Mitsubishi has been eluding to the release of a five-door “Sportback” model, and considering that the Lancer’s biggest competition, the Subaru Impreza, has received the hatch-back treatment, it was only a matter of time before Mitsubishi countered. The Paris Motor Show brought the debut of the new form of the Lancer, and while the Sportback is intended to offer more function and room than the sedan model, Mitsu was quick to offer a Ralliart model for those who want a little bang for their buck.
The Sportback engine options for the European market begin with either a 1.5 or 1.8L four cylinder engine, but a 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel is available, and for those who want more performance, the Ralliart models come packed with a 2.0 litre turbocharged MIVEC four cylinder making 237 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. Along with the added power, the Ralliart models come with some performance bits from the Evolution, such as the Dual-Clutch SST transmission and the Active Center Differential, so help the Sportback Ralliart handle the corners at speed and aid with driving at normal speeds in poor conditions.
The Sportback, in both forms, is expected to hit European showrooms late in 2008, and while there are no public plans to offer them in the US, the popularity of both the sedan Lancer, and the cross-town rival Impreza, we figure that its only a matter of time before it hits stateside.
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The Lancer Sportback and Ralliart Sportback
