Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart first details
July 10, 2008 by George Skentzos
Following the official Australian debut of the new Evolution X, Mitsubishi has also released worldwide details of its entry-level performance Lancer Ralliart.
Unlike Ralliart’s of the past which were the pinnacle of Evolution performance, for the first time this next incarnation is poised to tackle the standard Impreza WRX on the budget side of the market.
With an Australian equivalent price tag of less than $30,000 in Japan, the Lancer Ralliart certainly isn’t low on kit – as a matter of fact the standard equipment level is astounding.
Firstly, that Twin Clutch SST transmission we have all heard so much about in the Evo X is standard for the Ralliart – albeit with modified ratios in 5th and 6th for improved drivability at high speeds and economy.
The transmission also loses its Super Sport setting in the Ralliart, restricted to just ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’.
Don’t think Mitsubishi has skimped on the drivetrain either; the Ralliart receives what most refer to as the Evo IX AWD system – certainly not a compromise by any stretch of the mind.
This incorporates a front helical limited slip differential, an Active Centre Differential and a mechanical rear LSD which are managed by Mitsubishi’s vehicle dynamics control system which incorporates Active Stability Control and Anti-lock Braking.
The ACD system retains its calibrations from the Evo X – featuring TARMAC for dry paved surfaces; GRAVEL for wet tarmac or loose unmade surfaces; and SNOW for snow-covered surfaces.
So naturally the costs have been saved in the engine bay, right? Wrong. The Lancer Ralliart features the same intercooled-turbocharged 4B11-type 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC MIVEC high-performance engine as the Evo X – although it does use a smaller turbocharger.
Peak power stands at 177kW at 6000rpm and 343Nm at 3000rpm, compared to the Evo X’s 217kW and 366Nm.
Braking performance relies on 16-inch 2-pot calliper ventilated disc brakes at the front borrowed from the Outlander SUV, riding on 18-inch 7JJ alloy wheels fitted with 215/45R 18 89W tyres.
Exterior design changes are arguable, resembling more a built-up Lancer rather than a toned-down Evo, comprising new front and rear bumpers, a lightweight aluminium bonnet with vents to feed the turbocharger and an optional deck-lid spoiler.
The interior is also borrowed from the standard Lancer, featuring a unique instrument cluster with matte black faces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, aluminium pedals and sports suede-knit bucket seats.
Expect a RRP of roughly $40,000 to compete with the Impreza WRX here in Australia when it arrives.
Print it: 
Does any one know what options will be availiable with the Ralliart Lancer? like will sat-nav be availiable? I know there is a photo that shows sat-nav but the Australian models always miss out on the other goodies…
This looks like it is going to be awesome. I hope they keep the price below $40k. I hope they leave the ugly spoiler of too.
So long as the keep it price competitive (i.e. the same price) as the WRX, I think we might have a winner on our hands.
Road tests of a similar spec version in the U.S. have been overwhelmingly positive (only the brakes and the wheel/tyre combination let it down); satnav and Recaros (like those in the EVO) are bundled together in the U.S. also.
Any 0-100 stats availiable for the ralliart model? The mech specs are very good. It will give the WRX a hell of a time.
Until the WRX gets its looks together this will be the new performance bargain
Please Mitsubishi give us a 35k price tag.
I still dare i say it, would prefer a Mazda 3 MPS. Those things are rockets.
This car is a complete disappointment.
* 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds
* Pulls less g’s than the VRX around a loop
* Slower through slalom than VRX
* Takes longer to brake then a VRX
See insideline for where I got this info.
man that looks better than teh evo so subtle and hot though the sat-nav looks shoved in
TP – your getting your info from edmunds inside line? these are the guys who rate the mustang as a good handling car! please…
so your saying all i have to do is bolt on a GT35/40 turbo and i have myself an Evo?
hang on im just on the phone to AVO
Doesn’t get the new EVO’s drivetrain, but still the EVO 9’s drivetrain isn’t a bad start. I’d stay away from the semi-auto in this one, sounds like it’s more sutied for fuel consumption than pure performance. This in a 5 speed manual with a few mods would make a nice sleeper. Definately give EVO’s a hard time and leave you with a lot more change in your pocket. If you can get a manual under $40K it would definitely be a modern day peroformance bargin.
Nice photos… be interesting if they keep off the spoiler for the Australian release. Shame there’s still no firm release date nor price for Australia though!
it looks good.
especially for the price.
Compared to the WRX… yes I would probably prefer this.
But Sti over EVO.
Wow…even if they price it at $39,990 for a manual I think it would still be a real good bargain! Definately better my all time fav golf gti, and looks a million times better than the wrx.
Looks great but without the spoiler looks like a tarted up Stocker. Funny how spoilers suit some cars and not others. It will definately be less than $40K along with other competitors such as MPS3, XR5 Turbo, SRi, WRX & the GTi. Looks like the hot hatch (I know its not a hatch but its the same philosophy) market is the best its ever been.
