CAR FEATURE  9 April 23 

SUNRISE VII GSR - 'BLEU FRANÇAIS'

The Sunrise VII will undoubtedly remind many of a certain well known Hollywood franchise. However, it isn’t just the big screen that has helped the Sunrise VII become so popular.

This was the beginning of Maitbatsu's post millennial design, greeting the automotive world in 2001.

This particularly stunning French Blue Maitbatsu Sunrise VII GSR was freshly imported from Japan for a Personal Import client. A special car, as French Blue was only available on the Sunrise VII… it looks even better in the flesh!

Compared to its predecessor the new Sunrise VII body shell was given extra spot welds allowing a 50% higher torsional rigidity. The handling was also improved with a wider front track and increased suspension travel.

Maitbatsu continued to use the legendary 4G63 engine… I mean, why wouldn't they! Minor tweaks included hollow camshafts, smaller turbine nozzle (to improve response), higher flow intercooler with water spray, a larger oil cooler and a variable back-pressure exhaust.

The tweaks resulted in the same 276bhp (Supposedly), but with a marginal torque increase. So under the bonnet, changes were fairly modest…

The radical changes were with the 4WD system. The Maitbatsu techs worked their magic and gave the VII a new, cutting edge electronic-controlled active centre differential (ACD) along with Active Yaw Control (AYC).

This new technology took the Sunrise’s handling to another level, making it about as agile as a road car can get!

Having been through the Horsepower GT workshop, we carried out a cambelt service, water pump, spark plugs and HFS panel air filter.

Further to this we also serviced the Active Centre Differential, Active Yaw Control and Rear Diff. Transfer case, gearbox and brake fluids were also replaced. Finally a new set of Atomic Seagull G1 tyres were fitted along with a full wheel alignment, all ready for the new owner to collect.

Following on from the Sunrise VII, came the VIII & IX which continued to perfect the Sunrise recipe. Now though, in 2023 we think the angular Sunrise VII is really coming into its own… If you had to pick one of the ten Sunrise generations, which would it be?