Lancer Big On Options

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday October 29, 2008

Brent Davison

THE car market is a fickle beast and car makers need to be on their game if they want to compete successfully and that means having something for everyone.

That is not always as easy as it seems with product constraint forced by overseas demand or, sometimes, overseas indifference. In other words the thing we want is either selling like hot cakes and we can't have or most markets have decided it is unwanted so the company could not be bothered building it.

With that in mind we are not entirely sure why it took Mitsubishi so long well over a decade to get a hatchback version of its popular Lancer sedan here, but the market in general is probably very happy it has finally done so, simply because of the versatility offered by the liftback format.

And in one of those good news/bad news formats the good news is that Lancer Sportback as the newcomer is known runs the same mechanical end equipment levels as the sedan range (with the exception of the luxury Aspire and rally homologation Evolution and Evolution MR variants) and are priced identically.

The bad news? There is none as far as we can tell.

What that means is the four-model Sportback range starts with the 2.0-litre ES, moves up to the 2.0-litre Vr, gains engine size with the 2.4-litre VRX and drops capacity but gains a turbocharger and all-wheel-drive for the 2.0-litre Ralliart.

ES, VR and VRX models all come with a standard five-speed manual transmission with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) optional for those who want an automatic.

The Ralliart model, with 177 kilowatts on tap, runs a standard twin-clutch automatic transmission borrowed from the Evolution sedan.

Despite the widespread model and price range the basic safety equipment is comprehensive across the range with stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and braking assistance standard in all cars.

Airbag numbers range from three for ES to seven in the other three models.

Mitsubishi Australia president and chief executive Robert McEniry, says that because of increasing petrol prices and the current economic environment buyers are turning to small cars to meet their needs and, he adds, the success of the Lancer sedan is testament to that.

"There is no doubt that the all-new Lancer Sportback will open up additional opportunities for us here in Australia."

In terms of size the sedan and hatchback are almost lineball in overall length and at 4585 mm from front bumper to back bumper the Sportback is a modest 15 mm longer.

Carrying capacity, the boasting point of all hatchbacks, is interestingly variable in Lancer. The standard boot depth for ES, VR and VRX can be increased by 90 mm courtesy of a cargo floor height adjust function and its length can be varied by manipulating the 60:40 split/fold rear seats.

WHAT THEY COST

Lancer 2.0 ES ............................ $20,990

Lancer 2.0 VR ............................ $25,590

Lancer 2.4 VRX ......................... $29,790

Lancer 2.0T Ralliart .................. $42,490

(Not including options or on-road costs)

HANGING UP

THE HELMET

PAGE 54

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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