2008 MITSUBISHI Lancer Ralliart 2.0 MIVEC Turbo 6AT (240 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Known as the motorsport division of Mitsubishi, Ralliart focused on the Lancer’s ninth generation and offered it as a civilized version of the mighty Evo X.

Once, Mitsubishi was fighting for titles in the World Rally Championship with its Lancer Evolution models, but the Evo X was no longer in the position to win races. Yet, it was one of the preferred cars for rally fans.

The car’s exterior was similar to the one provided by the Evolution X, but there were some differences between them. At the front, the Ralliart version featured a small red badge on the broad black grille. Unlike its X-sibling, it didn’t feature a silver horizontal slat on the bumper area. From its sides, the differences between these two vehicles were even more obvious since the Ralliart didn’t sport an exhaust vent behind the front fenders. Moreover, the rear fenders were normal, not enlarged like on its more powerful sibling. Finally, at the back, the wing mounted on the trunk didn’t provide any adjustments or a refined, aerodynamic shape.

Inside, the cabin was designed mostly for comfortable yet sporty rides. There were no sports seats on the Ralliart, but the high-bolstered ones did provide adequate side support. In addition, the center console hosted the automatic transmission lever instead of the six-speed manual stick. Last but not least, the carmaker added paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

Under the hood, Mitsubishi’s motorsports department installed the same inline-four, turbocharged gasoline engine featured on the Evo X, but with fewer ponies. It was paired with a six-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox that sent the power in all corners. Yet, the transmission was not as evolved as the one provided for the Evolution X. However, it still featured a rear limited-slip differential and an adaptive center diff.