GTP Cool Wall: 1996-1999 Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 GLS Sedan

[GranTurismo916]

1996-1999 Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 GLS Sedan nominated by @Harsk100

Engines: 1.8L I4 (Mitsubishi 4G93)
Power: 125 hp
Torque: 128 lb-ft.
Weight: 1185 kg
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front engine, front wheel drive
Body Styles: 4-door sedan​

Spoiler: Additional Pics

 

[AudiMan2011]

Bland generic Japanese sedan with absolutely none of what it's name might suggest. Would probably give passengers narcolepsy too.

Uncool.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Talk about a car whose name writes a check that the rest can't carry... Sorry, there is no "Charisma" to be found here, just an average Japanese saloon that might give passengers a coma. More or less Mitsubishi's own (Toyota) Avensis.

Uncool.

 

[Dennisch]

Build in the Netherlands, yo!

Meh.

 

[CSMDuty11]

Mitsubishi, misspelling "Charisma" doesn't allow you to ignore the definition.
Even if one were to somehow see the typo as a pun.

 

[Wiegert]

So we're polling just one specific powertrain and trim level here?

Regardless, it gets a regular Uncool for what it is. Marked down to Seriously Uncool because of the ironic nameplate.

 

[Liquid]

Does not live up to its name. This car is like Keith from The Office. Just so... boring.

Uncool

 

[JR98]

Meh. Generic Japanese Saloon/Sedan with the wrong name.

 

[C-ZETA]

This is one Mitsubishi fans don't talk about.
SU.

 

[SomePlayaDude]

Another Carisma?

 

[Jet Badger]

Disposable mashup of random parts. Bleh.

 

[2clicks]

Uncool. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Stotty]

Carisma

Should have called it 'anonymous'.

SU

 

[ToyGTone]

Some Generic and Dull Japanese Car...

 

[CSMDuty11]

This is one Mitsubishi fans don't talk about.
SU.

Well, this, and any other cars that don't have "Lancer" or "Evolution" in their name.

And possibly the occasional Galant is mentioned as well.

 

[GTP_Ingram]

Normally I'd say a car like the Carisma would be too plain for a Seriously Uncool vote, but the single most inappropriate name for any car (ever) seals its fate.

 

[chzsln485]

This would have been meh, aside from the fact that Mitsubishi made a half-hearted, completely ineffective attempt to introduce some, er, "carisma" into the car. Perhaps they thought that groan-worthy pun was enough to rescue the complete lack of anything about this car.

Newsflash: it isn't.

 

[Legro]

Why to nominate the 1.8 GLS alone? I mean seriously, it's not like the other road Carismas were more or less cool.

Well, this, and any other cars that don't have "Lancer" or "Evolution" in their name.

Actually Ralliart used a Carisma badged Group A rally car in the late 90s and Mitsubishi did sell a car called Carisma GT Evolution in some countries at the same time. It wasn't based on the same Carisma we're talking about here. In fact, it was actually a Lancer Evo, but it was still a Carisma.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Blandness. That is all.

Meh.

 

[Adamgp]

Ironic name.

SU.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Carismatic. As opposed to charismatic.

 

[Dagger311]

Bland Japanese econobox, dragged down by its name and badge. SU.

 

[jeffgoddin]

looks like @Harsk100 thinks it's cool... care to explain, buddy? I gave it a meh for Netherlands (instead of uncool for being yet another boring car.)

 

[All Your Base]

Just a bland, average, generic economy sedan with a terrible name. I would vote SU, but Group A rallying just barely saved this car from SU.

 

[Epic B]

Lacks charisma. Meh.

 

[Grandea GTR]

It's like a regular, plain ol' Corolla. It's what can be considered that of an "appliance" for car standards, only made to take you place to place, a to b, etc.

Meh.

 

[Moglet]

On the positive side, it'll get you somewhere without getting wet.
On the negative side, it'll get you somewhere without getting wet.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Only Carisma-badged model that has an ounce of coolness:

Though even that loses points since its just the result of dire marketing from Mitsubishi's part rather than anything to actually do with the model itself.

As for the one nominated, very low meh. Literally just a car, only somehow a tad more pedestrian than the most pedestrian of cars in it's class.

 

[VXR]

How come some markets - is that an Italian plate? - got it as a Carisma Tommi? Sounds weird.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

As far as I'm aware, it was purely just an odd marketing strategy and a loophole for Mitsubishi to get an extra entry into rallying.

Mainland Europe never had that model of Lancer (since the Carisma was already out and filled up the Lancer's role in that segment), so in order to make the Evo marketable, they slapped a Carisma badge on it as it was of a similar size and shape. The only real tenacious link between the two was that the facelifted Carisma had some remarkably Evo V-esque rear lights. Even though its a poor similarity, it was enough for them to be able to market it as a Carisma.

The other bonus was that as it was now a completely 'seperate' model, it meant they had met homologation criteria and could enter it into WRC events. Mitsubishi were basically running double the cars. They didn't stick at it for long though in fairness.