The arrival last week of the Lancer Ralliart is a bellwether of things to come from the importer. Photo Gallery
Launched three years ago, the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart performance franchise has never quite reached the dizzying heights of its local performance rivals.
But the arrival last week of the Lancer Ralliart is a bellwether of things to come from the importer.
Mitsubishi Australia executives believe the Lancer Ralliart will send a strong performance message to enthusiasts and enhance a lineup that already consists of the Lancer Evo, Colt Ralliart and soon a Triton Ralliart.
The company is also looking at the possibility of a Outlander Ralliart but more work is needed before it becomes part of the lineup.
In Europe Mitsubishi has just announced that the 2.2-litre Di-D turbo-diesel Outlander, an engine still under consideration locally, will soon get the Evo's SST six-speed gearbox.
On the back of an energised Ralliart business, Mitsubishi Australia present, Rob McEniry, is looking to the future, with the prospect of a bigger commitment to local rallying.
McEniry admits competition is a key part of Ralliart's future, "but not just yet".
"We'd love to," he says.
"Where we can we support some privateers but it's very low key.
"But we'd like to get back to being a little more up front about it.
"But to do that you really have to put a team together and get sponsors and a team."
McEniry believes a performance side of Mitsubishi's business "is very important".
"That's what attracts people and it certainly acts as a halo for the brand," he says.
McEniry is confident he can sell 3000 Ralliart models a year.
Dealers are confident too.
There are 80 TMR dealers nationally, up from the original 27 at launch.
The arrival of the Evolution has spurred interest.
The company's manager, product strategy, Chris Maxsted, says the $71,690 Evolution MR sedan has become hot property, selling out until next month.
"It's running ahead of our plan," Maxsted says.
Maxsted says he expects to sell about 150 Lancer Ralliarts a month, against about 150 Subaru WRXs and 200 Golf GTis.
In the short term, McEniry sees exchange rates and the slump of the Australia dollar as critical to the car business.
"I think the market will take some price increases and I don't think that's a bad thing as the market has taken some hits with specifications and pricing," he says.
However, he has ruled out de-specing cars to achieve competitive pricing.
"Quite the contrary, at least for us," he says.
As an importer, Mitsubishi is tracking well this year despite the recent new car slump.
It has an overall market share of 6.1 per cent.
"We have been well ahead of the market for most of the year and we expect to stay well ahead of the market," he says.
"We are lineball with 2007, just a couple of hundred units off and considering we had 5000 380s in the '07 figures, things are pretty good."
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