By JOHN D. STOLL


Originally, we were told to wait for the New York auto show for yet another special edition of the Mitsubishi Lancer to be unveiled. Turns out, Mitsu couldn’t help themselves.

Instead of a Big Apple debut, the automaker used the Windy City showcase its 2004 Lancer Ralliart edition. The Ralliart, Mitsu’s latest attempt to go after the market occupied by the likes of the Honda Civic Si, Ford SVT Focus and Nissan Sentra Spec V, takes the place of the OZ Rally as the company’s souped-up Lancer.


The special edition vehicle, named after Mitsubishi’s World Rally Championship team, gets a new 2.4-liter sohc four-cylinder powerplant with variable valve timing, capable of 160 horsepower and mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The car will start under $18,000, according to Mitsubishi, and hit showrooms this fall along with the reskinned ’04 Lancer.

The Ralliart package employs a number of upgrades over the stock Lancer and the OZ edition, and represents Mitsubishi’s best effort yet at running with its high-revving pocket-rocket competition. Enhancements include a revised front end, a standard spoiler, 16-inch aluminum alloys and wider tires than the base Lancer. Other subtle exterior styling changes have also been made to the Ralliart version.

Suspension gets a tune-up as well, with stiffer dampers, a red front strut-tower bar and a bulkier rear stabilizer bar. Inside, Mitsubishi has planted a set of specialized seats that can be found in the vehicle’s Japanese-spec sibling, the Lancer Evolution GT-A. Ralliart logos can be found covering the seats and the vehicle’s rear deck lid.

 

Why did they make the front look like a Pontiac?

 

it now looks more like the Galant to me, except for the huge headlights. Why are they redesigning the Lancer so soon?

Any news on the Lancer that's gonna compete with the base WRX?

 

No news on this yet. I am not even sure it will be happening actually.

 

front looks like a new accord pontiac combo...back....

 

wtf thats so stupid...when the hell is evo comming

 

GAY

 

cool, should sell

 

Still looking disgusting... The normal lancers or the RALLIART edition are just pieces of junks.

I hope the Evo VII gets here soon...

 

March 7, 2003

The suggested retail price for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi's performance sedan, will range from a base price of $28,987 to a fully loaded price of $30,217 adding the two options of the carbon fiber spoiler, $480, and the power sunroof, $750, according to a company statement.

The Lancer Evolution is powered by a 2.0-liter, DOHC, four-cylinder engine that produces 271 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm and 273 lbs.-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm.

 

thats alot of power and torque froma frickin 2 liter!!!! Holy SHIT!

 

forced induction jimbo

 

I have an idea of how 275 pounds feels in an Evo. I was in a WRX which was modified for these kinds of numbers and it were pulling like mad. Totally different feeling that our car folks. It would stick like glue of course, needless to say (guy also had wider and better tires and wider and larger wheels). But a TON of rattles. I thought there were 50 screws that needed to be tightened all over the place.

 

Eh, I'd wait for the WRX STi. The evo has altezzas. That ruins it for me.

 

too expensive for that tiny little shitbox.

 

Here's a pic i find of the new Evolution 9...... I like this look more then the Evo 8 right now tho......

 

shit the evo 8 just came out too

 

I don't understand why nobody has simply recognized this as being just a bad 'shop of an Evolution/Evo VIII with different headlights and foglights.

 

yeah, thats pretty obiviously fake.....please use a keen eye for shitty photoshops before posting stuff.

 

looks like the bastard child of a wrx and evo 8

 

they're probably assuming the evo will get a refresh just like the base lancer is which it probably will.

 

omg...... hood looks nice but those headlights and the MASSIVE fog lights.

 

This seems more accurate given the new noses on the Lancers:



Don't like the light covers though. . .

 

Im still trying to figure out when Mitsubishi Evo's, Subura WRX's, and other fast as shit-pieces of shit became great cars.

People complain about the interior quality of a vette, our car, etc....These interiors suck. Let me take a jet engine, a recaro seat, and a short throw 6 speed transmission and strap it to a piece of dog shit and BAM!!! Youve got yourself a WRX.

 

Tell us how you really feel.

