Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback & Ralliart to Debut at Paris 2008

[FaLeX]

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback & Ralliart to Debut at Paris 2008

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080611....-at-paris-2008

Joining the new Mitsubishi Lancer sedan in European showrooms later this year is the brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback. The hatchback version of the Lancer, seen earlier as the Prototype S, will make it official show debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show this October.

Power in the Sportback comes from either a 1.5 liter 109 hp or 1.8 liter 143 hp gasoline engine or a 2.0 liter 140 hp diesel powerplant, coupled to the Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission). Mitsubishi's new diesel engine will join the range in the Spring of 2009. The Lancer Sportback joins in a highly competitive hatchback segment. The Sportback will also feature a new 'auto folding function' to maximize cargo space through a height adjustable rear floor and rear seats that can be tipped forward.

Mitsubishi will also display their new Lancer Ralliart and Lancer Sportback Ralliart models, the models are placed between the regular Lancer and the top-end Lancer Evolution. the Ralliart models are driven by a new turbocharged 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder DOHC MIVEC engine producing 240 hp (177 kW) and 343 Nm of torque. The more powerful engine is also mated to Mitsubishi's Twin Clutch SST transmission but with an added Active Center Differential for more responsive steering.

[spooled_u]

Very nice! I really hope they bring the Sportback Ralliart over here. I wouldn't mind driving the Lancer Ralliart while the wife would love the Sportback as her station wagon replacement...

[mitsupwr]

http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1785.html

[Option]

Man, I hope Mitsu can get the Ralliart version to the states in the near future. I don't know how much longer my current car can hold out and Audi's finally releasing the 2.0 Quatro A3 in the US this fall.

[Mzderrick04]

I really like the orange... I wish that would have been available in the X

[ray3328]

I like how the Sportback looks in white. I wouldn't mind driving it as a daily driver.

[crgray]

sportback is pretty cool, need to see it in black metallic

[4g63smokinall4s]

not bad!

[04Evo8RS]

sweet!

[turbo26tsi]

hopefully they give i some sort of widebody or more shapely fenders. Taillights look better than the x.

Mitsu really does need it to compete with the usa market!!

[Jehuty]

I must say that ralliart is looking like teh sex

[MR Turco]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/02/s...aks-out-ahead/

[JohnnyBoy427]

Its a pretty good looking car but I think they should have made the rear end look a little more boxy to go with the edgy front

[Option]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoy427

Its a pretty good looking car but I think they should have made the rear end look a little more boxy to go with the edgy front

I knew there was something strange about the design. I couldn't put my finger on it but you may have hit the nail on the head.

The only other visual issue I've been able to identify is that, like the sedan version, it seem too tall for it's width. The Evo looks well balanced with the extended fenders but without, the lancer gives me a visual impression that says "don't corner too hard, I might tip over."

One final note, I read in one of the Euro reviews that the sportback is actually longer than the sedan (extra junk in the trunk) which I think gives it more of a "wagon" look (as opposed to a "hatch" look).

[threepointsix]