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Mitsubishi R5 Mirage ready take on WRC-2 in 2015

The turbocharged, all-wheel drive Mitsubishi R5, based on the Mirage, will tackle next year's World Rally Championship-2.


Developed and built by Mpart (Ralliart Sweden), the R5 mates a pumped version of the Mirage's five-door hatch body shell with components borrowed from various Mitsubishis.

According to Mpart's Tomas Weng, the team decided to use as many Mitsubishi parts as possible in order to make the R5 both available at a "competitive price", and "straightforward to maintain" as well.

Under the bonnet there's a cut-down 1.6-litre version of 4B11 turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in the Lancer Evolution X. Fitted with a Garrett turbo and a 32mm restrictor, as per FIA regulations, the motor produces 209kW of power and 450Nm of torque.

Power and torque to channelled to all four wheels via a Sadev five-speed sequential transmission. MacPherson struts are used at each corner and are aided by Ohlins dampers.

Wheel size varies depending on the stage type; the R5 will wear 18-inch rims on asphalt, 16-inch alloys in the snow and 15-inch wheels on gravel. 355mm ventilated disc brakes bring the R5 to a stop on asphalt stages, while 300mm discs will be used in other conditions.

Stripped of most its amenities, fitted with a roll cage and racing bucket with approved harness, the R5 tips the scales at 1230kg.

The R5 begins testing in October and is expected to hit competitive stages next year. In the WRC-2 series it will do battle against the Citroen DS3, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208 T16 R5 and Skoda Fabia R5.

Mitsubishi's latest rally entrant is referred to simply as the R5 because in some European markets, such as Sweden, the car we know as the Mirage is badged as the Space Star instead.

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