Mitsubishi Launches Lancer Sportback @ AIMS 2008

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/October/2008

Sydney, Australia — Mitsubishi had a strong showing at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show, exhibiting a number of highly anticipated production cars and also the odd concept car.

As well as the new 5-door Lancer Sportback model, essentially a hatchback version of the Lancer sedan, Mitsubishi also launched its exciting Ralliart Lancer models, which will do battle with Subaru's new Impreza WRX.

Add to this a new concept car based on the Triton and developed by Team Mitsubishi Ralliart and a new Triton Fastback model and it made for a very strong showing in Sydney.

Lancer Sportback

As Mitsubishi moves forward, one of the lynch pins of its revitalised product line-up is the new Lancer which has just been bolstered by the Sportback.

This European styled hatchback model brings a dynamic new look to the Lancer range and is available in three grades:

ES: $20,990 (2.0-litre, 113kW)
VR: $25,990 (2.0-litre, 113kW)
VRX: $29,70 (2.4-litre, 125kW)

Along with the three grades of Lancer Sportback, Mitsubishi also showed off the Ralliart Lancer Sportback, the hero model of the range. Along with the sedan version, it is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that outputs 177kW and 343Nm of torque.

Making its Australian debut at the Sydney Show, Mitsubishi's president and chief executive officer, Robert McEniry, said the arrival of the all-new Lancer Sportback completed the wide-ranging and award-winning Lancer family in Australia.

"The all-new Lancer Sportback joins the acclaimed Lancer sedan line-up, along with 2.0-litre ES and VR variants, the new premium 2.4-litre Aspire and sporty VRX sedans, the outstanding Lancer Evolution sports sedan and the all-new Ralliart Lancer sedan and Sportback. 

"Mitsubishi now offers a complete range of vehicles in the small car segment, and we can meet just about any requirement any small car owner could ever have," Mr McEniry said.

The Lancer Sportback's safety credentials have been retained in the move from sedan to hatch, keeping its 5-star ANCAP safety rating. All Lancer Sportback models get active stability control with traction control (ASTC), ABS braking system with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA) plus the availability of seven airbags across the entire range.

"In the current economic environment, Australia is turning to the small car to meet their driving needs, and the success of the Lancer sedan is testament to that fact," said McEniry.

"There is no doubt that the all-new Lancer Sportback will open up additional opportunities for us here in Australia. It is 13 years since Mitsubishi has been able to offer a hatch-style body in the small car market, and now we have the opportunity to expand our appeal to all small-car consumers," said Mr McEniry.

Lancer Ralliart

While the Lancer Sportback will change the state of play in the small car segment, it's the Ralliart models that add excitement.

Powered by de-tuned 177 kilowatts versions of the hard-charging Evolution's turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder engine, and coupled with similar 4WD and transmission systems, the new models will do battle with the Subaru WRX.

Priced at $42,490 for both body styles in manual or twin-clutch automatic guises, Mr McEniry said: "I fully expect to the see Ralliart Lancers generate some real fireworks in this segment in the coming months."

That's code for: the Subaru WRX is going down!

Robert McEniry said the Ralliart Lancers are targeted squarely at a specific audience: "These vehicles will appeal to true motor sport enthusiasts - women and men who love to drive and relish a sporting image.

"There is no denying that these vehicles have attitude, and in true Mitsubishi style, they have the pedigree and performance to live up to the hype," McEniry added.

Available in either Sportback or sedan body styles, Mitsubishi explained that the Ralliart Lancers share a retuned version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 4-cylinder engine that powers the Lancer Evolution.

The pump out 177kW of power @ 6000rpm and 343Nm of torque @ 4750rpm. 

All Ralliart Lancers will come standard with the acclaimed Twin Clutch Sport Shift Transmission (TC-SST) – complete with steering wheel paddle shifters - from the Lancer Evolution.

Mitsubishi claims the inclusion of the TC-SST as standard on the Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancers give them unique advantage over their competitors (the Subaru WRX) in that it allows the driver to "exploit the superior shifting control and time advantages this cutting edge technology offers".

Ralliart Lancer models also share their all-wheel drive system with the Evolution. This includes the following systems:

Active Traction Control
Active Stability Control
Active Centre Differential and Electronic Control
Rear mechanical Limited Slip Differential

TMR Triton

Mitsubishi's crowd-pulling concept car wasn't as flashy as some of the imported competition at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show, but there's no doubting it's street cred.

