Mitsubishi Lancer News

That might sound like a silly answer to a serious question, but it's the best solution for optimum shopping in the back end of 2013. You see, Korea now makes better Japanese cars than the Japanese. And that's a fact.There are some exceptions, and some categories where the Koreans are still getting a foothold, but a Hyundai i30 or a Kia Cerato is a far better choice than a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Kia Sportage makes more sense than a Honda CR-V, and a Hyundai Santa Fe is much better buying than a Toyota Kluger.This Korean tide has been rising for a while, but it's now filled showrooms with quality cars that are backed by industry-leading five-year warranties with capped-price servicing costs. The two Korean juggernauts are also serious about tuning their cars for Australian drivers and roads, which is becoming a serious selling point and also a battlefield for bragging rights between Hyundai and Kia.Even Daewoo, which was absorbed into the Holden empire to provide cut-price cars such as the Barina and Captiva, is now doing a better job as the engineering and design expertise from Fishermans Bend is absorbed deeply into the Korean content on the cars. And don't forget that the Aussie-made Cruze compact, despite its local tweaking and assembly in Adelaide, began its life at the GM Daewoo division in Korea.Without getting into a history lesson, the seismic shift between Japan and Korea comes down to three things. First is the deep-seated rivalry between the two countries, second is the well-lit path to success blazed by Japanese makers including Honda and Toyota, and third is the Global Financial Crisis. How's that?Well, nothing makes a Korean businessman happier than beating a Japanese rival, even though the Japanese were the first Asian companies to achieve success in motoring thanks to cars like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the classy machines that followed. These days, the Nissan GT-R is a legend and the Toyota LandCruiser is an icon.So the Koreans assimilated the Japanese business model for cheap, reliable and sensible cars - think of the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio - and then found a way to build them with similar quality at a lower price. There was a time when the cabins of Korean cars stank - because of the 'release agent' applied to plastic parts - and the assembly was slipshod and downmarket, but not today. They also have aircon with Japanese efficiency, always a pointer to intelligent engineering in Australian weather.But it's the GFC which has made the biggest difference. While the Japanese brands panicked, cutting costs and stretching the lifetimes of their cars, the Koreans accelerated their development plans, brought new models, and invested in their dealerships in Australia.The results are obvious now as many Japanese cars - we're talking about the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza - have lost their previous edge, while others - think Mitsubishi Pajero and Subaru WRX - are way overdue for a remake.In the meantime, Hyundai is now plotting a move upmarket with its luxury Genesis models and Kia is setting a global standard for quality styling thanks to its recruiting of design genius Peter Schreyer. Best of all, when you're buying, it's the driveaway pricing that's been a Korean signature since Hyundai blazed that trail in the 1990s to get nervous shoppers over the line.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

If you think this looks a lot like a 2007 Lancer you're right. The pity is it's a 2014 model and despite new models from its key rivals, Mitsubishi has no small-car replacement in sight. Reflecting the move with the perennial Pajero - which is ostensibly unchanged since 1999 - the Lancer may not be replaced until 2015.The next Lancer will be based, loosely, on the Concept CA-MiEV four-door hatch shown at this year's Shanghai motor show. Once one of Australia's most popular small cars, the Lancer now holds a 4.8 per cent market share in the year to date, down from 6.8 per cent for the same period in 2012. By comparison, the Mazda3 has an 18.1 per cent market share.Mitsubishi this week announced no specification changes - other than alloy wheels for the base model and a bigger touch screen in others - to Lancer models for 2014 but at least has kept the lid on price rises. The Lancer continues with its three-level specification - ES, LX and VRX - in sedan and Sportback styles with entry-level versions starting at $19,990.Drivetrains are unchanged, with a 110kW/197Nm 2-litre petrol four in the ES and LX and a 125kW/226Nm 2.4-litre petrol four in the VRX. No diesels or hybrids are available though the Concept CA-MiEV is a plug-in hybrid using the same drivetrain as the Outlander PHEV, indicating a Lancer petrol-electric is on the horizon.The Lancer Ralliart remains on the list with a detuned version of the Evolution turbo-petrol engine, now rated at 177kW/343Nm, mated to a dual-clutch automatic. The only change from 2013 to 2014 is the addition of a 7-inch touch screen in the VRX and Ralliart, up from the previous year's 6.1-inch screen.But though Mitsubishi appears to be treading water with its familiar product range - only the Mirage and Outlander can be termed all new - the company is lifting market share. Sales are up 36.9 per cent in the year to July 30 compared to the same period in 2012, buoyed by a simplified model line-up and reduced prices on selected vehicles such as Triton and Outlander. Triton 4WD ute sales, for example, are up 66 per cent on 2012.The writer is on Twitter: @cg_dowling 

