[8] The only major aesthetic difference of the Magna relative to its Japanese donor was the wider body, as the general styling and side profile were similar also thanks to shared tooling for doors, guards and pillars.

[1] While still smaller and lighter than its then current RWD rivals, the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore,[9] the Magna trumped the latter for interior space due to the inherently superior packaging offered by the FWD layout.

Aimed at fleet buyers, this new variant added full plastic wheel coverings, standard power steering and manual or automatic transmission with air conditioning as the sole option.

Sale prices were a key critical factor in Magna's market competitiveness,[16] since for less money, MMAL was able to sell a more refined and economical package relative to its main rivals.

These included a more distinctive front grille, more expensive multi-parabola headlights relative to single units (the first Australian-built car to adopt these and a distinguishing figure for future luxury and sports Magna-derivatives) and greater cabin equipment to maintain a more premium status than the increasingly popular Magna V6.

Subsequent additions to the model range included the Advance (safety-package) and the Altera LS (mid-luxury package), which featured ABS, airbags, CD player and alloy wheels as standard.

Four were carried over from the previous TS Magna (i.e. Paris White, Calypso Red, Arctic Blue, and Maderia (maroon)) and another four were newly introduced (i.e. Silverleaf (silver), Kashmir (light beige), Greenstone and Embassy (charcoal grey)).

This specific model represented MMAL's foray into the Australian sporty family passenger car sector, as well as an initial and long overdue departure from the more conservative Japanese product planning.

Its main changes, like the TF series Magna, included new wheel designs and cabin trim, revised colours and a specification adjustment – such as an over-speed warning device, cupholders and standard dual front airbags.

The cost of this upgrade (including Verada models) reached A$12 million, which went towards increased availability of the 3.5-litre V6 engine and a matching manual transmission as well as specification and trim changes across the range.

The car's overall shape remained the same as the previous TE to TH series, except for a raised central section for the bonnet ending with a beak splitting the front grille, making some journalists coin the phrase "bird of prey".

Automatic Sports and VR-X (as well as Verada) models were now fitted with a five-speed Tiptronic transmission with "TCL" traction control system, making Mitsubishi the first Australian manufacturer to go beyond the then common four-speeds.

Inside it featured a four-disc in-dash CD player, while externally it was distinguished by 15-inch "Manta" alloy wheels as standard, two-tone paint finish and body-coloured exterior mirrors, front grille and door side mouldings.

[55] As part of this update, officially known as the TJ MY02 series,[56] side impact bars previously fitted only to export models were also introduced for Australian market cars, and the front doors now featured energy absorbing material.

[59] The latter was a Magna wagon with Sports/VR-X drivetrain, with a dark purple ChromaFlair exterior and interior centre console, full bodykit accented in silver, lowered suspension and aftermarket 17-inch ROH Adrenalin alloy wheels.

In fact, its overall styling was based on the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution range, in particular the front bumper bar (void of any fog lights) and its bi-plane deck lid spoiler inspired by the limited edition Lancer Evolution VI TME (the rest of the body kit included carry-over VR-X wheel arch extensions plus unique side skirts and squared-off chrome exhaust tip).

Among other things, in prototype form, Magna Ralliart was said to feature AWD, Supercharged, Recaro front seats, MOMO steering wheel and gear levers as part of a loud black and bright red interior.

In fact, the front seats ended up being the standard Mitsubishi-designed Magna seats, but with revised side bolsters; the standard Magna's steering wheel and gear levers were retained, although the former was leather wrapped (black and red) in Italy by MOMO; the red-only instrument cluster dials (but with a "Ralliart" inscribed rev counter) and silver interior trims for the centre console and tunnel were sourced from the VR-X Limited Edition (without the Verada-sourced chrome gear plate for the automatic fitted to the VR-X).

[62] Mechanically, the 240 km/h (150 mph) speed-limited Ralliart (compared to 210 km/h or 130 mph for the Sports/VR-X) featured 17x7-inch Enkei premium alloy wheels shod with Pirelli performance tyres (instead of locally sourced Bridgestone tyres), and Koni suspension dampers (tuned by Mitsubishi and optimised with the local Koni agent, Toperformance)[62] with similar same spring rates and 22 mm front, 18 mm rear anti-roll bars as the Magna Sports/VR-X, new power steering pump to increase weight and feedback, upsized brake disks from the Mitsubishi Diamante AWD and revised fuel tank to prevent starvation during high speed manoeuvres.

[63] The engine was a reworked version of the 6G74 design fitted to Magna Sports and VR-X, but now generating 210 kW thanks to a more aggressive cam profile, modified head and combustion chamber (compression ratio from the Sports/VR-X's 9.0:1 to 9.4:1), remapped ECU and a modified Magna VR-X exhaust system – featuring stainless-steel extractors by HM Headers (the latter on their own contributing to a power boost of only 2–3 kW) and larger muffler in the centre pipe (to improve mid- and high-rev exhaust note).

The hardware for the automatic transmission was effectively lifted from Sports/VR-X models, in that it featured the same "TCL" traction control unit (instead of the LSD exclusive to the manual Ralliart, from the Mitsubishi FTO GPX) but with altered shift patterns.

[48] The KJ Series 2 Verada also saw the introduction of Tiptronic to their five-speed automatic transmissions, whereas inside, there were a new instrument cluster, two-tone black/slate or black/sandstone colour schemes and chrome gearshift surrounds.

[67] With its introduction, MMAL could claim the title of being the first Australian mass-built AWD passenger car (excluding the XY Falcon-based commercial utility produced and sold by Ford Australia in the 1970s).

[68] With Magna now competing well in terms of overall size, the AWD development was an attempt by MMAL to counter Australians' long held perception that its perennial RWD rivals – the market-dominant Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore – offered better handling.

This led to a A$500,000 advertising campaign including on television, which portrayed a high speed sprint involving a Magna AWD, Holden Commodore (VY) and Ford Falcon (BA), with the latter RWD cars oversteering wildly out of control on a dirt bend.

The drivetrain proved to be mechanically reliable with improved handling compared to the FWD version, albeit at the cost of lower performance and official fuel consumption figures.

Despite its competitive pricing relative to the key rival products from Holden, Ford, and Toyota, ongoing speculation of the Adelaide plant's closure forced MMAL to launch extensive marketing campaigns and promotions, such as free servicing and cash-back offers.

[75] These models featured the TJ series Magna Ralliart's Koni suspension components and Enkei alloy wheels but no upgraded engine or brakes relative to the rest of the range.

Both the facelifted Magna and Verada benefited from a number of safety upgrades, as proven by the fact that all models met the then latest offset deformable barrier (ODB) and dynamic side impact requirements.

Systematic cost-cutting measures included the relocation of the front power window controls on the lesser Magna models from the door panels to the centre console, plus the removal of the individual battery cover compartment in the engine bay.