Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE]

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Mitsubishi

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Mitsubishi Lancer one of its top safety picks. The four-door sedan managed to be the first Mitsubishi that the Institute has tested to pass the new roll-over test with a "good" rating. As much as we like entertaining ourselves by thinking about the researchers flipping a bevy of cars and SUVs from 9-to-5, that isn't quite how the institute tests for rollover strength.

Instead, a large metal plate exerts a steady force on the roof of a vehicle until the crash structure deflects by five inches. At that point, the boffins measure the amount of force it took to bend the roof and compare it to the overall weight of the vehicle. From there, a strength-to-weight ratio can be established. Currently, the federal government requires a vehicle's roof to be able to withstand 1.5 times the weight of the car, and in order for a vehicle to earn a "good" rollover rating from the IIHS, the roof needs to be able to stand up to four times the weight of the vehicle.

Gallery: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

[Source: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste

Alex Nunez — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Mitsubishi "Panther" Concepts

In addition to bringing the good stuff (Lancer Evo, Ralliart) to Melbourne, Mitsubishi has some schlock on hand to counterbalance the awesome. We're talking about the automaker's "Panther" concepts, which leverage bling, decals, and that whole "dealer-installed accessory" vibe to create all-show/no-go machines of questionable taste. We find those "panther scratch" stickers to be particularly egregious -- they'd look right at home on a busted-up Paseo with 15-inch spinner hubcaps. Check out the attached gallery to see what you like most or least about the five Panther concepts. We think the Pajero fares the best of the bunch, and while we'd love to have the Triton pickup in general, we could do without the 22-inch cartoon wheels and graphics. The other three victims are the Colt (not too bad), Grandis minivan (above) and Lancer ES, whose Panther makeover begs the question, why do this when you can simply buy a GTS? They may wear the name of a predator, but these "Panthers" look like they'd be happier noshing on Friskies than fresh meat. Mitsubishi's ~~excuse~~ explanation for them follows after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Mitsuishi "Panther" Concepts

[Source: Mitsubishi]

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Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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