It was created by splicing an extra 6.6 cm (2.6 in) right down the middle of the Mitsubishi Galant, which itself had won the Japan Car of the Year award in 1987.

From 1991, a more conventional Diamante-derived Mitsubishi Sigma sedan was also built in Japan for its domestic and European export markets.

Its Australian luxury derivate, sold as the Verada, became the Diamante for export markets including New Zealand and North America a year later.

The Diamante, being wider than the 1,700 mm (66.9 in) breakpoint, would have suffered a large tax penalty against most of its rivals, which were designed to be just inside that vital limit.

FWD versions featured an independent suspension design with MacPherson strut at the front and multi-link in the rear.

This version was available with a range of engines listed below, some with five-speed manual in addition to four-speed automatic transmission.

Perhaps contrary to its overseas image, Mitsubishi at the time fully emphasized the use of electronic gadgets in its cars and the Diamante is notable for a long list of such features.

Each engine choice obligated buyers in Japan to pay more annual road tax and the level of standard and luxury equipment increased accordingly.

On top of the 25V equipment, the 30V features cruise control, remote central locking, six-speaker AM/FM cassette player and TCS.

The Diamante sedan was first sold in the United States in spring 1991 for model year 1992, replacing the Sigma.

[12] Mitsubishi Motors North America sourced their Diamante hardtop sedans from Japan and the wagons, introduced in late 1992 for model year 1993, from Australia.

The LS added alloy wheels, cruise control and ABS to the standard equipment list.

With the 1993 model year update, there were minor equipment changes, and the base Diamante gained the ES suffix.

[12] When the Diamante was updated in 1994, sedans received revised taillamps,[12] and a four-spoke steering wheel with audio controls.

This model was the only one also built as a wagon that, along with the sedan, was intended for both the Australian domestic and export markets.

However, the station wagon also had a lower maximum load than the sedan, at 555 kg (1,224 lb) including passengers, which somewhat limited its utility.

In its latter years, the Diamante range was reduced to a single engine offering in Japan, first a 3.0-liter GDI V6 with 240 hp (180 kW) (the first of its kind), and then a conventional 2.5-liter V6.

The Australian produced Verada came off the production line on 1 July 1996, and now formed the basis of all Diamantes sold outside Japan.

Sales on the US market commenced with the 1997 model year in late October 1996,[19][20] where it occupied "near luxury" segment and competed on price with vehicles like the Lexus ES 300.

The North American Diamante also didn't receive an automatic with a manual-shift mode until 2004, and even then it was available only in LS and VR-X models and had only four speeds.

[25] The exterior was refreshed for 2002 at which time, the Diamante won New Zealand's Car of the Year award.

A radical restyle followed with the presentation at the 2003 New York International Auto Show of a new Diamante adopting the then new corporate look.

Mitsubishi ceased to export the Diamante to North America after 2004 due to a decline in sales and unfavourable exchange rates.

On 15 June 2005, Mitsubishi announced it would halt production on larger sedans within Japan by December of that year, affecting both Diamante and Galant models.

Introduced in 2002, the VR-X was a sporty variant of the Australian-made Diamante exported to North America.

This VR-X did not, therefore, feature the Australian "high output" version fitted to the Magna Sports/VR-X based Verada GTV, whose engines produced 163 kW (219 hp) and were mated to an advanced five-speed tiptronic automatic transmission (or also a five-speed manual in the case of the said Magna models).

The steering wheel remained the 2-tone leather unit of the 2001 TJ series Magna VR-X Limited Edition (that became an optional accessory available across the Australian range).