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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Overview

Mitsubishi Australia has announced official details of the all-new 2008 Lancer. A completely new sedan, set to spearhead Mitsubishi's comeback worldwide. CarAdvice has put together a comprehensive overview of the new Lancer model.


2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Summary

CarAdvice had the pleasure of attending the Lancer launch earlier this week and now that the embargo is over, we can tell you that Mitsubishi is sitting on a gold mine.

“Everyone at Mitsubishi is committed to sourcing vehicles for this market that offer the best levels of occupant safety, security and comfort at the best possible price – and the all-new Lancer answers that call,” Robert McEniry, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited said.

As oppose to Subaru with the new Impreza which is only available as a hatch, the new Lancer will initially only be available as a sedan (which should work out well for both manufacturers!).

Lets start with a basic overview of the new Lancer. First and foremost, the entire range now comes with Active Stability Control and Traction Control (ASTC), a move that should put the Lancer at the very top of the shopping list for small-medium car buyers.

It only gets better from there, there is also ABS braking system with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist as standard. If you're thinking Mitsubishi is desperate for sales, you'd be wrong, the new Lancer sells it self, just look at it!

There are three variants, the Lancer ES, VR and VRX, the entry model ES gets standard SRS driver and passenger airbags and driver knee airbag, while the rest of the range are equipped with a full seven-airbag pack as standard fitment. The ES variant can option out the extra airbags.

"The inclusion of ASTC across the entire Lancer line-up, and the availability of seven airbags on each and every model is unprecedented, at this price point, in this segment." Mr McEniry said.

Here is the big news, the new Lancer range will start from $20,990 for the ES variant, and that includes standard ASTC, as well as other features such as 16" wheels.

There is no denying the new Lancer is the biggest and most ambitious project the Japanese manufacturer has ever completed. With sales of the 380 slipping further and further below the mark, Mitsubishi Australia will finally have some fighting power with the new Lancer.

Built on the company's first global platform, the new Lancer was designed by Mitsubishi in Europe with much of the styling ideas borrowed from the successful Concept-Sportback and Concept-X show cars.

We have brought you spy shot after spy shot, image after image of the new Lancer, and it's with great excitement to see that Mitsubishi have kept all the good bits from the concepts and prototypes.

Sitting low to the ground, with a longer wheelbase and wider track with a 60mm increase in both the front and rear track dimensions, the new Lancer reinvents the concept of sports sedans.

At first glance, it's not hard to imagine why the competition is worried, with a long hood and short deck proportions, wide track, Mitsubishi's trademark “Jet Fighter” front grille and distinctively deep set “eyes”, the new Lancer is the best looking yet.

Apart from improved handling and a more menacing stance, the bigger dimensions also affect the interior.

As you can see, the new Lancer is blessed with a much more modern and simple interior with an integrated stereo system and a user-friendly cabin.

Okay, enough of the boring stuff, let's get to the engine. To go along with the new Lancer, Mitsubishi has developed an all-new 2.0-litre dual overhead cam MIVEC four-cylinder engine, producing 113kW of power (6000 rpm) and 198 Nm of torque (4250 rpm) for all variants.

The new engine is coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission (standard) or Mitsubishi's Continuously Variable transmission (CVT) with sport Mode and INVECS III software (option). The range topping 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer VRX is available with paddle shifts on the CVT transmission.

Mitsubishi knows in order to attract buyers towards the new Lancer, the company needs to equip the car with excellent standard features, such as bigger wheels and brakes. The Lancer ES and VR models come with sixteen inch wheels (alloy on VR) and 205/60 R16 tyres attached to fifteen inch ventilated discs for the front and fourteen inch solid discs for the rear.

Although the tubrocharged, WRX equivalent, Ralliart Lancer (GSR) will not make it to Australia until after the Evo X arrives in February, the model below the Ralliart, the sporty VRX, will for now top out the Lancer range.

The VRX comes with a special sport-tuned suspension package and eighteen inch wheels with 215/45 R18 tyres as well as sixteen inch ventilated front disc brakes and sixteen inch solid rear discs.

The three model variants are broken down with more info available (click):

As for colour choice, buyers are rewarded with a wide variety of new and exciting colours including:

  • Effect Grey,
  • Lightening Blue,
  • Red,
  • Black,
  • Mystic Blue,
  • Champagne,
  • Cool Silver
  • White.

Mitsubishi fans will be happy to know the company is eager to bring the Evo X to Australia as soon as possible, with an estimated arrival date set for February next year. The EVO will be closely followed by two more Ralliart sports variants, and finally the Lancer hatchback line-up.

The new Lancer will transform Mitsubishi Showrooms from the 1st of October.

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