the old lift back… remeber the corolla liftbacks…. these things are sure to be popular.

Better looking than that new WRX that Subaru is about to squeeze out.

^agreed the new subaru’s ugliness is beyond words

Yeah the sti is worse than ugly, it will sell only based upon its street cred, otherwise the lancer is eons ahead in the looks dept.

I hope they bring it to the US. The new Subarus are in a word horrendous looking. Even their new interior can’t make up for the god awful exterior. Besides,the new Lancer’s (even the cheap model) interior looks to finally be on par w/ Subaru’s anyway. My only wish was that Mitsu made an inbetween model like the standard WRX. The base Lancer is nice looking, but with the weak engine and FWD only…it’s not something I’d consider.

The last Lancer Sportback really bombed in the US. I think it stayed for like one model year (2004) before it got axed. That was just a butt-ugly station wagon. This new one looks better. It’s a smoothie – it’s no squareback. It’s capable of style. (Want a squareback? People know what to do: Get a Volvo!)

It would be nice for Mitsubishi not to copy Chevy Volt. To ny view, the top and back of this car are from Chevy Volt. What a shame !

Mbongo, I don’t know who is copying who but Mitsubishi Sportsback Concept was released in 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show, way before Chevy Volt, so if anything, it’s Chevy that copied Mitsubishi. So get yor facts straight. Anyway, I like this Mitsu concept a whole lot more than Volt.

I agree with sentiments that this is a GREAT looking car. It really is too bad that it will be front wheel drive and fairly underpowered. I wouldn’t consider anything but the Evolution either.

A standard AWD model with a low-boost turbo engine and the same stout 5-speed as found in older Evos would change everything.

Looks will go a long way, but I’d still consider the ugly standard Subaru WRX over this, since it is turbo and AWD.

Besides a few of the Korean firms, I don’t think car designers knock each other off. I believe that technologies and trends dictate the direction of car design.

I’ll take mine in drab olive green and ‘rising sun’ meatballs on the doors

I know people hate “it looks like car x + car y” comments, but I thought I was looking at an Alfa Romeo Brera until I read the headline.

Puts the Impreza hatchback to complete shame. While I secretly long for a new version of the squared-off previous-generation Sportback (one year only in the US), this will do just fine!

“I know people hate “it looks like car x + car y” comments, but I thought I was looking at an Alfa Romeo Brera until I read the headline.”
Comment by obsessedwithautos..

Obviously not THAT obsessed then…

does nothing for me.
They should bring back the VR-4 (second-best japanese car ever!)

I LOVE THE VR-4

tear…
I too love the VR-4

I love the Galant VR-4 too but it was Mitsubishi’s first AWD-Turbo WRC car and the successor Evo has surpassed the VR-4 we all love by leaps and bounds. I see the two cars as very similar in spirit.

Now what I really loved was the Galant GSX model that sold for about a year alongside the VR-4. Basically a 4G63 naturally aspirated engine hooked up to the VR-4’s 5-speed AWD system. Why on earth Mitsubishi takes the “all-or-nothing” approach to performance is beyond me. You can have an amazing AWD 300 horsepower turbocharged sport sedan…. or a similar looking but otherwise completely different front-drive non-turbo Lancer. No real powertrain options. Just choose $14,000 or $30,000. Tuna salad sandwich to go or fillet mignon entree.

good. now give it 4wd and 300hp. This is a beautiful car. It reminds me of the Brera too.

It’s a Brera made in Japan, even the godamn skyview thing is the same.

Yes, it looks pretty breresque, having seen both this concept and the Brera in flesh, only that this ends up being a sporty looking sw/shooting brake design, while the Brera is a coupé with hints of a hot hatch on steroids.

Very nice from Mitsubishi, Im afraid Subaru is in trouble…..

======>>Hyperion needs to get his facts straight before he preach about something that he knows competly nothing about……..from Me (SRT-4Ken) STRAIGHT to HYPERION: HAVE YOU *EVER* HEARD OF THE LANCER ///RALLYART???? THAT is the midway point between Lancer and Evo, duuhhhh……

Subaru won’t get in trouble until their reliability stops being so awesome. Mitsu can’t hold a candle to that.

Very true Brendino, but dear God, have you seen the new WRX? that thing is filthy…..

Haha it’s pretty foul. Very few people look to a Sebring grille for inspiration.

i really like the looks of the new lancer… never thought id say that

I like that it is wingless and has a tidy rear. Looks more slippy.

