Car Advice
  • Home
  • »  Mitsubishi Ralliart tuning firm to cease operations this month

Mitsubishi Ralliart tuning firm to cease operations this month

By Matt Brogan |

Updated: 3pm with statement from Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited

Mitsubishi’s long time independent tuning firm Ralliart will cease operations at the end of March.

The group has been associated with both factory-endorsed and aftermarket Mitsubishi products since 1984, but took a severe economic hit during the GFC.

Ralliart says that it can no longer afford to support its motorsport customers or develop new products. It remains unclear what impact this decision will have on official Ralliart-badged Mitsubishi products such as the high-performance Ralliart versions of the Lancer sold here in Australia.

Posted below is a statement from Ralliart Inc. president, Mr Masao Taguchi:

Dear all of our customers ,

First of all, we much appreciate for your usual patronage to our company.

Our company have done the various activities relating motorsport with the support of many people since the establishment in April,1984 so far. However, because of the sudden change of economy situation since the year before last, the business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc., would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010.

Along with the scale down of our business activities this time, we would cease the following business and operation which we have done so far. We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers though we would make you much inconveniences.

Meanwhile, we wish you a continuous support to Ralliart family and entrants driving Mitsubishi cars who play an active part all over the world.

Items which would cease our business and operation along with our business scale down;

  1. Support to motorsport customers(Support to the participation, Technical Support, and Awarding of Mitsubishi/Ralliart Driver of the Year)
  2. New Planning, Development and Merchandize of Ralliart products (Except FIA VO parts) :*1
  3. Information of new products and dispatching motorsport information(at web):*2

*1    FIA VO parts development and those application work shall be done by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as it is.
*2    FIA Group-N information shall be open at the web site of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

Date of the cease: 1st April, 2010

Masao Taguchi

CarAdvice spoke with Ms Lenore Fletcher, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Head of Corporate Communications this afternoon, who gave the following statement concerning warranty and supply of Ralliart improved vehicles in Australia:

“We don’t actually see that it’s going to change any of the way that we’re able to look after our customers,

“I think what it will mean is that there will probably be some changes in the supply channel in terms of the business model that we currently have, but we don’t see that it’s going to make any changes to the way our customers will be able to receive their requirements from us,

“The vehicles, clearly Evo and Ralliart vehicles, were already MMC vehicles anyway that were developed by MMC in conjunction with Ralliart … it wasn’t Ralliart who had to have the warranties on the vehicles, it was us I understand,

“(But) apparently it’s business as usual.”


 
  • gt6

    And another one bites the dust.

  • Rob B

    Damn … Mistu has certainly taken a beating over the years

    • FTSII

      And yet they are still here. I’m sure they will open up a new performance section at Mitsubishi.

      • Shak

        Why, the production of Ralliart badged models wont stop. I read somewhere else today that we will still be getting Ralliart models.

  • Bob

    Tough to see this, especially with Subaru being less visible in Motorsport these days on a World stage and World Rally doing quite well despite only 2 manufacturers still actively participating (Ford and Citroen).

    Sorry to see them go, they’ve been integral in the development of many local and internaitonal Rally championships with GSR and EVO models alongside their Subaru WRX counterparts. Many a backyard and privateer Rally driver will be shattered by this news.

  • Reckless1

    Effective April 1st.

    Can the Japanese cave a sense of humour?? Is this an April Fool’s day joke.

    Nah.

    • Don

      Japanese financial year finishes at end of March.

  • Andronicus

    thats a pity

  • http://Audi Robj

    Mitsubishi really seem on a downward spiral.

    • Kenn

      Mitsubishi sales have held at pre GFC levels in nearly every market (except for the US market). Mitsu out sells Honda & Nissan in the Australian market. The Lancer, Outlander & Triton are in the top three in sales of their respective classes in Australian market. Also with new models like the Challenger & RVR sales will further increase.

  • Andrew Juma

    Mitsubishi definitely seems to be taking severe hits. I do not see enough Evolution tens on the road. Maybe lowering the price and including a decent interior (quality plastics to go along with their multimedia systems) would do the trick.

  • Steven A

    Mitsubishi Motors is growing from strength to strength around the world but its a damn shame the envied and respected Ralliart marque is almost dead. Damn shame….

  • Kenn

    Why is all this negativity about Mitsu. No government bailed Mitsu unlike the likes of GM etc. Closing down Raliart is not the end of Mitsu or Raliart models. All the raliart models are built & calibrated in house. Only impact of closure of Raliart will be for Mitsu sponsored racing teams.

  • Al Juraj

    Mitsubishi anti-spam!

    It’s sad to see Ralliart go. I believe their Lancer is like the Goldilocks car; not too hardcore like the Evo but enough to beat the typical bogan car at the lights. The 6-speed twin-clutch SST features F1-like shifting but with the convenience of an automatic, the best of both worlds. I think it’s also the cheapest car you can buy with such gearbox, at least a few thousands less than the Golf GTi with DSG.

    I hope such a car continues on, even without Ralliart badging.