Mitsubishi » Australian Car Advice

Mitsubishi teaser confirmed as new Colt

September 20th, 2008 18 Comments

It seems our initial instincts were correct, with the unnamed Mitsubishi teaser all but confirmed to be the new Colt.

Leaked screen captures from an official Mitsubishi marketing video plainly suggest the darkened teaser does in fact depict the Colt which now shares the Lancer’s front-end styling.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Aspire

September 17th, 2008 57 Comments

Mitsubishi has given Australian drivers moving out of petrol-hungry ‘big-six’ sedans something to aspire to, a more powerful, more luxurious version of its big-selling Lancer called, the Aspire.

-David Twomey

Announcing the new model today, Mitsubishi said the new Lancer Aspire was designed to widen the appeal of the Lancer range, which includes three well-equipped sedans and the giant-killing Lancer Evolution performance sedan, and bring a fresh level of prestige and performance to the small-car segment.

Mitsubishi isn’t just targeting the Large Car segment buyers who are moving into something more compact, they are also pitching the Lancer Aspire at the medium segment, pointing out that on performance and size, the Lancer is close to a lot of medium size cars, such as the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and Ford Mondeo.

Mitsubishi’s passenger vehicle product planning manager, Chris Maxted, said a new 2.4-litre engine, generating 125kW of power at 6000 rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4100 rpm, meant the Lancer Aspire provided the perfect solution to drivers downsizing from larger, less fuel efficient vehicles – especially those who wanted to maintain high levels of spirited driving performance without breaking the bank when refuelling.

Mr Maxted, said the Lancer Aspire 2.4-litre sedan represented a real opportunity for the company in the still-increasing small-car segment.

“We have found that up to 32 per cent of our new Lancer customers are coming to us from both mid- and large-sized passenger vehicles,” Mr Maxted said.

“While they don’t wish to give up the luxuries of a richly appointed cabin or an energetic engine response, they do recognise the need to conserve their resources – and that’s where the Lancer Aspire 2.4-litre sedan is a perfect match.”

The new 2.4-litre engine also powers the Outlander and comes from the same ‘4B’ family as the 2.0-litre engine in the existing Lancer range.

Mr Maxted told CarAdvice this meant it was not difficult to gain approval from Mitsubishi in Japan for the Australia-only Aspire, and he added that the Aspire name was chosen at Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited’s headquarters in Adelaide, but had some Mitsubishi history to it.

To develop the new Aspire MMAL has taken to 2009 Lancer VRX, removed the rear spoiler and alloy pedals, added unique chrome highlights to the grille surround, beltline and bootlid, blacked-out tail light bezels and HID headlights with adaptive cornering facility.

On the inside, the Aspire is fitted with woodgrain and leather trim, lidded bins for the centre console and a Rockford Fosgate six-disc CD audio system with a 10-inch subwoofer in the boot.

For a limited time, Mitsubishi is offering the new car with its new, Mitsubishi Multi Communication System (MMCS) information/entertainment system free of charge, normally a $2400 option - or a $4000 packaged with a sunroof.

MMCS provides satellite navigation, mobile phone control, iPod integration and audio system control through a large touch screen in the centre fascia.

The Lancer Aspire’s standard specifications include a host of safety and comfort features such as Automatic Traction & Stability Control, ABS brakes with EBD, seven SRS airbags, rain sensing wipers and dusk sensing headlamps, “Smart” key entry, climate controlled air-conditioning, electric windows, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters for the standard Continuously Variable Transmission.

Mr Maxted said Mitsubishi had introduced the Lancer Aspire to conquest buyers currently fleeing the Large Car segment, many of whom were private customers, although he indicated that increasingly the company expected to see company and lease buyers also joining these ranks.

He told CarAdvice that many of these buyers wanted a level of luxury and equipment that they were used to in a large car, plus good performance, while seeking reduced fuel consumption. Mitsubishi quotes the car as having an official ADR Combined Cycle fuel consumption of 8.5-litres/100km.

He said Lancer Aspire was aimed at meeting these requirements and added that as a bonus the Lancer Aspire had a better power-to-weight ratio than the major Medium Car contenders, Ford Mondeo Zetec, Honda Accord Euro, Mazda6 and Toyota Camry.
Priced at $33,990, the Lancer Aspire compares favourably with similarly priced variants of those cars in every way, except physical size.

However, according to Mitsubishi, the Lancer currently approaches the dimensions of the first generation Mitsubishi Magna.

Mitsubishi was careful to describe the Lancer Aspire as a ‘premium’ model not a luxury model as it rides on the 18-inch alloy wheels and suspension from the more sporting VRX and as such the company does not consider it will provide a driving experience to warrant a “luxury” tag.

The Aspire will also only be available as a sedan, as Mitsubishi believes the buyers will be more conservative and therefore different from those who will be attracted to the Lancer Sportback which is due to be released in the next two months.

The Lancer Aspire will be available in a number of colours from the Lancer line-up palette, including Cool Silver, Effect Grey, Red Metallic, White Solid, Black Mica and Champagne and comes with Mitsubishi’s five year/130,000 whole vehicle warranty, backed up by its 10 year/160,000 km powertrain warranty and a five year/unlimited km roadside assistance package.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Aspire will be available in showrooms from September 22 and CarAdvice will bring you driving impressions of the car just as soon as we can road test one.

