Mitsubishi Tredia

Mitsubishi Tredia
Overview
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Motors
Production	1982–1990
Assembly	Okazaki, Aichi, Japan (Nagoya Plant)
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front engine, front-/four-wheel drive
Related	Mitsubishi Cordia
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L 4G12 I4 1.6 L 4G32 I4 1.6 L 4G32T turbo I4 1.8 L 4G62 I4 1.8 L 4G62T turbo I4 2.0 L 4G63 I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 8-speed Super Shift manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,445 mm (96.3 in)
Length	4,280 mm (168.5 in) 4,380 mm (172.4 in) (USA)
Width	1,660 mm (65.4 in)
Height	1,310–1,370 mm (51.6–53.9 in)
Curb weight	950–1,086 kg (2,094–2,394 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Mitsubishi Lancer

The Mitsubishi Tredia was a compact sedan built by Mitsubishi Motors from 1982 to 1990. Its name is supposedly derived from Mitsubishi's "Three Diamonds" logo. Alongside the Cordia and Starion, it was one of the first cars imported and sold to America (and Panama) by the company without the involvement of its then partner, the Chrysler Corporation.^[1] In Japan, it was sold at a specific retail chain called Car Plaza.

Overview

Designed to fit between the existing Galant and Lancer models to increase the overall lineup of passenger vehicles,^[1] the Cordia and Tredia used front-wheel drive and were similar in design to the contemporary Mirage (although larger). They incorporated a MacPherson strut/independent trailing arm suspension, front disc brakes, manual or electrically controlled automatic transmission, and a choice of three engines: a 1.4 L rated at 68 hp (51 kW), a 1.6 L rated at 74 hp (55 kW) and a 114 hp (85 kW) turbocharged 1.6 L, which was the first such engine to be sold in Japan.^[1] Some smaller export markets also received a carb-fed 2.0 L rated at 110 hp (82 kW).^[2]

The cars were given a mild facelift in 1983, and four-wheel drive was offered in 1984. The engine range was overhauled in 1985 to allow the cars to run on unleaded fuel, including the introduction of a 1.8 L engine in both 100 hp (70 kW) naturally aspirated and 135 hp (101 kW) turbocharged form,^[2] before production was discontinued in 1990.^[1]

The U.S. market cars were of a somewhat different appearance, with considerably larger bumpers and unintegrated sealed-beam headlights. In the U.S. the Tredia was available in Base, L, and LS specs with the 2-liter G63B engine (88 hp or 66 kW) and the Turbo, with the 1.8 litre G62B with 116 hp (87 kW).^[3]

The Tredia was assembled, alongside the Cordia with which it shared many 'under the skin' parts, in New Zealand by Todd Motors, later Mitsubishi New Zealand. The cars were imported as CKD kits and were built with about 40% local content including glass, upholstery, carpet, wiring harnesses and radiators. Both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions were made. All models were initially 1.6-litre but the normally aspirated model was later changed to a 1.8-litre engine at the same time as the original 4x2 'Supershift' manual transmission was changed to a conventional five-speed gearbox. Normally aspirated models were also offered with a conventional three-speed automatic gearbox. In 1985 Todd's added an additional automatic-only 1.8SE trim version with two-tone paint, power windows and locks and four-speaker factory-fit audio system.

Gallery

• 
  Rear view of 1983 1.6 GLS (NZ)
• 
  The optional digital dashboard used in both the Tredia and Cordia.
• 
  The optional 8 speed Super Shift dual-mode manual gearbox used in both the Tredia and Cordia.

References