SCORE! Solid info on Mitsubishi Lancer surfaces
So here's the deal. We know Mitsubishi just held a long-lead introduction for its new Mitsubishi Lancer. Journalists were invited to sample the new car (not us, unfortunately), excluding the Ralliart and EVO models, in exchance for a promise not to publish pictures until late December and driving impressions until late January. Now, inviting a bunch of gear heads to drive the second coming from Mitsubishi and letting them loose on public roads is just asking for precious info to be leaked. And so it has to us in the form of a tip. Here's the long and short of it...
- Wheelbase: 104 in.
- Track, f/r: 60 in./60 in.
- Length: 178 in.
- Width: 71 in.
- Height: 55 in.
- Curb Weight: 2,800 lbs.
- Engine: 140hp / 135ft-lbs. 2.0-liter I-4
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual or CVT
Thanks for the info, Kevin!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andy 5:25PM (11/16/2006)
You have to laugh at auto illustrations that glamourize a rather plain vehicle. Those numbers don't blow me away. I do think the new Lancer is handsome, but I'll wait until the official Evo stuff comes out to make judgment.
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bert 5:19PM (11/16/2006)
Amazing how excited people get over a shitbox sedan built by a company that threatened to uproot from the US because of low sales.
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yeahright 5:37PM (11/16/2006)
> You have to laugh at auto illustrations that glamourize a rather plain vehicle
True dat. I'm also wondering why Autoblog doesn't just run a photo of the darn thing. There are lots of them around, such as:
http://www.autonavigator.ru/pics/3/840/28610.jpg
http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2008/Mitsubishi/20093078-E.jpg
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steven 11:03AM (11/17/2006)
140 horses??? Are we still in 1992?
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Max 5:42PM (11/16/2006)
#3: Neither of those pictures are of the actual car. The first picture is a rendering of what the car "might" look like and the second is of the concept.
If you want a picture of the ACTUAL car (albeit a really bad one,) go here.
http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/hirezpics/lancerspy.jpg
That is the real Lancer.
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james f. 5:44PM (11/16/2006)
Um they've run both those photos before. As one is a photochop and the other a concept shot of the evo x from last year.
Anyways a civic/3 sized evo sounds just about right for me. Throw in DSG and its a party! Unless of course subie does the same thing. Then I'd be torn.
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Dusty 5:51PM (11/16/2006)
140hp isn't bad for the base model. It's what the Ralliart and Evo produce that will get enthusiasts interested. Anyone looking at buying the base models aren't too concerned about HP. They're concerned about fuel economy.
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Andre 7:25PM (11/16/2006)
Some of you are idiots...
First of all there 2 Version of the Lancers.. The basic model mentioned in this article and the Lancer Evo.
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Howard Kerr 6:05PM (11/16/2006)
Maybe it's just me, but why get excited over a Lancer? It's never been that exciting a car...the EVO editions are the only models that better their competition.
Considering how hard it is to find ANY Mitsubishi with a manual transmission (EXCEPT the EVO and Eclipse), it's good to see that a CVT is replacing the automatic.
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Big Rocket 6:15PM (11/16/2006)
#1 (Bert): "Amazing how excited people get over a shitbox sedan built by a company that threatened to uproot from the US because of low sales."
Maybe because said sedan will form the basis of the next Evo, when the current Evo was already ranked by Road & Track as the 2nd most desirable sports car under $30K?
"It was a close decision, but the Nissan 350Z won by a whisker over the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution RS". Or how about: "get the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and drive a 4-door that will beat the $(&* out of the Z, RX-8 and even an S2000."
Of course, if you have more than $30K to spend on a sports car, good for you, and don't let us hold up your busy schedule. Your Ford corporate jet is ready for take off.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=4213
http://www.roadandtrack.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=13057
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/15/mark-fields-under-fire-for-expensive-flights-home/#comments
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Kowell 6:30PM (11/16/2006)
Well those specs aren.t much of a surprise since it will share platform, engines and transmission with the dodge caliber trio.
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CJ 6:36PM (11/16/2006)
Can they change the name please? Lancer sounds like something you use for a boil.
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Ummmmm 8:00PM (11/16/2006)
I am a middle aged guy. This would be perfect for me, even with "only" 140HP( people get all crazy over the 140HP Civic! So, 140HP must be ok?).
Anyhow, it is almost as wide as many mid-sized sedans, 140HP CVT should give it enough "Ooomph" to be safe on passing on Hwys, etc. MPG should be 32-34?
2,800 lbs is about 100 lbs Less than my in-law's Suzuki SX4(Awd/FWD sub-compact), although it has 143HP, and does Not feel sluggish at all.
Who knows? The Eclipse looked wild, but when we tested one last March, it handled like a tank in a parking lot, and was moisey, and slow with the I-4.
Hope they have done a better job on this thing.
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That One Person 6:53PM (11/16/2006)
#6...base Honda Civic comes with 140 hp. The Corolla only comes with 126 hp. The Sentra comes with 140 hp. The base Focus comes with 136 hp. The base Caliber comes with 148 hp. The base Cobalt comes with 148 hp. A base VW Rabbit comes with 150 hp. I think thats it. So by the looks of it, its not 1992...
Anyways, I think the only appealing thing about the car, so far, is the width. I think it will help out with interior room. Other than that, I will wait till some official pics come out and wait till a real Lancer shows up to the local Mitsu dealer to pass judgement...
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Jason 6:55PM (11/16/2006)
Anything is better than the current job.
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a jug of Clorox 6:55PM (11/16/2006)
QUOTE =======================================
11. Can they change the name please? Lancer sounds like something you use for a boil.
=============================================
Then how about the "Lancet". It'll be great for all self-deprecating diabetics and aspiring endocrinologists. Especially the British ones.
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JN 12:04PM (11/20/2006)
I have corrections for some of the information initially given. Please bare in mind the following
Horsepower : 152hp with 146tq 2.0L MIVEC I4
Width: ~69inch
Curb Weight: (varies on packaging) ~2922lbs
enjoy, glad to see people like the car
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Mitsufan 1:04AM (11/17/2006)
Very exciting stuff. A larger Lancer, 152hp + a CVT means better mileage and respectable speed.
And if it looks anything like the concept...beautiful.
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WRC05 8:39PM (11/16/2006)
um #16, the Ralliart Lancer sits between the base and Evo with a 2.4 liter engine no?
Nice to see the offering of a CVT but I'll probably go with manual. I also want to see an iPod hookup!
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Greg A. 10:58PM (11/16/2006)
"Journalists were invited to sample the new car (not us, unfortunately)..."
That should say, "Journalists (other than we, unfortunately) were invited to sample the new car..." Unless you genuinely meant that you wish those journalists had sampled you as well as the car (heavens!).
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