Spy photos: First shots of rumored Lancer Ralliart?

Is it AWD?

Man, Mitsu has hit a much needed homerun with this car. If they offer AWD in non EVO form, they'll sell a ton of them here in the NorthEast. Maybe even one to me! :)

Awesome. The Lancer is a nice car, the last one wasn't bad either. They needed something to slot in between the common Lancer and the Evo. Totally agree that the styling is a clear winner over the Subaru, that thing is just weird looking. I do hope they offer it with AWD. They'll probably be tempted to make it FWD, like the MazdaSpeed3. Hope they make it at least optional.
 
I hope MItsu is on the rise again, things are looking good with this and the Outlander. The Galant and Endeavor have always been very good but underappreciated vehicles.

Very interesting, especially if it comes with AWD.
 
They had far too big of a gap right now, from 162hp all the way up to 286hp.
 
Makes sense to market something inbetween. I would not be surprised if it did a lot of volume, either.

i'm hearing rumors of it being AWD to better compete w/the WRX... now if they truly do this AND price it correctly (ie: not reaching anywhere near $30k like the WRX), then they've got a bonafide winner on their hands. It seriously looks so much better than the WRX sedan- well, for the exception of that weird "high" look to the taillamps. They look as if they're too high or something... But honestly, the WRX sedan looks better than the "wagon"/hatch/whatever. This grudge match gets even more interesting by the minute... :)

I like the look of the WRX sedan, but I really like this Mitsu.
 
The hatch however makes me appreciate my 07' Impreza wagon more... :)

here's my theory on pricing: if the std. lancer WITH the navi and tech. pkg. checks in at about $21k, then i believe mitsu will price this Ralliart roughly around $22-$23k. which is highly competitive. that's apprx. the old price of the original WRX! then add on a $3k package for the Nav. pkg. then we've got a $26k vehicle. which undercuts the WRX fully loaded w/Navi. by about 3 grand...

A few thougths, just my .02:
 
- In general, Mitsu, by my book is HEADS AND SHOULDERS above where it was just 3 years ago, in terms of overall vehicle execution as evidenced by the new Lancer and Outlander. Sales are up too, so public is noticing.
- The last non-Evo Lancer was a total miss in the marketplace. The new one is something different as it stands, and it can only get better with this Ralliart and the new Evolution. I'm totally stoked for the future of this model line.
- The new Impreza/WRX.... who wants a Subaru thats not at least a bit quirky? That said, I don't see what all the styling fuss is about. I actually like the new front end, and the h/b version is looks pretty fierce. I don't like the Kia Rio rear on the sedan, but its jazzed up with a spoiler. PLUS, half the nay-sayers on the vehicle haven't seen it up close, and as with most Subies, the pics don't do it justice....

alpha, i've said my .02 on the WRX. i've seen it up close and i was wrong- it did look better in person; the pics don't do it much justice at all. but the verdict is still out on those horrific taillights and grille. aside from that, it was good. bland, but good. but i can see where subaru is trying to go- the mass market appeal.
 
i also agree that mitsu is way above where it was 3 years ago!

Yeah, I saw the Subie in NY at the Auto show. The sedan looks great, the hatch looks well, unique... In a Daewoo Lanos kinda way. I'm sure in STi form, the shape will be somewhat hidden by the aggressive wheel and tire package, the rear wing and other ralleye bits but the pedestrian base model just looks like a blob. The interiors are nice though...
 
But this Mitsu, man it is a homerun. It is almost Acura TSX - like in its upscale appearance. This and the Mazda 3 are the ones to beat in the segment with the competition way off in the distance...

I suspect the WRX's tuned-for-torque 2.5 engine will be easier to live with than the Lancer's more highly strung 2.0 engine.
 
The speed numbers may be similar, but that only matters if you drive flat out all the time. That's not me. I'll take the WRX's broader powerband.

good point bob. :) i drive flat-out all the time though. :) except when my wife's in the car that is... ;P

Good point, Bob, as always, but perhaps a bit premature, dontchathink? A lightish pressure turbo can easily be tuned for decent low-end, correct... and heck, if there are fuel economy benefits of the smaller displacement, perhaps it'd be enough for you to reconsider....

You know, if they wanted they could put the turbo world engine 2.5 that is going into the caliber srt-4 they are all on the same platform. They could tune it down a bit, get a bit more torque without having to be so high revving and everyone is happy. my 0.2c

True, Alpha01, but then you're comparing a 2.0 vs. a 2.5, both tuned for a broad a powerband. All things being equal, the 2.5 should be the better performer, as it's larger, no?

