Today Mitsubishi officially unveiled the all-new 2009 Lancer Ralliart.
The new addition to the Lancer family fits in between the 2009 Lancer GTS 2.4 and the Lancer Evolution GSR. The Ralliart actually includes many of the features of the Evolution, but at a lower price. The Ralliart is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged MIVEC 4-cyl with an estimated 235 horsepower. That power is put to the ground through Mitsubishi's TC-SST (Twin Clutch-SST) transmission. The car also features standard AWD and the same aluminum hood from the Evolution. Recaro seats are also available.
The 2009 Lancer Ralliart will be in showrooms this summer.
In other news Mitsubishi also announced that the 2009 Lancer GTS will get an upgraded engine from the current 2.0L (152hp) to a more powerful 2.4L (168hp) engine.
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It's Official! The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Starts at $32,990
PRESS RELEASE:
MITSUBISHI MOTORS NEW “MITSUBISHI CONCEPT-RA” AND LANCER RALLIART
DEBUT AT 2008 DETROIT AUTO SHOW
DETROIT, Michigan. – (January 13, 2008) – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. debut the MITSUBISHI Concept-RA and the Lancer Ralliart to the world at the 2008 edition of the North American International Auto Show. Building on Mitsubishi’s global history of exciting two door sports coupes, the MITSUBISHI Concept-RA takes the sports coupe design theme in a new direction and brings the ROAD ALIVE. The exciting MITSUBISHI Concept-RA is an athletic pure coupe concept that allows a passion for dynamic performance driving to coexist with a heightened sensitivity for the environment thanks to high output clean diesel power. Also making its global debut, the 2009 Lancer Ralliart is a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive compact sports sedan that will be in showrooms in the summer of 2008.
2009 Lancer Ralliart
The Lancer Ralliart model is the latest addition to the sporty Lancer compact car family. This new model reinforces the sporty identity of the Lancer lineup (Lancer, Lancer Ralliart and Lancer Evolution) with aggressive styling and driving performance to be well positioned between the Lancer and the Lancer Evolution models.
Lancer Ralliart is powered by a new 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC intercooled and turbocharged engine that develops an estimated 235 horsepower. The engine is mated to Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch-SST gearbox that delivers highly-efficient power transmission while enhancing the sporty driving qualities of the vehicle with lightning-quick, silky-smooth, paddle-actuated shifts or programmed fully-auto modes. The Lancer Ralliart’s full-time 4WD driveline features Mitsubishi’s Active Center Differential (ACD). The ACD unit employs an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch center differential, vectoring drive torque to the front and rear according to different driving conditions to realize the best balance between steering response and traction characteristics on Tarmac, Gravel, or Snow surfaces. Lancer Ralliart is also equipped with a front helical and rear mechanical limited slip differentials.
The Lancer Ralliart exterior is distinguished by its more aggressively styled front bumper design, rear bumper cover, dual outlet muffler and a lightweight aluminum, ducted hood that delivers cooling air to the turbocharger. The interior design places greater emphasis on function and vehicle control. Lancer Ralliart is equipped with FAST key, hands free telephone interface, the same Twin Clutch-SST shifter used on Lancer Evolution, and easily accessible steering column mounted paddle shifters.
Available equipment and options to include: Recaro seats, HID headlights, 650 watt Rockford Fosgate 9-speaker audio system, Sirius satellite radio, power sunroof, and a 30 GB Hard Drive Navigation system
Also on display, the Galant GTO R73-X show car, the Lancer EX2000 Turbo and the all-new 2008 Lancer Evolution complement the full-line up of Mitsubishi vehicles for North America.
About Mitsubishi Motors North America
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 500 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
Comments (11)
not a fan of the automatic dual clutchless transmission.
just hope they put a 6speed stick shift in their.
Posted by HanZ | January 14, 2008 12:12 AM
Posted on January 14, 2008 00:12
So, it's basically an Evo for $10k less?
Posted by Noya | January 14, 2008 1:40 AM
Posted on January 14, 2008 01:40
More sense than an Evo.
Posted by adrian | January 14, 2008 7:05 AM
Posted on January 14, 2008 07:05
I guess by clutchless you mean no pedal...
I'd just be worried about the replacement cost of that clutch pack in the tranny.... The dealer wants close to a grand for my Corolla, and this thing... WOW, I bet the parts alone are over $500.
Posted by Brian | January 14, 2008 8:45 AM
Posted on January 14, 2008 08:45
I'd prefer a 6spd w/ manual clutch and shifting as well. It'll be more than 23k. If it was 23 it'd compete with the Mazda 3 and they'd sell a lot of them. I'm guessing 27+
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | January 14, 2008 11:09 AM
Posted on January 14, 2008 11:09
This is Hawt, I so want this for my next car, I hope it manages 26/20 for the Economy, I really want the Evo but I don't think I am going to be able to fit it into my budget, This car should. It's likely to be in the 25~28K range depending on options.
I feel pretty confident that unless you abuse it the Dual Clutch will hold up very well, it basicly engages a clutch, then it preselects a gear and when it changes it engages the other clutch, between the perfect shifts, and the fact that it's basicly switching back and forth between 2 clutches, not doing all the shifts on 1. I would expect it to last a good long while. I bet it's a costly nightmare to get fixed though.
Oh and the other reports I have seen put this bad boy at 235 HP and 253 ftlbs. The Torque sounds nice.
Posted by Travis | January 14, 2008 4:26 PM
Posted on January 14, 2008 16:26
love it, where's the pricing? base EvoX is $33k, this thing would be worth considering if base with stick (cluchless maual=auto) is maybe $8-9k cheaper than the base EvoX
Posted by SVT | January 14, 2008 5:09 PM
Posted on January 14, 2008 17:09
My friend has an '92 Lancer EVO I her imported from Japan, it's a 15 year old car but it's putting out 250 HP. Why would I spend $23-27 grand on the EVO X when I can get a more powerful EVO I for $9-10 grand.
Posted by Skyline GT-R R-32 | January 15, 2008 2:54 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 02:54
Looks better than the 2009 evo! Everything about this car looks sweet except the rear lights, they remind me of Alfa or Hyundai Sonata.
Posted by andri | January 15, 2008 11:58 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 11:58
I would not say that the rear lamps reminiscent of similar Hyundai Sonata. I note one thing in the back seat car little space.
Posted by AutoBrook | May 1, 2008 12:10 PM
Posted on May 1, 2008 12:10
Clutchless manual=DSG (sequential gearbox) It shifts faster than any human can. DSG equipped cars tend to be a bit quicker in the quarter mile. Most also come with a launch mode like the GTI and the new GTR which also have DSG's
Posted by desertsoldier22 | May 21, 2008 4:34 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 16:34