Ingress and egress is made easier due to low-cut frameless doors, placing the driver behind a redesigned center instrument panel and all-new center stack. Updated electronic dials for the automatic climate control are classy while a reshaped center armrest is more comfortable and reworked cupholders more functional.
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| LS and VR-X models get Mitsubishi's talented Sportronic 4-speed automatic transmission with manual mode - one of the best in the business. (Photo: Mitsubishi) |
Base ES models get premium cloth upholstery, now improved to match its upscale outward appearance. Leather is standard in the LS and available the sporty VR-X, while a new 270-watt Mitsubishi/Infinity premium audio system now comes standard on the two top models. The LS and VR-X also get Mitsubishi's talented Sportronic 4-speed automatic transmission with manual mode - one of the best in the business. It's also driver-adaptable, changing shift points dependent on driver input.
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| Even the base Diamante ES receives Mitsubishi's smooth and powerful 60-degree 205-hp 3.5-L V6 engine. (Photo: Mitsubishi) |
Even the entry-level ES gets the brand's smooth and powerful 60-degree 3.5-L V6. While not as large in displacement or as powerful as the smaller Galant's new 3.8-L, a fact that throws a giant question mark into my mind, the Diamante's engine still produces a reasonable 205-hp and 231 lb-ft of torque, ample to propel the sub-3,500 pound car to highway speeds in an exhilarating fashion.
Base models get large diameter 16-inch triple-five-spoke alloy rims wrapped with V-rated 215/60R16 all-season tires. A front MacPherson strut suspension is mated to a sophisticated multi-link design in the rear, with both front and rear stabilizer bars designed to keep the car more or less horizontal during aggressive cornering. While it reportedly handles well, the Diamante has been tuned for comfort in ES and LS designations, with softer coil springs, dampers and bushings designed to reduce jarring from road imperfections. The Diamante's speed sensitive rack-and-pinion steering benefits low speed maneuvers such as u-turns and parking in tight garages while firming up at highway velocities, where more resistance is appreciated. Stopping power is enhanced with 4-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS on all models.