Born from the Mitsubishi-Chrysler team-up at Diamond-Star Motors (DSM), the 2G built on the first-gen setup shared with the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. Mitsubishi's California designers smoothed out the sharp edges of the original, dropping the drag and rolling it out for '95. They wanted something sportier yet comfy for everyday U.S. drivers, so they bumped up the cabin space and threw in dual airbags standard across the board.

Timeless Styling

Picture a lower-slung body cutting through the wind, ditching those old pop-up headlights for fixed ones on top trims, wide fenders, and spoilers that screamed speed on GSX models. The 1997 facelift cranked it up with bigger air intakes up front, edgier accents, and a massive rear wing—right as the Talon bowed out in '98. Over in Europe, they spiced it with amber taillights, funky mirrors, and a non-turbo 4G63 for that unique flavor.

Upgraded Interior

The interior got way more livable, fitting four folks nicely with nicer fabrics and leather options on GS and GSX rides. They stepped up safety with side door beams, crumple zones, and ABS if you sprang for it—though base RS stuck with rear drums. Later on, the Spyder dropped the top for some fun-in-the-sun action without messing with the solid 2G bones.

Engines That Packed a Punch

The Mitsubishi 4G63 (or 4G63T when turbocharged) is straight-up legendary for how tough it is and the crazy power you can squeeze out of it.

Turbo Boost

This thing's got a cast-iron block and forged crank that laughs at huge boost levels—stock setup handles 350 hp easy with some tweaks, and fully built ones smash past 700 hp no sweat. Those DOHC 16-valve heads and rock-solid bottom end turned it into a rally beast for Lancer Evolutions.

AWD

Kicking off at 135 hp in NA form, turbo versions cranked 280+ hp and 214–290 lb-ft from its 2.0L heart, fitting perfect in Eclipse GST/GSX, Galant VR-4, and Evos. Low compression (8.3:1 to 9.5:1) made it a dream for big snails like the TD05.

Tuner Icon Forever

Aftermarket parts galore made DSM rides dragstrip monsters, thanks to oil squirters, beefy rods, and revs up to 7,500 rpm. Even today, it's the go-to for engine swaps everywhere.

Lasting Cool Factor

As DSM wrapped up by '99, the 2G still moved over 200,000 copies, turning into a tuner legend thanks to that bulletproof 4G63 and endless aftermarket parts. Its look shaped later Eclipses, even as Chrysler dipped out—still a '90s icon that modders chase today.