Since I’m getting older and my eyesight isn’t near what it used to be, I was seriously pondering an overhaul of the fleet next year to make room for a new WRX. I need a reasonably priced go-fast piece with all weather capability and up until now the Subie seemed the only choice. This could change things, however, and while I’ve never been a fan of Mitsu in the past, their 10 year powertrain warranty could go a long way to ease my fears. I await judgement until I see the production model, but this new Ralliart shows great promise.

Looks way better than a WRX or Evo imo, but it won’t put a dent in WRX/Evo sales though. They’ve got more power, better handling and street cred on their side. Nevertheless, it should do very well. I’d get one… if I didn’t already want a new Evo.

Looks very nice. I always liked mitsubishi, especially that bullet proof 2 litre I once had in my Talon. The abuse that engine took in modified for and stock internals blew my mind. In high school my crappy mustang 5.0 which I got new blew its engine and it wasn’t even modified.

i love the new lancers, the rear of this looks a little alfa brera if you ask me

“Based on”…..means we won’t get the cool looking concept car.

Is this supposed to be a detuned Evo X engine? If so, it will be easily tuned back to Evo X levels in the aftermarket.

I still prefer the looks of the sedan, but this thing is so far ahead of the horrendous new WRX that it will cause Subaru to go back to the drawing boards, where they should have spent more time to begin with.

Planet_drive lol that was awsome lol lamboz is probably some sad little boy who lives with mommy and daddy and only feels good about himself when he calls other people stupid names. Hey lamboz, does your uncle susan make you wear a pink dress when he dances with you? lol

The 90s Mitsu 2.0, warped cyl heads any one.
Always wondered why the hell it was all or nothing with the Lanceer. So awesome to see a mid-level performance option. And a hatch back too

With AWD included, wouldn’t this be a little too close to the Evo? Since there will probably be a huge price difference, I’d buy this car and put little more than $500 in aftermarket to make up the power difference. Seems redundant to me.

I hear ya, Planet_drive. The 4G63 is a little power junkie. I’ve owned: an Evo III, IV, VII and my current IX that put down 470+hp to the wheels last dyno session (on high octane… it puts out about 380whp on everyday pump piss and 20psi). Never had a problem with any of them. I don’t care if I sound like a fanboy: Nobody does turbo’d motors like the Japanese. I could easily name over a dozen motors capable of 400-500whp on a stock block. Hell, even high revving Honda motors laugh at 8-10 psi properly tuned, and many brave souls have pushed much more through them with no mishaps either. But I love the 4G63. Good little motor.

I meant the 300GT VR-4
Subarus are tough.

I love it the liftback, and would consider buying it, but I hate the gas mileage of the new Lancer. A compact car should be over 30mpg highway.

lamboz you silly little boy, your the most pathetic worthless punk on this forum. all you do is call people names and your comments and insults are the most boring and unoriginal here. Funny how you know about uncle susan,I guess he really is your uncle you silly boy. If you knew who I was and saw me driving my black car you would feel a whole lot nervous I guarantee it. Ive put enough little dicks like you to shame. Anyways nice Lancer,I hope we get it, but Europe always gets the coolest cars first, closer to Japan I guess.

livelyjay you fool the Lancer has such “poor” gas mileage because it is the first 2008 model to be put under the NEW EPA mileage tests, while the civic and corolla use the dated tests which produce higher figures. Youre the kind of person mitsubishi is afraid of

Many compact cars fell out of the “30 MPG Club” due to the new EPA revisions. Dunno what rock some people have been living under.

Mitsubishi had serious quality and performance benchmark problems in Japan and in US. The brand is almost off the charts due its wicked ways with numbers. Let’s see what the real numbers will be. As much trouble as I had with Suby, I would stick with it for 4 wheel drive and 300HP engine.

CA36GTP: what did they do with the EPA revisions? I mentioned on another thread where I’ve seen more than one TV car test where they got better mileage on their test loop than the EPA ratings.

The new EPA revisions are supposed to be more realistic, rather than focusing on rarely-encountered ideal conditions. However, if you’re a mostly-highway driver in a temperate climate, it’s not that hard to beat them. But since most drivers spend a majority of time in cities or suburbs, the lower rating is closer to what they actually will get, and thus less likely to make buyers feel screwed.

“Mitsubishi had serious quality and performance benchmark problems in Japan and in US” – autonut

Let’s be fair, Toyota aren’t doing any better lately quality-wise. Performance benchmark problem? Do you call the EVO performance a problem? STI cheated by dumping a 2.5L instead of the 2.0L in the Impreza.

I am glad the Ralliart name is being put to good use.