Spy Shot
Spy Video: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
It's no Evo: catching up with the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
When the current Mitsubishi Lancer debuted in 2002, nobody really noticed. With its 120-horsepower engine and innocuous styling, there was no reason to get excited. Then two years later the high-performance Lancer Evolution model finally made it to the States. It was stacked with more than double the power, all-wheel drive and a rear spoiler fit for duty at Le Mans. Suddenly everybody knew the name Lancer.
Now there's a new generation of Lancer in the works and everybody is paying attention this time around. Mitsubishi threw us a bone last year when it unveiled the Concept-X show car at the Tokyo auto show. Now we have spy footage of actual prototypes testing in the California desert.
Although these test mules aren't the high-powered Evolution models, they still had much of the Concept-X's distinctive shape. Even with the heavy camouflage up front, you can still make out the sweep of the headlights and pronounced nose. The air dam digs deep, with projector-beam foglights on each side and a sizable opening in between to feed an intercooler.
Standard Lancers won't be turbocharged; instead they'll most likely use the 1.8-liter "world" engine Mitsubishi developed with Chrysler and Hyundai. Higher-line Ralliart models will have the 2.4-liter version of the same engine that generates around 175 horsepower. The top-of-the-line Evolution will get an upgraded version of its current 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, making roughly 300 hp. Although lesser models will use traditional transmissions, the Evo may offer a sequential manual with steering wheel paddle shifters similar to BMW's M cars.
All Lancers will ride on a new front-wheel-drive platform shared with DaimlerChrysler. Already in use underneath the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass, the new chassis has already proven to be a fairly stiff and well-mannered setup. Of course, when it comes to the Evolution there will be all-wheel drive, stiffer suspension settings and heavy-duty brakes. Along with its already sophisticated Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) drive system, the new Evo will also feature a new active braking system to further enhance stability in low-traction driving. We got a taste of how it works during a test-drive of an Evo X development mule and the results were impressive.
Expect to see the Lancer in showrooms next spring, followed by the upgraded Ralliart model a few months later. The Evolution won't make it until the fall of 2007 at the earliest, but it's expected to be well worth the wait.
See new Mitsubishi models
See future Mitsubishi models
Now there's a new generation of Lancer in the works and everybody is paying attention this time around. Mitsubishi threw us a bone last year when it unveiled the Concept-X show car at the Tokyo auto show. Now we have spy footage of actual prototypes testing in the California desert.
Although these test mules aren't the high-powered Evolution models, they still had much of the Concept-X's distinctive shape. Even with the heavy camouflage up front, you can still make out the sweep of the headlights and pronounced nose. The air dam digs deep, with projector-beam foglights on each side and a sizable opening in between to feed an intercooler.
Standard Lancers won't be turbocharged; instead they'll most likely use the 1.8-liter "world" engine Mitsubishi developed with Chrysler and Hyundai. Higher-line Ralliart models will have the 2.4-liter version of the same engine that generates around 175 horsepower. The top-of-the-line Evolution will get an upgraded version of its current 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, making roughly 300 hp. Although lesser models will use traditional transmissions, the Evo may offer a sequential manual with steering wheel paddle shifters similar to BMW's M cars.
All Lancers will ride on a new front-wheel-drive platform shared with DaimlerChrysler. Already in use underneath the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass, the new chassis has already proven to be a fairly stiff and well-mannered setup. Of course, when it comes to the Evolution there will be all-wheel drive, stiffer suspension settings and heavy-duty brakes. Along with its already sophisticated Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) drive system, the new Evo will also feature a new active braking system to further enhance stability in low-traction driving. We got a taste of how it works during a test-drive of an Evo X development mule and the results were impressive.
Expect to see the Lancer in showrooms next spring, followed by the upgraded Ralliart model a few months later. The Evolution won't make it until the fall of 2007 at the earliest, but it's expected to be well worth the wait.
See new Mitsubishi models
See future Mitsubishi models
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