Saturday, September 13, 2008

Mitsubishi Lancer Eighth generation



The Lancer was released in Australia in October 2007. It will come in ES, VR and VRX trim levels. Active stability control and traction control will be standard on all models. Standard on the ES will be dual front airbags and a driver knee airbag. The VR and VRX will get side and curtain airbags also. It will have a 2 litre 4B11, 113 kW (152 hp) engine and be equipped with a 5-speed manual or with a 6 speed CVT transmission as a $AUD2300 option. A Ralliart model will follow, and a Lancer Evolution will also make the line up. The Lancer also scored a maximum of 5 stars in the ANCAP crash test.As of September 2008, Mitsubishi's Australian website revealed a new trim level called Aspire. A 2.4 litre engine has been introduced for the Aspire along with leather seats and CVT as standard. The VRX has been upgraded with the larger engine. Base recommended retail pricing has been revised across the range with the VR at $AUD25590, the VRX at $AUD29790 and the Aspire at $AUD34190. CVT is now a $AUD2500 option. The ES model remains unchanged at $AUD20990.

With the exception of the Lancer Evolution X, the Lancer is marketed as the Galant Fortis (Latin for strong, steadfast and courageous) in the Japanese domestic market. It comes in 3 trim levels Exceed, Super Exceed and Sport.

The new Lancer was released on September 15, 2007 in Taiwan and has been named Lancer Fortis. It's powered by a 4B11, 2.0 litre DOHC engine outputting 157 hp (117 kW) and the transmission is a 6-speed (fixed gears in sport mode) version of the CVT. However, unlike other Lancer models in USA and Japan, Mitsubishi has changed the front and rear ends to make it look like a family car.

Due to popular demand of the 7th-gen Lancer in Singapore, it will continue to be sold alongside the new Lancer which will be called the Lancer EX to differentiate itself from the former. The 1.5l, 2.0l and the GTS (marketed as the GT) variants are available in Singapore.

In Malaysia, only the GTS is offered and is marketed as the 2.0GT.

Hong Kong received its unique edition of the Lancer in 2008, dubbed the Lancer 2.0. The car comes in two trim levels, without a name for either of them. Both are equipped with the 4B112.0 4 cylinder engine, 7 airbags, 8 speaker stereo system (manufacturer not known), Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with HID as well as 18" alloy wheels. The upper trim has Ralliart style body kit which includes a revised front bumper, side skirt, rear bumper with diffuser and the addition of a correct-to-Evolution-X rear spoiler,while the lower trim make do without the abovementioned features.