The sharpest knife is wielded by Proton, whose Preve sedan is now the cheapest small car in the country. Proton marketing general manager Billy Falconer says the cut -- which amounts to a 15 per cent shave off the original price -- is a reaction to the aggressive discounting of rivals.The flip is the annual/15,000km servicing cost is now capped for the first five years or 75,000km, rather than the free servicing as previously. "In order to compete with all these offers, we have reduced the price for the Preve range, with the manual starting at just $15,990 driveaway and the CVT auto Preve from $17,990 driveaway for a limited time only," Falconer says.The Preve is the first Proton to earn a five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a five-year warranty. The Malaysian brand is relying on the improved safety and features -- all Preve models have 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and controls for the sound system and phone mounted on the steering wheel -- to help boost sales.The company sold just 856 vehicles last year and is behind that number year-to-date with 353 sales to July. A new hatch and people-mover -- both built according to Proton's improved safety standards -- are imminent.Ford's Focus Ambiente is -- for now -- just $18,990 on the road, including free servicing for the first three annual/15,000km check-ups. Mazda's $19,990 deal on the Neo includes a four-year warranty and three years' roadside assistance. A Mitsubishi Lancer ES with a front and rear spoilers, side skirts and alloy wheels is available for $19,990 driveaway until the end the month.PRICE WARModel                                November 2012     NowCitroen C4                          $22,990                 $20,990Ford Focus                         $20,290                 $18,990*Holden Cruze                      $21,490                 $19,490Mazda3                              $20,330                 $19,990*Proton Preve                       $18,990*                $15,990*Mitsubishi Lancer                $19,990                 $19,990**denotes driveaway pricing

A new generation Evo is coming, only it won't be like any Evo we've seen before. Mitsubishi confirmed in 2011 it will be taking its Evo in a new direction, enhancing the breed while at the same time bowing to environmental pressures and changing consumer trends.Numerous reports have suggested that some form of vehicle electrification was likely for the new Evo, an Evo XI to all the fans, but with a turbocharged four-cylinder (possibly a diesel) and all-wheel drive intact. While this is still expected to be the case, reports are circulating that the car will be repositioned as a Nissan GT-R rival and have at least 373kW (500hp) on tap.Such a move would entail repositioning the car as a standalone model and no longer part of the humble Lancer family, which was one of the most enduring traits of previous generations. It truly was an econo-sedan with the performance to match a Porsche.The Lancer platform is still said to be the basis of the new Evo, however. The next-generation Lancer is due next year so the Evo spinoff could be out within the next year or two, though Mitsubishi's official stance is that it is still considering what form the new car will take.It is alleged to be a plug-in hybrid, combining a turbocharged four-cylinder with two electric motors for a total system output of about 370kW. Mitsubishi's Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) will also feature, but with the electric motors aiding traction instead of a traditional mechanical setup. The automaker's MiEV Evolution II electric Pikes Peak racers are said to provide a glimpse of what's possible.Like most plug-in hybrid vehicles, multiple driving modes including an electric only mode would aid economy. The setup will likely be an upgraded version of the drive system found in the upcoming Outlander PHEV SUV. A similar setup will be used by Honda's upcoming NSX and its rumoured Nissan may follow suit for its next-generation R36 GT-R. 

A new generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is coming

The Lancer has a 3.9 per cent slice of the sub-$40,000 small-car market, but faces off against a dominant Mazda3 with 18 per cent share, and the Toyota Corolla with 16.5 per cent. The small-car sector is virtually static in sales -- up just 0.9 per cent year-to-date -- but the buyer demand for compact, fuel-efficient cars means there are no signs of the sector weakening. Luring buyers with the value flag is the Mitsubishi ‘Special Action Model’ - or SAM - that gets a $19,990 drive-away price for a manual sedan based on the entry-level 2.0 litre ES model. SAM comes with metallic paint, choice of four colours, 16-inch five-spoke alloys, Ralliart front bumper and grille, VRX high-rise boot spoiler and extra bling. Mitsubishi has announced its “compact sedan” concept will become the next Lancer, but it could be three years away. The SAM is one of the special-edition models designed to maintain sales ahead of this next generation.  

