A COMPLETELY new Australian-made mainstream car is a pretty rare thing, but that’s pretty much what Mitsubishi presents with its new 380 sedan. Using an all-new structure adapted from the American Mitsubishi Galant, plus a punchy 3.8-litre V6, the new car throws out a challenge not to be ignored by Holden, Ford, or Toyota. For quality, interior space, performance and style, the 380 rates comfortably among the front-runners, and exceeds them in some areas. Yes, the 380 is a good car - close to very good, even though it lacks some of the electronic sophistication we are almost taking for granted at all levels of the market today. That will come, in time.

TW/KW II Magna/Verada
Released: October 04
Ended: September 05
Family Tree: 380Effectively a new luxury variant within the 380 sedan range, the Calais/Fairmont Ghia-rivalling LX has no direct predecessor within the TW/KW Magna/Verada range, which the sedan-only, front-drive 380 line-up replaces. That said, the base 380 sedan replaces Magna ES sedan/wagon, 380 LS picks up where Magna LS (sedan/wagon and AWD sedan) left off, 380 LX effectively replaces both Magna VR wagon and Verada Ei sedan/wagon and Xi sedan, while 380 VRX (noially styled TL/KL version released in June 2003, following the AWD Magna's launch in January that year as a TJ/KJ model. Oddly, the final Magna/Verada was named the TW/KW Series II, launched in October 2004.
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