2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
June 12, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Mitsubishi has shown of the first production-ready pics of the new Lancer Sportback (albeit in very low quality), expected at this year’s Le Mondial de l’Automobile 2008 (Paris Motor Show 2008). Although not expected in Australia till next year, the new Lancer Sportback will be launched in Europe this fall.
The biggest news however, is that Mitsubishi plans to release a Ralliart variant of the Sportback along side the Ralliart Lancer sedan, to compete directly with the new WRX hatch (the WRX sedan will be here to then too).
The Ralliart tuned cars are powered by a turbocharged engine mated to Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission) and driven via all four wheels through an Active centre Differential.
The 5-door sport hatchback will address a big gap in the current Mitsubishi lineup. The Japanese giant says there will be three engine choices (Europe – Australian specifications are yet to be confirmed)
At the bottom is a 1.5-litre (~80kW) four-cylinder petrol, which sits below the 1.8-litre (~105kW) to round out the N/A engines. There will be a 2.0-litre (~103kW) turbo diesel engine available a well.
Mitsubishi has also released specifications for the Ralliart variants, with power output of 177 kW and 343 Nm of torque. As far as we can tell, the Ralliart versions will not be available in manual, instead both shapes will be driven via Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch SST transmission with an Active Center Differential.
The AWD system is borrowed from the previous generation Lancer EVO IX and therefore provides extremely responsive steering and traction. Brakes are a tad ordinary with two-pots at the front (but with a larger brake master cylinder).
Another feature Mitsubishi is promoting is the “auto-folding function”. The system allows for an adjustable rear floor height and rear seatbacks that can be tipped forward via a lever located in the luggage compartment.
The diesel engine as well as the Sportback should arrive in Australia by mid-late 2009. The CarAdvice team will be in Paris (as par of our Full Throttle in Europe trip #2 – more on that soon) for the show, so expect full coverage.
Print it: 
Shame no manual in the ralliart model, its like a WRX with no manual. But no doubt there’ll still be interests…
The WRX has no Auto, so they complement each other rather well. Although the market the WRX is going for these days, it would make sense to auto as well. Or at least offer an option, unfortunately Subaru currently don’t have a good small Automatic gearbox.
Is it just me or does it look like the Holden Viva in that Rear/Side shot (the black car?)
Shame they didn’t stick with the rear doors from the concept car, instead choosing the cheaper option of having the Sedan’s rear doors. Ruins what was a good looking car as a concept.
a DSG gearbox is not really an auto either, it has an automatic mode, but it is basically a sequential manual gearbox. Having driven the VW version i can comfortably say that its better then a manual gearbox! And i’m the sort of person who usually always ticks the manual option!
Bit of a let down in the looks department IMO. I prefer the sedan from these photos. The specs sound good though.
This should be a real winner if they can get the pricing right.Mitsubishi is being quite
clever in cross model feature utilisation as you can guess that the folding seats would be
similar to those used in the Outlander.Unsure from the review if AWD is standard or just for the Ralliart models? Hopefully FWD and manual transmission will be available in the
lower cost options.Have to agree that it does look like a Viva or older model A3 from the rear .So long as it doesn’t have the same crash protection as a Viva I guess!
Yeah I don’t think it looks too flash, the original concept looked the best, the rear doors don’t suite the hatch look.
Simonsez don’t confuse the Viva with the Barina. The Viva received a 4-star crash rating (as did the Captiva and Epica). The Barina is the only with a 2-star rating.
Brilliant!.
The concept model was definately a little sleeker and agressive but no production model is identical to its concept.
I cant make any definate comments until MMAL releases actual spec’s but you’d be a drongo if you deny the new Lancer range wont seriously concern the competition, especially Subaru.
Go Mitsubishi!!!
Myke.I was actually kidding around here, but you weren’t to know that I guess.Safety is something that Mitsubishi does really well these days;bootmats/carpets on the other hand they flunk!One of their salesman said that they’d spent that extra money on more important features,
Me likey ;)
I will be seriously considering upon arrival.
yuck
The Lancer EVO and the Impreza WRX have been long time rivals…. However it looks like the two have “come” together…. and this is the result
“the new Lancer Sportback will be launched in Europe this fall.”
I’m sorry, this what?! Are you not going to tell us the fuel economy in miles per gallon, how big the trunk is and if it comes in stick-shift?
In Australia we say Autumn!
The back is quite good, but I still really dont like the flat front; ugly and un aero dynamic.
It’s a shame there’s no manual. Some people still like to drive a car the way they were built to drive.
Im with you Mike :),
Theres no real substitute to manual :P, DSG might out perform it, but lacks feel…
The back end is damn ugly. What a dog.
I love the front me these cars the sedan is a hit they come with more features then a mazda 3 or corolla and they are faster we have got the 2.4 in aus it pumps .127kw the hatch look fugly from the back but the sedan is the hit
August 2009. Any word on the diesel yet?