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Now tell me doesn't this look like a Pontiac Sun Fire????



Set to slot between the decaffeinated Lancer OZ Rally Edition and the hot-rod Lancer Evolution, the Lancer Ralliart will arrive in Mitsu showrooms this fall with a 160-horsepower 2.4-liter SOHC four-cylinder under the hood. Featuring MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and lift Electronic Control) variable valve timing, this iron-block motor is paired with either a five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic. Compared to lesser Lancers, the Ralliart sports stiffer springs and dampers, a front strut-tower bar, four-wheel disc brakes, and a larger rear stabilizer bar. A new front fascia, which unfortunately resembles a Pontiac Sunfire's, will adorn all 2004 Lancers. It features a split-grille arrangement and a new sculpted halogen lamp arrangement. Revised decklid sheet metal, clear taillight lenses, and a unique aero package with a rear wing round out the changes to the rear. Rolling stock consists of Euro-flange 16-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels shod with 205/50R16 tires. Inside, the Ralliart gets niceties such as the front seats found in the Japanese-market Lancer Evo GT-A, carbon-fiber instrument-panel accents, and titanium-hued audio panel trim. Pricing will start under $18,000. Optional equipment will include ABS with EBD and a Sun and Sound package, which features a power sunroof and a 315-watt six-speaker Infinity CD stereo with an eight-inch DVC subwoofer.

[ 04-18-2003, 09:03 PM: Message edited by: zetecinside ]
 

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Lancer EVO VII GT-A


Why does a Mitsubishi Evo VII with an automatic gearbox seem such a peculiar proposition? Porsche and Ferrari, sports car makers to the core, do them, and the Evo's is a very good auto. And yet...

It doesn't help that this Evo GT-A is finished in champagne-coloured metallic on the outside, set off by shinier alloys, and on the inside has electrically adjusted leather seats, 'blue pearl' lacquered trim panels and white-faced, chrome-ringed dials. Oh, and that auto 'box gate with bright surround. Unseen is extra sound deadening material. If Mitsubishi had set out to make an Evo VII Vanden Plas, it couldn't have got much closer – all that's missing is an inappropriate upright chrome radiator grille and fey walnut picnic trays.

The GT-A exists 'to bring the hi-performance all-wheel-drive sports sedan experience to a wider audience', says the Mitsubishi blurb. All the GSR's chassis refinements are retained, including Active Yaw Control (AYC) and Active Centre Differential (ACD) with selectable tarmac/gravel/snow settings. And although power is slightly down, from 276 to 268bhp, and the torque curve has been scalped to provide a flat-topped 253lb ft between 3000 and 5000rpm, there's no question that this is still one seriously quick saloon.

There are a great many other changes, almost all of them designed to subtly reduce the rawness of the GSR. The suspension is extensively but gently tweaked to provide the same no-roll cornering but with a more comfortable ride and less on-limit snappiness. Powertrain refinements include the use of vibration-damping steel for the engine's sump, steel instead of aluminium intercooler piping to lower intake noise, and a choke pipe in the exhaust to reduce burble.

Clearly the Evo VII has been through a very thorough development programme. You might expect the focal point of all this effort to be an example of the in-vogue semi-manual, like Ferrari's F1 system. Not so. Mitsubishi has fitted the proven five-speed torque converter auto from the Galant VR-4, a conventional auto featuring what was referred to a few years back as 'fuzzy logic'. Basically, the 'box can detect the driving style and adapt its shift pattern to suit. In addition, there are usefully big steering-wheel- mounted buttons marked +/- for manual override and the same function can be accessed with the gearlever by pushing it to the left, as in a Porsche, into a short +/- gate when it's in Drive.
 

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it is not a real evo it is more of a honda civic si or something....oh well lets see how good it is...I just don't think the lights match the body lines at all....it is like they pasted in focus headlights on a old evo
 

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Actually to help you understand where they got the styling. They are using the front end of the EVO VIII as their model. I will agree that in the picture it does resemble a sunfire, but if you saw it in person it's really not bad at all.

I work at Lewisville Mitsubishi in Lewisville, TX and that's what the manufacture's reps are telling us.

BTW, I have 4 EVO VIII's left if anyone is interested.
 

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Originally posted by aaron_zx3:
Actually to help you understand where they got the styling. They are using the front end of the EVO VIII as their model. I will agree that in the picture it does resemble a sunfire, but if you saw it in person it's really not bad at all.

I work at Lewisville Mitsubishi in Lewisville, TX and that's what the manufacture's reps are telling us.

BTW, I have 4 EVO VIII's left if anyone is interested.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">and how much are you swingin' those for, i heard some dealers were marking them supa-dupa high!
 
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