MEET Mitsubishi Australia's replacement for its nine-year-old Magna, the make-or-break 380 sedan. Developed at a cost of $600 million, it's the most researched model in Mitsubishi's local history, and promises to be the best-quality locally-built vehicle ever produced. The 380 injects a number of firsts into the Aussie-built large sedan market by being quieter, more refined, quicker, more frugal and more spacious than most of its rivals. The 380 also stops, steers and handles with finesse. But will a number of important oversights - and a bevy of large new models to come from Holdem Toyota and Ford - stop it from being as successful as it needs to be?

Mitsubishi Magna/Verada
Released: June 2003
Ended: September 2005
Family Tree: 380The sedan-only 380 replaces the Series II TW/KW Magna/Verada sedan and wagon released in October 2004, which itself was the last in a line of facelifts for a model that began life as the TE Magna in April 1996. Powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder and a 3.0-litre V6, the TE Magna sedan became the TF in June 1997 and the TH in March 1999 - when the 3.5-litre V6 was introduced. The TJ emerged in August 2000, followed by the controversial new look of the TL/KL Magna/Verada in June 2003. It was replaced by Magna's last hurrah, confusingly named the TW/KW Series II, in October 2004.
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