In an effort to expand its small car presence in North America, Mitsubishi has confirmed rumors that the five-door Lancer Sportback will go on sale in the United States this summer as a 2010 model. The roomy Sportback was launched late last year at the Paris Motor Show, though at the time, Mitsubishi said that the hatchback Lancer was for European and Asian consumption only.
Mitsubishi will offer the Sportback in two levels – 168-horsepower GTS and 237-horsepower turbocharged Ralliart. GTS features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and comes with your choice of a five-speed manual or CVT. Ralliart aims for the Subaru Impreza 2.5GT with a 2.0-liter turbo four with all-wheel-drive and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission from the Lancer Evolution.
Ralliart, derived from the Lancer Ralliart sedan, also adds a 140-watt CD/MP3 audio system (700-watt Rockford-Fosgate CD changer audio is optional) in addition to a sports suspension and unique trim. Recaro-branded sports seats are also available on the Ralliart.
The Sportback will join the new Lancer Sedan and Lancer Evolution,. The automaker says it will announce pricing closer to the summer on-sale date.



01/30, 3:26 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
Looks like a fine little car. Will sell in niche quantities only, but there’s nothing wrong with that kind of practicality with a little visual appeal too.
01/30, 3:40 PM
posted by:
Borat
Looks better then a sedan
01/30, 3:40 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Reminds me of the Suzuki Reno, only a bit better looking. Somehow I find it cheap looking, but I’m not sure what about it. Maybe it’ll help with the Lancer sedans akward proportions.
01/30, 3:59 PM
posted by:
Copperbottoms
A Lancer “Sport Bacak”! (funny typo there) I always wondered why they never offered a hatch variant in the US, when the Lancer’s direct competition (the impreza, of course) is often found in hatch form. Kudos to Mitsu.
01/30, 4:09 PM
posted by:
carnut053
Looks so much better than an impreza.
01/30, 4:14 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Watashi ha turbo-motor o suki masen de****a.
01/30, 4:34 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
wow…what a fugly POS!
01/30, 4:43 PM
posted by:
HoosierHero
H3ll Ya! I was hoping they would bring this over. Definitely on my next car list. (Ralliart version only though hehe) GJ Mitsu.
01/30, 4:47 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Can I get it with 400h.p.???
01/30, 7:36 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Bring back the 3000GT dammit! This entire current lineup is weak.
01/30, 8:28 PM
posted by:
gogogodzilla
Why no interior pictures? Unlike most, I actually drive my car from the interior (usually the driver’s seat). So it’d be much appreciated to know what the dashboard, steering wheel, seats, etc… all look like, as that’s where I’ll be if I buy it.
01/30, 9:48 PM
posted by:
elviososa
no one wants the sportback…..Lexus had one and it failed!
01/30, 10:41 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
You remember as a teenager watering down your dad’s booze to make it look like there wasn’t any missing? That only works for so long before dear old dad catches on to the fact that his alcohol-low warning light is still blaring after the 3rd drink and his Grey Goose tastes like tap water. Mitsubishi is at that point. Every new model they add just seems to dilute the brand rather than add to it.
LLLL#3 is absolutely right. They need something-anything- to bring the buzz back.
01/31, 1:46 AM
posted by:
Copperbottoms
ã©ã—ã¦Turbo MotorãŒã™ãã˜ã‚ƒãªã„ã§ã™ã‹ã€‚  ???
01/31, 1:58 PM
posted by:
Get Real
I don’t know of a Mitsubishi dealership anywhere. Do they really exist ???
01/31, 5:39 PM
posted by:
BlazeAbraham09
Amen, LLLL#3! My cousin used to have one. I absolutely loved it. And they were extremely dependable cars, too. He got it as a first car, used that is, with about 98K miles. When he finished Med school, he had to trade it in to get his new car. Even with 210K miles on it, it still ran well. Please bring it back, Mitsu!
I like the new Lancers. This is no exception. It’s 20x better looking than the WRX and everyone claims that it’s Dual-Clutch is the best in the industry (excluding Ferrari). I say “everyone claims” because I haven’t received the honor of driving an Evo…yrt. But I like this one. And 0-60 in 5.8s is pretty freakin’ amazing. =O
02/01, 3:40 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
profile of the rear end looks like an angry mutant fish…better than the wrx, i suppose, but that ain’t saying much…
02/01, 10:41 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
gogogodzilla, they don’t show the interior for a reason. This is one of the WORST interiors produced, they use inferior plastics, everything feels like it came from a Tonka toy.
02/01, 12:44 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I’ve sat in this generation and last generations Lancer… the last generation just had goofy looks for anything except the Evo. The current one looks a lot more handsome, but the way the rear ends abruptly just makes it look… strange. It needs to look a bit longer.
Problem with this car is the only reason it sells is because of the Evo. I can’t tell much of a difference between the Evo and the Ralliart aside from performance, so I suppose that too. Other than that it doesn’t have too many selling points. Not the best fuel economy, not the best power… For a compact, I never thought the interior was tonka quality, but I never thought it was “great”…
02/01, 12:50 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
You know though most people don’t realize this is a pretty safe car as well…
I’d buy it over pretty much anything else out there. I thought it was more roomy than a Corolla or Cobalt, and the looks of the Civic just turn me off. With the next gen. we’ll probly see it move up to a mid-size car.
02/02, 12:00 AM
posted by:
g93
the white looks pertty tight…and the others alright i guess..just my opinion so dont rape me!
02/02, 1:09 PM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
The car really is not that attractive in person on profile or from the rear. It has been out here in Oz for a while and I remain unimpressed!