster includes a large tachometer and 140-mph speedometer and the entire panel is angled slightly toward the driver. Its front bucket seats have ample side bolsters for spirited cornering and the center console houses a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and handy storage compartments. As part of its spirited yet practical personality, Galant also offers a great deal of value. A long list of standard and optional features, plus a choice of three different models, allow families to choose the properly equipped Galant for their needs.

Galant DE - Buy The Galant Here

Galant DE, available in both five-speed or four-speed automatic versions, is so well equipped it's difficult to perceive it as a base model. Standard features include deluxe cloth seats, remote releases for the trunk and fuel door, height adjustable steering column, intermittent wipers, a rear window defroster, digital clock and full instrumentation. Air conditioning and an AM/FM stereo with cassette player can be added as options.

Galant ES - Buy The Galant Here

Galant ES, also available with a five-speed manual (new for 1998) or automatic transmission, is the most popular in the line. Outside, the ES differentiates itself with new chrome window and grille accents. Inside, Galant ES has air conditioning, power windows with 30-second power reserve, power door locks, luxury cloth seat and door trim, AM/FM stereo with a cassette player and six speakers, variable intermittent wipers and a fold-down rear seat. Galant ES buyers can select the Premium Package which adds a power sunroof, a Mitsubishi/HomeLink® Universal Transmitter, security system with remote keyless entry and panic feature, fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels with locks, dual illuminated visor mirrors and rear seat heater ducts.

Galant LS - Buy The Galant Here

The top-of-the-line Galant LS is a mid-size luxury sedan, complete with a four-speed automatic, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), automatic climate control, leather seating surfaces with an 8-way power driver's seat, premium Mitsubishi/Infinityâ AM/FM stereo with a cassette player, separate amplifier and eight speakers, the Mitsubishi/HomeLinkâ Universal Transmitter, security system with keyless entry and a power glass sunroof. In fact, Galant LS is so fully equipped, the only factory options are a dash-mounted compact disc player or rear mounted 10-disc changer. With its combination of practicality, style and value, the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant is certainly not the average mid-size sedan. Whether it's used as the perfect family car, or as the training vehicle at an advanced driving school, Galant remains a very bright choice.

ENGINE - Buy The Galant Here

All Galant models are powered by a 16-valve, 2.4-liter single overhead camshaft (SOHC) 4-cylinder engine that produces 141 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 148 lbs.-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. The 2.4-liter features a cast iron block with an aluminum cylinder head, a belt-driven overhead camshaft, 4-valves-per-cylinder for improved performance and fuel economy, hydraulic valve lash adjusters that eliminate the need for periodic adjustment and electronically controlled multi-point fuel injection. Galant's smoothness and quietness is greatly enhanced by Dual Engine Stabilizers, counter-rotating balance shafts inside the engine block that offset the vibrations typical of a large displacement 4-cylinder engine. As a result, the drivetrain responds more smoothly and more quietly, vibrates less and transmits more torque while remaining relaxed and refined under all driving conditions.

TRANSMISSIONS - Buy The Galant Here

Galant DE and ES have a standard a 5-speed manual gearbox. Galant LS has a 4-speed automatic, which is also available for Galant DE and ES. The automatic features an overdrive fourth gear for improved fuel economy, adaptive transmission control management and an electronic engine transmission interactive control system. Adaptive control management assimilates data such as throttle position, vehicle speed and brake application. With this information, the transmission can "read" the road and determine if the Galant is driving uphill, downhill, along a twisty road, or over a flat expanse of freeway. The system can virtually eliminate the sporadic "hunting" between gears that is common to many automatics. Additionally, the transmission resists shifting during cornering and will downshift automatically for engine braking when the vehicle is traveling down hills. The Galant automatic also "talks" to the engine through the electronic control engine management computer, allowing the engine to pause for a split second during shifts. The result is reduced shift shock during normal driving and allows more consistent and coordinated performance during hard acceleration.

SUSPENSION - Buy The Galant Here

Galant's outstanding balance of ride comfort and handling composure are directly attributed to its 4-wheel independent multi-link suspension with coil springs. Up front, the multi-link design consists of an upper A-arm, two lower transverse links and an upright link (connecting the upper and lower suspension control arms) on which the wheel hub is mounted. A similar multi-link suspension, featuring an upper A-arm, a lower trailing link, and two lower split-level lateral links is used at the rear. All Galant models have a front stabilizer bar which reduces body roll when cornering, adding to the stability and handling capabilities. Advantages of the 4-wheel, multi-link suspension design include optimal camber control, which helps keep the tires perpendicular to the road during acceleration, braking and cornering. Whether the pavement is smooth or rough, the tires maintain a firm and consistent grip on the pavement. Other benefits include reduced understeer, resistance to front-end shimmy and superior tracking over rough roads. Because the multi-link design provides better control of the wheels, the suspension can be tuned for a smoother ride without compromising handling. For added passenger comfort and quietness, all suspension components are mounted to front and rear crossmembers which are, in turn, isolated from the body. Rubber insulators placed between the suspension and the crossmembers, and also between the crossmembers and the body, form a double wall of protection against road harshness and noise. To further enhance stability and straight-line performance, Galant rides on tires designed with tighter construction tolerances. Additionally, the front crossmember has been significantly strengthened.

STEERING - Buy The Galant Here

For precise control, enhanced road feel and superior stability, all Galant models feature engine-speed sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Power assist subtly decreases as engine speed increases, resulting in increased power assist for low-speed maneuvering such as parking and urban driving; yet at higher speeds, the power assist is reduced to improve road feel and stability.

BRAKES - Buy The Galant Here

All Galant models feature a responsive power-assisted front disc/rear drum braking system. For reduced fade under severe conditions, the front rotors are internally vented for better cooling. For added durability, a protector film is used on the front wheels to eliminate rusting. A 4-sensor, 3-channel, 4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) is optional on Galant ES and standard on Galant LS.

NOISE, VIBRATION, HARSHNESS (NVH) REDUCTIONS - Buy The Galant Here

Mitsubishi Motors' engineers have made several strides to substantially increase Galant's comfort, quietness and smoothness. The thickness of the sound deadening material used in the rear wheel wells and quarter panels has been increased, with additional insulation added to the inner door panels, B and C pillars and the floor pan. The combined effects of these improvements result in an impressive reduction in noise and vibration levels in the cabin. The increased use of sound deadening insulation used in the dash panel area results in reduced engine noise, which pays even greater dividends in driver and passenger comfort. In addition, the adoption of a light-weight steering wheel minimizes vibration, resulting in less vibration reaching the driver's hands, especially at idle.

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