These are independent illustrations that were penned by CarScoops’ artist Josh Byrnes and which are neither related to nor endorsed by Mitsubishi.

If there is one thing from the 90s I’ve managed to remember, it was the countless hours, days, and weeks spent mastering Gran Turismo on Playstation. I’m sure many of you did the same, too, forming digital bonds with low-poly count renditions of some of the worlds most desirable cars.

One of my guilty pleasures was Mitsubishi’s 3000GT which, oddly, was marketed as the GTO only in Japan, as the automaker wanted to avoid an association with the Ferrari and Pontiac nameplates in overseas markets. The 3000GT looked futuristic and had a 320 hp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6. Which, to someone who had recently gained their driver’s license, was akin to a modern-day Lamborghini Huracan in terms of power and outright performance.

See: Illustrating A Successor To The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 For 2023

Illustrations Copyright Carscoops.com / Josh Byrnes

In reality, though, the 3000GT was actually a rival to Toyota’s hot-shot Supra, Nissan Skyline, Mazda RX7 and Nissan 300ZX of the day. However, just like when you meet your superhero at a comic-con convention, things didn’t quite live up to expectations when sampling the car in person. Sure, it was good, but only as a grand tourer as opposed to a track weapon.

Fast forward to a pandemic-ridden 2021, and a plethora of nameplates from the 90s hall of fame are getting a reboot. Toyota’s Supra, Nissan Z, and even the freshly-announced Acura Integra have another lease on life. Exciting, yes, yet as the title suggests, what you’re really here for is a 3000GT redux.

Read: Mitsubishi Selling Off Its Heritage Fleet Of Collector Cars

The Mitsubishi 3000GT, also known as the GTO in Japan, was produced from 1990 through 2000. Seen here is a 1992 3000GT from Mitsubishi’s heritage collection that recently went on sale

Dynamic Design

While Mitsubishi currently has no revival plans, we’ve taken creative license to envisage how a modern-day car could look using inspiration from the automaker’s past. In an air of Cyberpunk and Mitsubishi’s Starion from the ‘80s, this study rocks a wedge-like profile with a futuristic presence.

Also See: Everything We Know About The RWD 2023 Mazda6 Sports Sedan

Vertical hood inlays and shark-nosed frontal graphics hint at its potent performance credentials, whilst the upper DRL’s mimic the color-coded rear pillar strakes. Viewing the car in profile yields a similar silhouette to the original 3000GT, with its horizontal body lines and wrap-around rear window. Contrasting splitters, side skirts and the rear diffuser have subtle color-coded stripes, helping cement the “go-fast” aesthetic.

Twin-Turbo Performance – Possibly With Hybrid AWD Tech?

As Mitsubishi is in an alliance with Nissan, the new Z coupe would be the most logical choice as a starting platform. It would also allow access to Nissan’s VR30DDTT 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 that develops 400 hp (298kW) of power and 350 foot-pounds (475Nm) of torque. Power would appropriately be fed to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or nine-speed auto transmission.

Read: How Nissan’s Z Screws Toyota’s GR Supra By Offering More Power Than The 3.0 For Less Than The 2.0

On the green side of the coin, there have been reports that Mitsubishi is working on an Outlander Ralliart variant featuring a plug-in hybrid system. If this hybrid know-how could somehow be applied to Nissan’s twin-turbo V6, a seriously rapid all-wheel-drive monster would be the end result. VR-4, anyone?

In the 1990s, Dodge sold a rebadged 3000GT as the Stealth sporting some minor cosmetic changes over the Mitsubishi

Cabin & The Competition

Inside, the 3000GT would have similar dimensions to the new Nissan Z, albeit with a more futuristic layout. Tech features would include a digital instrument cluster, heads-up display, and a large infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Wi-Fi capabilities.

As spiritual rivals such as Toyota’s Supra, Nissan Z and Ford Mustang have their day in the sun, would you like to see a revival of the 3000GT as an MY2023 offering? We’d love to hear your views in the comments section below.

Illustrations Copyright Carscoops.com / Josh Byrnes