2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart news
December 20, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Mitsubishi Europe has quietly released a press release concerning the new Lancer Ralliart. The Japanese giant has confirmed the Ralliart variant will use the same engine as the upcoming EVO X.
The turbocharged 2.0-litre engine will be detuned to 177kW for the Ralliart (from 209kW in the EVO X). However the exciting news is the inclusion of Mitsubishi’s 6-speed Twin Clutch – SST transmission.
The discussed rumours of Mitsubishi using the EVO IX drivetrain in the new Lancer Ralliart appear true, with details of a full-time 4WD system with Active Yaw Control and Active Centre Differential confirmed.
The big question for Australia is whether or not we will get the four-door sedan variant or the five-door hatch. It is expected that Europe will get the hatch with the sedan heading to the US but Mitsubishi Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher told CarAdvice either would be welcome.
“We would be interested in whatever variant MMC (Mitsubishi Motors Corporation) provides,” Ms Fletcher said.
The new Lancer Ralliart will be a winner if it is priced competitively against its main nemesis, Subaru’s Impreza WRX. It will also compete with the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type-R.
It makes sense now why Mitsubishi Australia was at one stage worried about bringing the Lancer Ralliart to Australia, concerned that it might detract from EVO X sales. The European variants will receive an aluminium bonnet panel, Recaro front seats, sports steering wheel with paddle shift and a Ralliart radiator grille.
More on this as we find out.
Print it: 
Please dear god,
Pleasssse make Mitsubishi bring the hatch version into Australia. It reminds me off the Brera, just not as exotic and more sporty.
That is one sexy looking car.
I agree Nate, that’s a wicked looking car… I’d seriously consider buying one if it were released here.
Hmmm.. So couldn’t you just tune the Ralliart lancer to the same spec as the EVO X? Surely its just a bigger turbo, air filter and exhaust and a different tune,
wouldn’t cost more than $3,000 to get it up to 209kW! Hell yes. Where do I sign?
bring the hatch mitsu please – looks absolutely awesome.
The hatch looks great and makes a nice change for Mitsubishi. Competition improves the breed, great to see another hot hatch contender to go up against GTI, XR5, WRX and Astra.
For my money it would come down to XR5 & Ralliart.
I have to say, im not a big fan of the Mitsubishi’s at all, but this hatch actually looks good… I still hate the flat fronts.
BryanR32: I doubt the turbo or filter would even change, as you said – exhaust, tune and whammo … same power as an Evo. Wonder about the brakes on the Ralliart version though.
It is a good looking hatch, take note Subaru.
I think the ECU would take a huge part in this ‘down-tune’ as well. Give them a few months and a third-party ECU add-on will be out.
Personally, i think this looks better than the Evo X! will be an awesome car to have on the road in Oz!
Hatch is better.
Great looking photoshop. Lets wait and see if the real deal is anywhere near this. Certainly is a good looking car from these images.
Considerng the WRX is only priced at 42K odd, if the Lancer price is similar and with an AWD platform pushed by an Evo engine there would be little hope for WRX at a guess. Golf GTI and Honda Civic would not even be on the radar.
If Subaru isnt already seriously worried this news will make them sh*t themselves!.
Bring it on MITSUBISHI!!!!!!!!!!1
Megane Sport F1 or Golf R32 mk IV would be the hot hatch for me. True Euro hot hatches but this lancer is a very good effort by the japs.
I saw an Alfa the other day which reminded me of new lancer.
The rear lights (on the sedan) are the exact same shape. They both have a bonnet that collects into the smaller grille…
Have a look for yourself… Its uncanny
Anyone got any idea what the pricing would be like when it lands here? Similar to the wrx or cheaper?
Yep I agree i’m hanging out for this car too see how well priced it is….
Wrx too boring STI too expensive….was considering a Golf GTI or GT but with this baby coming I might just get a lancer.
Ive had a 97 lancer coupe till this day even after selling the rex and they really are great cars
The hatch shall be killa. It will make the new Sti look ten years old already LOL
Anthony
Akinori Nakanishi, mitsu’s chief designer admits one of his influences is fashion designer Giorgio Armani so there is definitely an Italian connection/flavour in this design.
It looks like a ford focus at the sloping rear!
Definitely the best lookin Hot Hatch yet.. when it goes into production they’ve gotta keep the two huge bonnet vents.
And who said flared guards are out of fashion; nearly every new car has ‘em.. First the VE; then the Euros and now the Japanese
Japanese had flared guards a long, long time ago.
As for that hatch – that’s the 05 Sportback Concept..I doubt the hatch will look like that..unfortunately.
I know that the japanese had Flares along time ago; The Euros had them a lng time before them.
My point was that “High Profile” Flares appear to be making a comeback and that the VE is one example of this.. Yet they’re nothing like the ones on the Dodge Nitro.
Thing is designers used flares inorder to make their cars look different.. now that nearly everyones using Flares.. the cars are continuing to look relatively the same
Is it wrong to want to make babies with that car? 5 door hatch all the way…a practical, good looking performance car.
I hope it comes out in a true manual, not just a sequential like they’re doing with the EVO X. Sure sequentials are now becoming faster in a straight line, but you don’t get that truly involving driving experience as if you’re ‘one with the car’, like in a true manual. I don’t need the fastest car out there, I need the most rewarding drive.
Btw, Mitsubishi’s interior hasn’t been that great in the past, let’s hope they’ve improved the interior design/quality as much as they have the chassis/exterior.
If it sells for about the same price as a WRX, I’ll buy one.
Does anyone know if it’s going to be manufactured in Japan or elsewhere?
Hatch is seriously GAY! Just like new subaru, looks like a blood Hyundai or Kia rio. I’ll have the sedan any day!
The Ralliart is disappointing… U.S reviews have it doing 100 in 6.6seconds. Dont know how they didnt shave more time off, the manual 2.4L in U.S does the 100 in 8seconds without dual clutch… with 50kw less… without AWD.
So what? Being a turbo, if you don’t like the performance you could wick it up to Evo levels with just a tune and more boost.
These photos are of the very cool looking concept car. Unfortunately it is looking like the hatch wont come close in real life. Go to google and look for sportback – the angles on the back of the production version all look a bit wrong to me. Its a shame they couldn’t follow through, the concept is one of the best looking cars in years.