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2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback starting at $19,190, Ralliart at $27,590

Dan Roth — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart

Lancer, good. Lancer Sportback, better. Lancer Sportback Ralliart, better still. The hatchified version of Mitsubishi's Lancer was confirmed earlier this year to go on sale as a 2010 model. For the first two-thirds, it's a normal Lancer, but out back there's a smidge of extra length and a newly fattened C-Pillar for the practical hatch profile. Not only is it sporting smart-looking hatchy excellence, the Lancer Sportback glowers at the Subaru Impreza and says "bring it."

Tweaking an Impreza's nose is best done when you're rocking the $27,590 Lancer Sportback Ralliart. The entry GTS serves up the style and utility for a reasonable $19,190, but the 2.4-liter four cylinder's 168 horsepower, while good, doesn't exactly get enthusiast blood boiling. If you want your Sportback GTS to shift itself, it will start at $20,190 and pack a CVT with magnesium shift paddles and six fixed ratios to emulate more conventional transmissions.

Real performance isn't the exclusive domain of the Evo. In fact, the Lancer Sportback Ralliart is something of a 2/3 Evo, running an underachieving version of that car's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine spitting out 237 horsepower through all four wheels either via a twin-clutch paddle-shifted six-speed. More hatches are always good, and more higher-performance hatches are even more welcome. Get all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

Continue reading 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback starting at $19,190, Ralliart at $27,590

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback starting at $19,190, Ralliart at $27,590 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mitsubishi Ralliart Sportback spotted in MI

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Rumormill

Click above for another shot of the Lancer Sportback

The crew at NextAutos caught a Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback testing in the great state of Michigan, providing us with further proof that the WRX-fighter is on its way to the States. The Sportback is the hatch/wagon/combi variant of the Lancer that originally debuted in Paris, and while Mitsubishi still hasn't confirmed drivetrain choices for the U.S., we've been assured that a Ralliart version is in the cards.

The Sportback aims to unseat the five-door Subaru Impreza both here and abroad, with gasoline engine choices in Europe spanning the range from 1.5- to 1.8-liters, along with a turbodiesel displacing 2.0 liters. The Sportback Ralliart will be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter MIVEC four equipped on the sedan and putting out 237 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through Mitsubishi's new Twin-Clutch SST transmission and Active Center Differential. Expect the Sportback to arrive on U.S. shores later this year, with the Ralliart variant following shortly thereafter.

[Source: NextAutos]

Spy Shots: Mitsubishi Ralliart Sportback spotted in MI originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and Ralliart revealed early

John Neff — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

Click above for high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart

Mitsubishi told us way back in June that it would debut the five-door Lancer Sportback and Sportback Ralliart at the Paris Motor Show in October. They were close, as images of the two models have surfaced on the web today just a week before the big show in Paris. The new Sportback model adds all the versatility of Subaru's similarly shaped 5-door Impreza models, which should be a big hit in Europe where they'll go on sale first. The base Lancer Sportback models will come with your choice of a 1.5L or 1.8L four-cylinder or 2.0L turbodiesel, and the Sportback Ralliart that serves up a side of practicality with your main course of performance, will be powered by a 2.0L MIVEC turbocharged four-cylinder making 237 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. It will also come with Mitsubishi's new Twin-Clutch SST transmission, an Active Center Differential and all the go-fast goodies found on the sedan version. The Lancer Sportback should hit European showrooms this fall, and we're cautiously certain it will end on sale in the U.S. as well where Suburu already offers the Impreza in both sedan and five-door hatchback versions.

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

[Source: NetCarShow ]

Paris Preview: Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and Ralliart revealed early originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2008: Mitsubishi Prototype-S

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Mitsubishi

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Prototype-S.

Mitsubishi is serious about extending its range of Lancer products to fill every niche between the base ES model and the range-topping Evolution X MR. The introduction of the Lancer Ralliart was one way of plugging the gaping hole between the lesser Lancer and its rally-bred big brother, but still, something was missing: utility. Mitsubishi's answer to the Subaru WRX Sportwagon and Volkswagen's four-door GTI is the Lancer Prototype-S, a new model that will move on from concept to production within the next year.

All the details that have trickled out over the past month were realized earlier today, as the five-door Lancer made its appearance in Geneva. As expected, power will come from the Ralliart's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which sends 240 hp and 252 lb.-ft. of torque through the Twin Clutch SST gearbox and on down to all four wheels through an Active Center differential.

The chances of the Prototype-S making it Stateside grow each day, particularly as Mitsubishi aims to reestablish itself as a producer of economical and entertaining vehicles that blend a bit of sportiness with a dose of functionality.

Mitsubishi's press release is available after the jump.

Gallery: Mitsubishi Prototype S

Continue reading Geneva 2008: Mitsubishi Prototype-S

Geneva 2008: Mitsubishi Prototype-S originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Mitsubishi Prototype S

Alex Nunez — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

Click for more hi-res images of the Mitsubishi Prototype S

Autobild spilled the beans over the weekend, and today, Mitsubishi lifted the embargo on its Geneva-bound Prototype S, which is basically the forthcoming Lancer Sportback in light concept trim. Beneath the hatchback's skin lies the powertrain used in in the new US-market Lancer Ralliart -- 240 horses, dual-clutch, full-time AWD, and active center differential. It's anyone's guess whether Mitsubishi will elect to offer it outside Europe, where the body style is sure to be a bread-and-butter seller. We certainly wouldn't turn it away, though; there's always room for more hatchbacks with "go." Check out the new high-res shots in the attached gallery, and Mitsu's official release after the jump.

Gallery: Mitsubishi Prototype S

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: Mitsubishi Prototype S

Pics Aplenty: Mitsubishi Prototype S originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva '08 Preview: Mitsubishi Prototype S unmasked!

Alex Nunez — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:38:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

Click image for a gallery of the Prototype S

German pub Autobild has spilled the beans on the Geneva-bound Mitsubishi Prototype S. The "S" is for Sportback, and this show car forecasts a future production vehicle that will probably carry that moniker. The Sportback is crucial for the European market, where hatches account for the majority of car sales. Up front, you essentially have the Lancer Ralliart's nose, which is dressed up with more ornate, concept-style headlamps and foglights. Head around to the car's rump, and you can almost see Mitsu's people drawing a line in the sand, daring the 5-door WRX to come over and "play." The sloping rear hatch is topped by a large, body-colored roof spoiler, and restyled rear lighting wraps from the lid onto the quarter panels. Dual exhaust tips poke through a diffuser insert on the rear bumper, and stylish split-spoke wheels in a gunmetal finish occupy the lightly-flared fender cutouts. Mechanically, it seems that the Prototype S is outfitted with the same running gear as the Lancer Ralliart. The 2.0L turbo four delivers 240 PS (236 hp) and 343 Nm (253 lb-ft) of torque through a dual-clutch setup to a full-time AWD system with an active center differential. It's cool, we want it, and most importantly, it'd fit -- after all, Subaru markets the WRX here as both a sedan and a hatchback. Come on, Mits. Go tit for tat with them and bring this one across the pond after you give it to Europe.

Gallery: Mitsubishi Prototype S

[Source: Autobild]

Geneva '08 Preview: Mitsubishi Prototype S unmasked! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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