The Mitsubishi Sapporro was the Japanese Citroen CX

The E-Segment and the Japanese. Oh Dear. Well, I’m screaming that loud when I think oft he beginnings of it outside of Japan. The E-Segment was, well – out of reach? Think of Japanese cars in the 1960s and 70s. Bargain cars really, and it took some years until they finally reached the class. And one of the most remarcable cars out of the Japanese E-Segment: The Mitsubish Sapporro.

And as so often with Japanese cars, this whole bit could be written about all the different names this had on all the different markets. Let‘s skip that, roll the tape ffw – the Sapporro was effectively the 5th gen #MitsubishiGalant in a way nicer dress. It was different in many ways. First of all, at least in Europe it was an attempt to sniff a bit petrol above the rather humble Galant – and failed. And second, probably part of the fail, it brought a unique Japanese design feature. When you think about Japanese saloon cars, they were offered with a fixed roof like we all used to, but whats in front of your peepers is the saloon world party piece: Yes, it’s a so called hardtop saloon.

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Off course, this has some serious american smell, but really, the Japanese used that design feature properly until today. But in most cases, the hardtop, and in best cases pillarless, saloon never really made it outside of Japan. The #Sapporro saloon came in 1987 as hardtop saloon only (!), and brought back the utterly beautiful Sapporro badge. European cars got the 2.4 four cylinder, the Americans got a 3.0 V6 on their tables. Now hold your breath guys, I’m saying this, but the Sapporro was sort of a Japanese #CitroenCX, packed with interesting features and design clues, like a self-levelling suspension and a plush and bonkers interior design. And yes, that was all too much for the European buyer, who wanted something with a German badge on it, instead of something bullet proof. The Sapporro was the top of the line offering for years, until #Mitsubishi was about to fail again with the #MitsubishiSigma from down under.