Clearly targetting the TRD HiLux, this new model has legs and according to its creators, the Triton TMR "closely represents a production reality". 

Prepared by Alan Heaphy’s TMR engineering centre at Dandenong, Victoria, the TMR Triton delivers increased power and enhanced performance and handling, whilst preserving the tough, dependable spirit for which Triton is known.

Powered by a 3.2-litre turbo diesel engine making 132kW @ 3800rpm and big hit of torque, 450Nm @ 2000rpm, the TMR (Team Mitsubishi Ralliart) Triton also gets a number of cosmetic and chassis upgrades.

TMR says in terms of handling capabilities, the Triton concept is "unparalleled". It gets new Koni 8240 series shock absorbers fitted to the front and rear, plus larger front brakes measuring 343mm x 29mm with 4-piston calipers and high performance Ferodo DS25HP brake pads.

Sitting on 18-inch Dakar alloy wheels shod with Pirelli Scorpion ATR 255/55 R18 tyres, the concept ute delivers all-terrain versatility.

Exterior upgrades to the TMR Triton include the addition of a sports headlamp kit and chrome upper and lower sports grille plus unique TMR Triton badging.

The interior has also been jazzed up with stitched TMR logos to the front and rear leather seats, stainless steel scuff plates and a full carpet mat set. It's even got a boosted audio system: an Eclipse CD3200 Multi Source Sound System with 50W x 4 internal amplifiers along with USB input, integrated Bluetooth hands-free and full iPod control.

Triton Fastback

Another tricked-out Triton, the Fastback is priced from $51,990 and basically features futuristic sports style bars and a durable hard tonneau cover, yet even with these addons it gives the vehicle a much sportier stance.

Mitsubishi says the Triton Fastback was first conceived as part of the Panther range of concept vehicles, designed to change the profile of some of the company’s most popular commercial and passenger vehicles, such as the Grandis, Pajero, Lancer and Triton vehicles, and was exhibited at last year’s Sydney show.

Proving that style is critically important to the ever-increasing four-wheel drive utility segment, the Panther concept that attracted the most attention at last year’s Sydney show was the Triton utility.

According to MMAL's president and chief executive officer, Robert McEniry, the huge amount of positive feedback the company received regarding the Triton Panther surprised the company.

"We knew that one of Triton's strengths – apart from its rugged, go-anywhere four-wheel drive ability and excellent on road manners – was its out-there stylish design. And we also knew that drivers in this segment were very switched on to styling trends.

"But we simply didn't expect the avalanche of enquiry we received regarding this vehicle. The interest was so great that we couldn't resist introducing the Triton Fastback as an ongoing variant in the Triton utility range," Mr McEniry said.

The Mitsubishi Triton Fastback stays true to the concept's vision, and includes sports style bars, a distinctive hard tonneau cover, a unique front bumper protector and 17 inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Triton Fastback features a comprehensive list of luxury appointments, including leather seat trim, steering wheel cover and gearshift and transfer lever, an electric sunroof and automatic climate control air-conditioning.

All Triton Fastbacks are based on the popular GLS model Triton, ensuring the vehicle receives top-of-the-line occupant comfort specifications and appointments and the full economic and performance benefits of the company’s award winning 3.2-litre intercooled and turbo charged diesel engine. 

In addition, all Mitsubishi Triton GLS variants now come standard with the company's acclaimed Super Select four-wheel drive system, a technologically advanced system which ensures sure-footed driveability and refinement no matter what surface you are driving on or what the road conditions are.

The Mitsubishi  Triton Fastback will be available from all Mitsubishi dealers around Australia in November and will be priced from a reasonable $51,990 for manual variants and $53,990 for automatic variants.

Related Links:
- Mitsubishi Lancer 2.4 (2009)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback (2009)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (2008)
- Mitsubishi Pajero (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Evolution X (2008)
- Mitsubishi Concept-RA (2008)
- Mitsubishi Lancer (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback (2009)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008)
- Mitsubishi Outlander (Road Test)
- Swift Sport vs. Ralliart Colt (Road Test)
- Mitsubishi Ralliart Colt (Road Test)