Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (supposedly) to start under $27k
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.
According to Greb Migliore, an Autoweek scribe attending the Ralliart's press launch, the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart will arrive in showrooms this September with a price tag under $27,000. The turbocharged middleweight sedan – aimed squarely at the Subaru WRX – is a clear choice for those that don't want to shill out $40k for its big brother the Evolution X.
Instead, you can get the same 4B11T/C engine (equipped with a smaller turbo) sending 237 hp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque to Mitsubishi's dual-clutch SST gearbox and on down to a modified version of the Evo IX's all-wheel-drive setup. Go crazy with the options, including Recaros, Sirius radio, sat nav and HID headlamps, and you'll be knocking on the $30k ceiling.
However, don't hold Migliore (or Mitsubishi) to that price just yet. The final cost hasn't been determined and will be dependent on currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen.
Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
[Source: Autoweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
shadysi 9:32PM (7/09/2008)
Sounds like a good deal with the recaros. I wonder how it is going to perform.
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Hike15 9:54PM (7/09/2008)
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=127586
thats how it will perform
not as great a handler as the old evo or even the base lancer appearently
shadysi 10:02PM (7/09/2008)
sounds like I would be better off saving pennies for a GSR with a real transmission and some actual gonads.
big jim slade 10:41PM (7/09/2008)
If you're driving an SI, wouldn't anything have gonads in comparison??? Even my friend's Prius has more low end oopmh... And you're going from Fail-Wheel-Drive to AWD. Seems like quite an upgrade.
Rootus 1:39AM (7/10/2008)
big jim slade - because it's better than an SI, it's a good deal? that's interesting logic. I think the point was that given the price is pretty close to a base GSR (which you can get for under 30K these days), the Ralliart isn't a compelling choice.
Pete 12:01PM (7/10/2008)
I'm sorry, but the Ralliart is a failure. It's not even better than the new WRX...IN ANY WAY. I compared the numbers of both cars from Edmund's Inside Line full tests of each car:
0-60
Ralliart: 6.6
WRX: 5.9
1/4 mile:
Ralliart: 14.8 @ 94.6
WRX: 14.5 @ 94.4
Slalom:
Ralliart: 65.0
WRX: 67.7
Skidpad:
Ralliart: 0.81g
WRX: 0.81g
Some new tires will help, but that turbo is going to be a bottleneck. It will not hang with an equally tuned WRX at the strip...ever. This is a major disappointment. To not even top the much maligned new WRX stock for stock is a joke. I'll take an MS3 over either of them and pocket the monthly savings.
nistorica 9:43PM (7/09/2008)
Manual or automatic?Does anybody knows?
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Red 9:58PM (7/09/2008)
Auto (TSS-thingy) only. No plans for America to get the 5 speed. *pout*
Hike15 9:56PM (7/09/2008)
i think ive seen it will have the sst transmission from the evo x mr
PJ 11:36PM (7/09/2008)
It's only available with the sequential manual SST. Which means that you, too, can experience all the thrills of operating a computer mouse while changing gear. Whee!
When Mitsubishi adds a real manual (with accompanying ~$2K price break) to the Ralliart lineup, I'll resume being interested.
dac 1:41PM (7/10/2008)
As pointed out, it will have the DSG, which is certainly not an auto and has been raved about by many reviewers. Automatic per-se but significantly faster than the 5 speed.
Kevin White 9:49PM (7/09/2008)
Is the weight correct? I'm referring to page 12 of the July 7, 2008 AutoWeek magazine, where it lists the curb weight of the Ralliart as 4276 pounds. Seems a little excessive.
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BigMcLargeHuge 10:01PM (7/09/2008)
That's gotta be a typo. I'd believe 3,276 lbs.
BigMcLargeHuge 10:08PM (7/09/2008)
3,512 lbs according to Edmunds.
BlackCanary 11:35PM (7/09/2008)
Weighs more than a V8 Mustang?
IK47 9:59PM (7/09/2008)
I wonder how this car's AWD system compares to the evo's.
using the same engine with a smaller turbo is exactly what I want: less turbo lag, and more longevity.
this should be good competition for the GTI?
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Hike15 10:28PM (7/09/2008)
its awd is similar to the one in the evo ix
but its tired let it down, they are to skinny
Joel 10:01PM (7/09/2008)
Sounds like a great deal on an exciting car, especially with the dual-clutch gearbox.
Somebody ban that mafiacrime punk.
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fm 10:08PM (7/09/2008)
Where's the sub $25k it was supposed to be sold at? It's not as attractive at that price IMO. Probably a great car though.
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tankd0g 10:29PM (7/09/2008)
Out the door with the FWD limited slip.