Evo Lite
Mitsubishi Unveils Lancer Ralliart In Detroit
Of all the press conferences at the North American International Auto Show, none mattered more to enthusiasts on a budget than Mitsubishi's, where the wraps came off the 2009 Lancer Ralliart. The 4B11T-powered sedan laid waste to years of neglect in a segment dominated by Subaru's Impreza WRX and foretells good things for tuners unable to pony up for the new Evolution X.
The Ralliart slots neatly between the 169bhp Lancer GTS and its big bro Evo, producing 235bhp and 253lb-ft of torque from the detuned, turbocharged 2.0-liter four (for comparison, the 2008 WRX is making 9bhp and 27lb-ft less). That grunt will be channeled through an Evo-derived, six-speed Twin Clutch-Sequential Sportshift Transmission (TC-SST)-complete with paddle shifters-and sent to the ground through an all-wheel-drive system with an active center differential, a rear mechanical limited-slip differential, and a helical LSD up front. Just like Evos of yore, Ralliartists can select between three different driving modes: tarmac, gravel and snow.
Changes to the exterior further differentiate it from its siblings, with a vented aluminum hood (an obvious nod to the Evo), a new front bumper, rear air dam, spoiler and a dual outlet exhaust. Inside, optional Recaro thrones speaks to the Ralliart's dynamic poise and, when not tackling the twisties, an available 30GB hard drive, sat-nav, and a Rockford Fosgate 650w audio system will keep passengers entertained.
There's no word from Mitsubishi about whether or not a manual version of the Ralliart will be released, something that could be an issue for owners trying to extract every bit of power from the blown four. The Lancer Ralliart will go on sale this summer as a 2009 model. Expect pricing to be in line with Subaru's WRX, somewhere in the mid-$20k realm.
Rumors & Lies
* While Lexus IS-F owners are just beginning to take delivery of their shiny new M3/C63/RS4 fighter, reports are surfacing that Toyota is developing a more hardcore version of its high-power sedan. The IS-F/R (yeah, we just coined that) would get a bump in output from 417 to 429bhp, along with a torque boost of 4lb-ft. While that's a nominal increase over the standard model's Yamaha-developed V8, the major performance advantages will come from a 200-pound diet. This might be the version that puts the IS-F on the map.
*The Dodge Demon Concept proved that Chrysler has ideas beyond big V8s and homely sedans. When the two-door convertible concept debuted in Geneva last year, it appeared to be a viable contender against the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and even Mazda's MX-5. Not any more. Dodge is attempting to keep costs and emissions down if and when it brings the Demon to market, so the automaker is looking to underpin the roadster with a Chinese-built, front-wheel-drive platform instead of something with a rear-drive flavor. While that might make the price of entry lower than some of the other drop-top offerings, poor build quality could make it an undesirable proposition before it even reaches the showrooms.
* The Volvo C30 has yet to prove its cred in the hot hatch segment, but if the upcoming Focus RS-which shares a platform with the C30-is any indication, good things might be on the way from Sweden. Word is that Volvo might be trying to provide some competition to the Volkswagen R32 by fitting the turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five from the new RS into the C30's engine bay. That means around 280bhp channeled to the front wheels through an electronically controlled LSD, with the possibility of Volvo utilizing its new PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox. If we're forced to admire another generation of the Focus RS from afar, this might be the answer to our prayers-assuming it even makes it Stateside.
* No matter how much power people try to extract from their engines, at the end of the day, weight remains the ultimate buzzkill. Nissan recognizes this and will attempt to reduce the average weight of its vehicles by 15 percent by 2015. This weight reduction is an effort to simultaneously increase performance and decrease emissions over its 2005 range. With aluminum prices at an all-time high, innovative metal blends and more carbon fiber may become standard on new Nissans.