 

 

yeah, but the sti and the evo are good handling pieces of shits with the newest and greatest tech, unlike the vette.

 

I think someone needs to give GunMetal an apology

 

Have you sat in one? or are you making pre-disposed judgements based on all the articles youve and tvs shows you've watched? Cause you dont know what youre talking about.

While no, the materials are not of the higher quaity youd find in a car being built for a higher end market. It doesnt need to be, this car is pure sport. If you actually sit in one they are actually pretty nice.

Minimalistic, but nicley laid out and functional. Well enough put together and solid. Much better interiors then what you find in most domestics with the really shitty thin plastics.

The layout of the EVO dash is perfect for an aftermarket navi. high enough up and not obstructing anything.

I swear some people get so spoiled they dont know up from down.

 

Yes the vette has no technology, slow, handles poorly, poopoo. We can probably expect something close to the wrc concept. http://car.kak.net/modules.php?op=mo...ticle&sid=1448

 

The interiors of both the WRX and the Evo are what they should be for the price and character of the car. And for the category, of course. They are OK. Not bad, not very good either.

 

sti and evo are great cars. damn i wish i had one

 

Evo Goes For The Perfect 10 - - By Peter Lyon - - Source: Autoexpress


The current issue of Auto Express magazine carries an exclusive image of the new Evo X concept, giving a stunning glimpse of the firm's future. The image was flashed up on a large screen at a recent press conference in Japan, to the amazement of the journalists who were present.

The 10th incarnation of the fast four-door will become more distinctive, thanks to the aggressive nose and headlamps influenced by the Grandis MPV. However, rally fans will be pleased to see the trademark rear spoiler has been kept to emphasise the car's racing roots.

A company spokesman stressed that the image was "a design study, and not the final model", but insiders say it's an accurate depiction of the new car. Although similar in dimensions to the current Evo VIII, the Evo X will sit on an all-new platform. The car will take its power from a redesigned four-cylinder turbocharged unit, which will produce in excess of 320bhp and 431Nm of torque. Cutting-edge chassis technology, including a re-engineered active limited-slip differential, will also help the Evo X to stay near the top of the performance saloon sales charts when it is launched in 2007.

However, before the Evo X officially breaks cover, there will be an Evo IX, based on the current Lancer, released next year. It will come with revised suspension and some new body panels.

 

The Grandis MPV here:

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Sketchpad: Mitsubishi Evolution IX - - Mitsubishi Racing mods make for an even better personal rally car - - By Editors of Motor Trend - -Photography by Mark Stehrenberger - - Source: Motor Trend, April 2004



Japanese automaker Mitsubishi is preparing the next generation of its Lancer-based Evolution for our market. Times have been anything but easy for the company, but Evo enthusiasm--and sales--have been a bright spot.

Mitsu dropped some big hints about the car at last year's Tokyo motor show with the Japanese domestic-market-only Evo VIII MR (Mitsubishi Racing). The MR's features, over the standard Evo VIII, include Bilstein shocks for improved handling, upgrades to the car's electronic all-wheel drive, traction control and ABS sport systems, and an aluminum roof panel and other bits to reduce body weight and lower the center of gravity.

When this version morphs into the Evo IX, with plans to import it here, it'll (finally) get a six-speed gearbox, lighter forged wheels, and a 10-horsepower bump to 281 horses, closing it in on the 300-horsepower Subaru WRX STi. There's also talk of an active center differential unique to the U.S., probably mechanical instead of the home market's electronic version, to keep warranty issues at bay. Topping off all this is some new sheetmetal. We suspect more arched, rounded front fenders, with taller, skinnier ovoid headlamps, that'll lend a more aerodynamic look. The rear fenders and rear fascia also will be new. Whether this upgraded halo affects Mitsubishi's fortunes remains to be seen, but we're sure PlayStation aficionados can't wait to download the Evo IX in digital form.

 

the active suspension is pretty damn good technology and the handling of a vette is damn good.

 

So we're skipping IX or what?

 

No. IX should be coming out soon. Here:

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102622

 

 

The entire drivetrain in the Corvette is fantastic and certainly not low tech. Active Suspension, rear mounted transaxle, hydro-formed chassis, etc.