Inside Line is now reporting that the Lancer Ralliart will have AWD. That being the case, it will truly be a worthy competitor for the new WRX.
 
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121885
 
This is good news, as it will likely spur Subaru on to upgrade the WRX sooner rather than later in its product life.

Let's not forget that the Lancer RA will also compete against the Ford Fusion, which has been bragging about its AWD capability and low cost. This should undercut the Fusion by a grand or two, despite the fact that the Fusion comes with a V6 (though roughly the same hp).

give Mitsu the kudos for going in the right direction, personally I like the weird-ness of this generation Lancer (@ least couple steps above the outgoing gen.). i'm hoping that Mitsu is listening, (really listening) to people in different forums for what people really wants for their cars such as this gen. Lancer. I really hope that Mitsu offers the AWD for the Ralliard model. Seriously, I think Mitsu will get an advantage over MazdaSpeed3 if the Ralliar model is AWD.
just some cents.

AWD would be good for the Ralliart, even if it's an option rather than standard.
Is this one going to be sedan only, or will there be other body styles?
Not sure about the Dodge-inspired front end, though.

Bob, I hear ya, I'm just saying that if it's tuned well enough, the 2.0L may indeed be very "easy to live with", and not necessarily more highly strung than Subaru's thirsty flat 2.5L.
 
estreka- I don't know..... I don't see the family oriented Fusion and this much smaller compact sport sedan being cross shopped? Afterall, how many people cross-shop the Impreza/WRX vs. Fusion AWD...from reading the midsize sedan boards, I'd say none. It sure is nice to have alternatives though.

Alpha - I disagree. Judging from the average Lancer driver (not the Evo), I'd say the Ralliart will compare quite well against the Fusion. I do agree that the WRX would never be cross-shopped against the Fusion. But the Lancer hasn't had the same persona as the old WRXs did. In fact, with the new vanilla styling the Impreza has undergone, I think the next WRX could indeed be a competitor as well. That's what Subaru seems to be striving for anyway.

If Mitsubishi is smart, they will bring the new Sportback variant of the Lancer to the United States market. They sold a Sportback version of the last generation Lancer in America from 2004 to 2006, and it sold reasonably well, so there is really no reason why they shouldn't offer it again. A Lancer Sportback Ralliart would complete head on with the WRX and Mazda 3 hatches. The styling of the Sportback is razor sharp and completely blows the WRX and 3 out of the water. Not to say that the WRX and 3 are ugly by any state of the imagination, but the new Sportback is just waaaay more attractive than either of them. Add in the AWD factor, and the Sportback would be on equal footing with the WRX and have a distinct advantage over the 3.
With gas prices going through the roof, there is a sizeable market for gas sipping yet cargo capable five door wagons/hatches emerging, and with its combination of attractive styling, nicely finished interior, optional AWD, and decent cargo capacity, it could sell quite well, particularly in the typical AWD wagon hotbeds of the Northeast and the Intermountain West.
If they decide to offer that bodystyle again, I'll be one of the first in line to put down a down payment at the local Mitsu dealership.
I'll take mine in black. : )

autophile_89: The sportback was only sold in the states for the 2004 model year. It didn't sell well (because most Americans are dumb and would rather have a gas guzzling SUV than a fun to drive wagon that hauls the same amount of crap) and Mitsu's finances tanked so it was dropped for the 05 model year. My brother has one, and its a great car. However, the Concept Sportback shown at Frankfurt in '05 was more of a fastback hatch, and not at true wagon. I'm all for a true wagon of the Ralliart, this time with a manual (the 04 Ralliart wagon was auto only).

Ok, that's fair, we can disagree. I just sure as heck know that I won't be cross shopping the Lancer Ralliart and Fusion. I'm still curious though, from where you are basing your facts "the average Lancer driver".... what demos exactly are you talking about? From everything I've read, they've changed from the previous generation, which was a bargain buy for non-sporting types, since it offered basically nothing unique in the class. This go round is very different. And both the Lancer and Impreza/WRX remain MUCH smaller than the Fusion.

I assure you my perception on the matter is based purely on observation and speculation. The Lancer owners I've seen have been as nondescript as the vanilla cars they drive. I've never seen a Lancer modified, blinged out, or hopped up. It's never been a niche product like the WRX has been. Now, the fact that it has more mouthwatering power might change all that. But historically it has been a small to midsize vanilla sedan. Which I classed alongside the Fusion.