Mitsubishi Tredia: the saloon that came with the Cordia

The Mitsubishi Tredia is a subcompact saloon built from 1982 to 1990. Its name is supposedly derived from Mitsubishi’s three-diamond logo, and along with the Cordia and Starion it was one of the first cars the company sold in America without Chrysler’s involvement.

Mitsubishi Tredia at a glance

Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Mitsubishi Tredia.

History of the Mitsubishi Tredia

Between Galant and Lancer

The Tredia was designed to fit between the existing Galant and Lancer and to widen Mitsubishi’s passenger range. It and the Cordia used front-wheel drive and were similar in design to the contemporary Mirage, though larger. They had MacPherson struts with independent trailing arms, front disc brakes, manual or electrically controlled automatic transmission, and a choice of three engines: a 1.4-litre with 68 PS, a 1.6-litre with 75 PS and a turbocharged 1.6 of 115 PS, the first such engine sold in Japan. The 1600 Turbo had alloy wheels, a bonnet scoop, a stripe along the flank and stiffer suspension than the other models, and some smaller export markets also received a carburetted 2.0-litre of 110 PS.

The Tredia was usually well equipped, with rear headrests, an adjustable steering wheel and a graphic heater and ventilation display with coloured arrows showing how the air moved through the cabin. Like the Mirage and Colt it was based on, its standard transmission was Mitsubishi’s Super Shift, a four-speed with high and low gears giving eight forward speeds, also fitted to the turbo models. A conventional five-speed later replaced it in many versions but remained available until the car was discontinued in 1990.

Four-wheel drive and the 1985 range

A mild facelift came in 1983 and four-wheel drive was offered from October 1984, on the Tredia only with the 1.8-litre Saturn engine of 105 PS in Japanese trim. The engine range was overhauled in 1985 to run on unleaded fuel, adding a 1.8-litre in naturally aspirated 100 PS and turbocharged 135 PS form.

Markets

The Tredia and Cordia entered most European markets in October 1982, and in several countries the Tredia replaced the rear-wheel-drive Lancer even though the two were built in parallel for years. The main European engine was the 75 PS 1.6, later joined by a 1.8-litre of 90 PS with a five-speed gearbox and optional four-wheel drive, and the 1.6 turbo produced 114 PS in European trim. American cars looked different, with much larger bumpers and unintegrated sealed-beam headlights, and came in Base, L and LS form with the 88 hp 2.0-litre G63B or as a Turbo with the 116 hp 1.8-litre G62B.

In New Zealand the Tredia and Cordia were assembled by Todd Motors, later Mitsubishi New Zealand, from CKD kits with about 40 per cent local content. All were 1.6-litre at first, and the naturally aspirated model later moved to 1.8 litres when the Super Shift gave way to a five-speed; an automatic-only 1.8SE with two-tone paint, power windows, central locking and a four-speaker stereo joined in 1985.

Design and features

• Twin of the Cordia: a saloon sharing its mechanical parts with the coupé.
• Turbo 1.6: the first turbocharged 1.6 sold in Japan.
• Super Shift: eight forward speeds from a four-speed and a transfer box.
• Four-wheel drive: from 1984, with the 1.8-litre engine.
• Own imports: sold in America without Chrysler.

Mitsubishi Tredia versions

• 1.4 and 1.6 (1982): 68 and 75 PS models.
• 1600 Turbo: 115 PS with alloy wheels, scoop and stiffer suspension.
• 1.8 4WD (1984): four-wheel drive with the Saturn engine.
• 1985 range: 1.8-litre in 100 and 135 PS forms.
• American models: 2.0 G63B and 1.8 G62B turbo.

The Tredia’s coupé twin was the Cordia, and it replaced the rear-wheel-drive Lancer in several markets. Its platform also underpinned the Chariot, and more cars are in the Mitsubishi collection.

Sources

• Mitsubishi Tredia, English Wikipedia: engines, transmission, four-wheel drive, markets