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Racing Evo X for Britcar Series

September 16th, 2008 6 Comments

Mitsubishi Motors UK has announced plans to compete in the increasingly popular Britcar Championship with a racing version of its latest Lancer Evolution X.

The car will boast the trademark red and chrome Ralliart livery with SVA UK managing director and former BTCC regular James Kaye behind the wheel.

Mitsubishi launches teaser for Paris debut

September 15th, 2008 8 Comments

Mitsubishi has revealed plans for the world premiere of an unnamed model to be included in its line-up at the Paris Motor Show.

At first glance, the teaser image appears to be another variation on the new model Lancer, boasting the now trademark trapezoidal front grille.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Review

August 21st, 2008 46 Comments

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Review & Road Test

Pure weapons grade adrenalin

Model Tested:

2008 Mitsubishi CJ Lancer Evolution X sedan 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo five speed manual - $59,490 (RRP)

Options:

Metallic Paint $350 (Fitted); Performance Pack $5,500

Muscular Power Delivery, Strong Brakes, Gargantuan Grip
Tyre & Wind Noise, Poor Wipers, Steering Communication

CarAdvice Rating:

- by Matt Brogan

Every so often I’m lucky enough to encounter a car that manages to turn me in to a stammering, over excited mess before I’ve even had the chance of a drive. More often than not though, the results aren’t worth the hype and I’m left feeling empty and wanting, waiting for the next one to come along – not this time

Mitsubishi’s tenth generation Evo is pure weapons grade adrenalin muscularly forged over obdurate eighteen inch alloys. Inarguably the best value for money performance car on the Aussie market and having driven Subaru’s reticent WRX STi and Volkswagen’s righteous R32 Golf it’s clear that I’ve left the best ‘til last.

From the rapaciously predatory front end with ducted bonnet vents and front mount intercooler proudly hinting at the performance potential underneath, to the insatiably aggressive lines stemming from the vents of Lancer’s electrifying side profile or that corpulently upright backside with dual exhausts and diffusers underneath, every angle’s an absolute charm and only further enhances the overall experience to give the Evo a palpable performance edge, even before the ignition’s turned on.

But while looking fast at standstill is probably enough for those with a weak ticker, standing around gawking at it is a job best left to those still in school uniform or “yes dear” husbands with their wedding tackle under lock and key. For me? I’m heading for the hills, G-Tech in hand to see if the new Evo is indeed all it’s cracked up to be.

The first thing you notice when driving the Evo, aside from the roman numerals now missing from the badge, is just how placid and docile it can be when poking around town. Its purpose is certainly evident, and little prods of the throttle will make that immediately and abundantly clear, but should you need to keep it on the chain it’s very easily done.

But to not unleash the Evo would be like pulling back a slingshot and not breaking a window, it has to be done, and what better place to do it than snaking through Victoria’s magnificent high country where high hills and hairy hairpins, crisp crests and free flowing corners beckon a more liberated driving style worthy of such an exhilarating machine.

A light and ultra responsive all-new, all-aluminium 4B11 2.0 litre turbo charged MIVEC four cylinder engine with an intense 217kW @ 6,500rpm and indomitable 366Nm @ 3,500rpm pulls hard from mid tach with a feverish metallic howl which when kept north of four and a half grand is positively prodigious. There’s also a sweet, willing induction note and undeniable turbo whistle to keep your ears involved, even if the exhaust note is a might subtle.

The variable valve timing, now on the inlet and exhaust valves, can be felt again and again as you surge seamlessly through each of the direct shifting close ratio gears before reaching crescendo just south of the 7,600rpm rev limiter for that final dive back down the cogs under brakes.

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Mitsubishi Triton Diesel Super Select 4×4

July 24th, 2008 13 Comments

Mitsubishi Australia has announced the arrival of a new upgrade to its Triton four-wheel drive utility range across the diesel VR, GLX-R and GLS models.

They now boast Mitsubishi’s advanced Super Select four-wheel drive system as found in the highly specified passenger four-wheel drive Pajero wagon.

Mitsubishi Challenger Moscow debut

July 17th, 2008 26 Comments

Mitsubishi is planning to unveil a new sport SUV based on the Triton Ute at this year’s Moscow Motor Show.

This new model is dubbed the Pajero Sport in overseas markets, however will carry the Challenger nameplate when it arrives in Australian showrooms by the end of 2008.

Mitsubishi MRX09 Racing Lancer for Dakar Rally

July 16th, 2008 3 Comments

The Dakar Rally bears little resemblance to the event after which it is named, considering that next year it will be run in South America – not Africa – and the Mitsubishi that will compete bears only a passing resemblance to the Lancer sedan on which it is based.

Mitsubishi has forsaken the token Pajero look for its next Dakar Racer instead coming up with the MXR09 Racing Lancer, which features the gaping mouth and slanted headlights of the Lancer sedan to evoke its namesake.

World Record Mitsubishi Evo Parade

July 15th, 2008 3 Comments

A UK-based group of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutionists from the Mitsubishi Lancer Register (MLR) have successfully set a new Guinness World Record for the largest ever parade of the car they carry closest to their hearts.

Exactly 273 Evo’s lapped the Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire, England which was fully supported by Mitsubishi Motors UK.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart first details

July 10th, 2008 28 Comments

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.

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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X first steer

July 10th, 2008 38 Comments

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X first steer

- David Twomey

A supercar for the masses – well with Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution X it comes about as close to that as you are ever likely to get – this is one brilliant motor car that we believe excites from the moment you clap eyes on it.