Mitsubishi used the Sigma name between 1976 and 1996 on several different vehicles derived from the Galant and the Diamante. The Galant saloon sold in Japan carried a Sigma badge for three generations, and versions built or sold in Australia, New Zealand and North America also used the name.
Mitsubishi Sigma at a glance
| Used | 1976–1996 |
|---|---|
| Japan | Galant saloon badged Galant Sigma, three generations, 1976–1987 |
| Australia | Galant saloon and estate as the Mitsubishi Sigma, 1980–1987 |
| Before that | Chrysler Sigma, 1977–1980 |
| New Zealand | Galant saloon and estate as Sigma, about 1977–1988 |
| North America | Galant Sigma from 1985, then Sigma for 1989 and 1990 |
| Diamante-based | six-window sedan sold as Sigma, 1991–1996 |
| Australian link | basis of the second-generation Mitsubishi Magna |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia entry on the Sigma name, which is short.
History of the Mitsubishi Sigma
The Galant years
Between 1976 and 1987 the Mitsubishi Galant saloon sold in Japan carried the Sigma suffix, the Greek letter written as a badge. In Australia, between 1980 and 1987 over two generations, the Galant saloon and estate were produced and sold as the Mitsubishi Sigma; from 1977 to 1980, before Mitsubishi took over Chrysler Australia’s operations, the same model had been marketed as the Chrysler Sigma. New Zealand sold its Galant saloons and estates as Sigmas for about three generations between roughly 1977 and 1988.
In North America the saloon bodywork of the fifth-generation Galant was sold from 1985 for the 1986 model year as the Mitsubishi Galant Sigma, and from 1988 to 1990 for the 1989 and 1990 model years simply as the Mitsubishi Sigma. The GSX-R 2.0 turbo version used a single-overhead-camshaft Cyclone engine that was the precursor of the later 4G63T twin-cam unit.
The Diamante years
A six-window, pillared saloon version of the first-generation Diamante hardtop was sold in Japan and Europe as the Mitsubishi Sigma between 1991 and 1996. In Europe the Australian-built estate derivative was also sold under the Sigma name. That Sigma formed the basis of the Australian-made second-generation Mitsubishi Magna, which shows how the name moved between platforms over twenty years.
One name, several cars
The material available for this page is a short overview of the name, so the article does not describe engines, equipment or production figures in detail. The Sigma is best understood as a badge applied to Galant and Diamante derivatives in markets where Mitsubishi wanted a different name.
Design and features
- Galant Sigma: the Japanese saloon badge from 1976 to 1987.
- Australian Sigma: built and sold there from 1980 to 1987.
- Chrysler Sigma: the same car before the Mitsubishi takeover.
- Diamante Sigma: the six-window saloon of 1991 to 1996.
- Magna link: the 1991 Sigma led to the Australian Magna.
Mitsubishi Sigma versions
- Galant Sigma (1976): Japanese saloon badge.
- Chrysler Sigma (1977–1980): Australian version before the takeover.
- Mitsubishi Sigma (1980–1987): Australian saloon and estate.
- North American Sigma (1989–1990): Galant saloon.
- Diamante-based Sigma (1991–1996): six-window saloon.
The Sigma was a version of the Galant and later of the Diamante, and it led to the Australian Magna. More cars are in the Mitsubishi collection.
Sources
- Mitsubishi Sigma, English Wikipedia: the Galant and Diamante uses of the name