And TP I’m sure if it had a Toyota Badge you’d be proclaiming its the best thing since sliced bread
subaru take note – SMG gearbox!! this alone will get a heap of buyers that are fed up with manuals only (especially in heavy traffic on the daily commute).
just watched that insideline thing TP, what you have failed to tell everyone was how overly positive the review was with them saying that its a great car. Seems you only had selective hearing! They also never said that it was slower through the slalom then the VRX, nor did the say it was slower braking. The only thing you had right was the 6.6 to 100 which was primarily because unlike a WRX you can’t do a redline clutch dump to get a fast time out of it! If you did a normal take off in a stock WRX it would actually be about 6.5 sec range to 100 aswell!
thats the thing that really gets me with the 0-100 times on the AWD cars, the times are only really that quick because they can launch by dumping the clutch at 6000rpm, whereas with 2WD cars you can’t do that cos you will loose it in wheelspin. If you had a rear wheel drive car like an XR6T with a 0-100 time of 5.5sec and a WRX with a 0-100 time of 5.5 sec, you can be pretty much guaranteed that in the real world the XR6t will be faster
Rich who the hell do you think your talking to. I dont state BS facts:
“At the test track we measured the all-wheel-drive Ralliart’s maximum stick to be 0.81g on the skid pad. The last front-wheel-drive Lancer GTS we tested managed to grip better with 0.86g, and that was with all-season tires. The performance of the Ralliart also trailed in the slalom test with a 65.0-mph best to the GTS’s 65.5 mph. The Evo GSR posted 0.99g and a blistering 70.7-mph run through the cones. It doesn’t add up to an impressive performance by the Ralliart.”
FYI GTS is the American VRX.
I liked what I heard about the Ralliart until the official stats came out… the car weighs 100kg more then the VRX it is no surprise that its slower because its running on the same rubber and the same brakes.
Also people mentioning manual, it comes in dual clutch ONLY at this stage.
I accept apologies Richo.
The point I am trying to make is that yes its nice it has Evo9 AWD system and a turboed engine…. but what is the point of AWD when the system obviously doesnt add that much because its slower then a lower model vehicle… what is the point of the turobed engine when its only 0.9seconds quicker to 100 then the 2009 Lancer VRX manual (2.4L engine released end of this year in Aus)
I just read that review TP and they seem to think it’s a cracker despite what the raw numbers are telling them. For one the 0-60mph test was done by just planting the pedal and taking off which is always going to be slower than using the brake and accelerator at the same time but they were being mechanically sympathetic.
I’ll take two!!! :-)
Glen…
For $10k I personally dont think its that great of a car. The facts are, the VRX is quicker in every aspect but straightline acceleration. Some pooints they praise the Ralliart on is quarter mile accleration, a completely useless thing for street purposes. As for brake, not mechanically sympathetic, mechanically intelligent… you dont brake and accelerate at the same time unless you want the car to last 20,000kms and need a new trans.
I went to Inside line to read the article and watch the video…and I have to agree with TP a bit.
The lack of good performance numbers is worrying, as is the price.
I’m going to wait until I see more places do the numbers on a proper production model, but if those are the correct numbers for what comes here, then it is really disappointing.
I want this car to be good. I’ve been asking them to make this car for a long time now, so I want to buy it and have a great car… But the numbers say it isn’t really.
Also in the Inside line article, they’re talking in the US $27k base to $29k optioned! This is a market where the WRX ($40k here) and MPS 3 ($39k here) start at $25k and $22.5k respectively! (Not to mention the DSG Golf GTI which stickers at $24k).
This article says it could be $40k when it (FINALLY) gets here, but other places (such as carpoint, etc) have said anything from $42-47k! Way too much! It would be hobbled before it got here. It needs to $40k to sell – no more. The competition is just too strong.
I want one.
It is going to be the performance bargain of the year.
With those slanty headlights – it looks like a constipated sumo wrestler trying to squeeze out a big one.
Sorry but I just am not feeling the evo/ralliart. I actually wrote to subaru when the MY08 came out, to say what a shit box they had created.. But with time, the rexy has grown on me. It nice and full and modern from most angles. The Evo/Rally has maybe 2 nice angkes and looks like a cheap peice of shit from most other angles in my opinion. Im not a fan, and I thought I would be, but i am not. It sits to high at the rear to giving that sporty “Yaris” feel.
Hey I like the look of the Ralliart but what’s the deal with the gears??? Maybe I’m just old school but I hope there’s a proper manual with clutch which I feel has better control. If the base Evo X is the only one with a proper manual then I may have to pass as it’s a bit pricey.
Please, car makers around the world.. don’t stuff around with manual cars with crappy flappy paddles!