A major price cut for the most-desirable Mitsubishi model in showrooms today - the go-faster Lancer Evo - highlights a massive value boost for the Japanese brand. Its most popular models, the Lancer and ASX, have both been given a mid-life tweak that includes re-pricing with value boosts from top to bottom. The biggest cut is a $8900 reduction in the price of the top-line Lancer Evolution MR, but the basic Lancer ES now starts at $19,990 and there is more equipment with the promise of better driving. "The basic idea is to improve the value position," the president of Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, tells Carsguide. "We have to recognise the age of the vehicle. It's quite competent and Lancer owners are probably our happiest. We want to strengthen and hold the position until we get the Mirage." The Lancer has been battling to win friends but Mitsubishi believes the new starting price, together with a new mid-range LX priced from $23,990 with plenty of equipment, can do the job. The basic ES comes with seven airbags, Bluetooth telephone connection and audio streaming, a leather-wrapped wheel and improve sound system. The VRX has had a $1000 price cut but the fully-loaded Lancer Ralliart is unchanged at $44,490. On the Evo front, the starting price is now down by $5400 to $56,990 and the dual-clutch automatic is cheaper by the same amount. Mitsubishi admits the Lancer has lost its gloss but believes it can rebuild its support. "It's been around a while, so we've tried to freshen it. The styling still stacks up," says Tony Principe, head of product and strategy. "there is constant pressure to price it down. (So) we've re-positioned the cars by around $1700." Sales of the ASX have been strong so its update is focussed on equipment, together with a very mild update of the styling. The suspension, steering and CVT auto have also been tweaked, although not enough to justify a full-scale Carsguide evaluation.  "It's been a bit of a hit for us. From zero we're up to about 600 a month," Principe says. "We are doing a re-position. We've got a good entry position, but we needed a two-wheel drive premium model."  So the basic car really only gets a new sound system with Bluetooth, but the new Aspire adds everything from alloy wheels and privacy tinted glass to a reversing camera, auto wipers and headlamps, and leather seat trimm. Against the basic ASX from $25,990, the Aspire looks good at $28,990 for the manual and $30,240 for the auto.  

It's the brainchild of Queensland's Team Nemo driver and manager Chris Eaton who will debut the car at the World Time Attack Challenge at Sydney Motorsport Park on Friday, August 10. "Other teams you'll see at World Time Attack started out with a road car and added different bits along the way," says Eaton. "From the beginning, our car has been a definite effort to integrate the aero with the suspension and driveline. Our goal has been to produce something with the best ability in every area.'' It started life as a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII but and two years of development by American aerodynamicist and data engineer Andrew Brilliant it emerges as a track animal with aerodynamics "not far off an F1 car''. Just look at the stats: At 200km/h the 950kg car makes 1.6 tonnes of downforce which means - theoretically - that you could drive it upside down on the roof of a tunnel without falling off. The team uses special Hankook semi-slick tyres with enough load rating to cope with the downforce and a 600kW turbo engine that had to be programmed to automatically drop the boost in corners to stop the wheels spinning. "The car has more than 600kW at the wheels and would struggle to get that power down in the corners if we didn't moderate the boost,'' Eaton says. "The autoboost also improves engine reliability." It is believed the car will lap Eastern Creek at 1m29s which is as fast as Craig Lowndes lapped his V8 Supercar on full slicks.  

Based on the 2012 model year Lancer ES, the Lancer Platinum includes a host of upgrades to offer extra safety, convenience and style. Safety is boosted with a reversing camera and reversing sensors. Camera images appear in the electro-chromatic mirror.  Inside are a  number of luxury touches including leather seat trim, heated front seats and powered driver's seat with slide, recline and height adjustment functions. The deluxe leather centre console complements the leather wrapped steering wheel which features audio and phone controls for convenience along with voice activated Bluetooth 2.0.  Exterior enhancements include 16-inch alloy wheels, side air dams, chrome muffler tip and a special Platinum badge while the sedan model also receives a rear spoiler.  The Lancer Platinum boasts the efficient 2.0-litre dual overhead cam MIVEC four-cylinder engine, and is available in both manual and CVT transmissions, and in either the sportback or sedan body styles. The price is $21,690 for the manual and $24,190 for the automatic.

CRAIG Lowndes leads a surprising Audi attack on the Bathurst 12-Hour race over easter with a pair of race-prepared R8 coupes. Rule changes for the endurance event at Mount Panorama have opened the event to sports cars and Audi has a pair of R8s coming from Europe - V8 Supercar racer Warren Luff will share with Lowndes - to take on the Porsche 911s that are expected to fight for victory.THE struggling Australian Rally Championship is headed for a revamp and improvement to its relevance under new chairman Scott Pedder. The retired driver intends to make the series more appealing to carmakers from 2011 and move it away from the reliance on the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo contenders that dominate entry lists.THE full-scale renewal of the V8 Supercars field will take place in 2013 when the category's Car of the Future will become compulsory. There was talked of an optional phase-in for the change in 2012 but V8 Supercars bosses now say the transitional year has been dumped in favour of a single switch at the start of 2013.CITROEN stalwart Dani Sordo, who was superstar Sebastian Loeb's sidekick for five years at Citroen, is moving to Mini for this year's World Rally Championship. Mini is only planning a limited program against Ford and Citroen before a full-scale season in 2011, but has signed Sordo the Spaniard as lead driver alongside Chris Meeke of the UK.FORMER champion Chad Reed made a tentative return to AMA Supercross racing in the USA last weekend riding a Honda for his own team for the first time. The Aussie was fifth at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles as Ryan Villopoto won on the Monster Kawasaki he used to ride.