Ralliart targets Rex; Triton gets teeth

Mitsubishi sent a message today at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show... Look out Subaru! And look out TRD... Indeed, with pricing for the new 'Evo-lite' Ralliart Lancer announced at $42,490 and a new hi-po version of the Triton in the wings, the diamond brand is looking to flex its muscles.

Subaru's WRX looks to be in for a torrid time thanks to the 177kW/343Nm turbo Ralliart that hits Mitsubishi dealers this month. The Ralliart features a modified version of the Lancer Evolution all-wheel-drive system and SST dual-clutch sequential transmission. A clear USP in comparison to the Subaru hottie, no manual version of the Ralliart will be offered.

The pricing undercuts the expected pricing for the performance model by around $3000. Subaru's manual-trannie WRX is priced at $39,990.

"It's very, very aggressive, but it's a good logical step up from [Lancer] VRX," said Mitsubishi Australia boss, Robert McEniry of the new Ralliart.

"We think it'll do very well there," he opined.

Buyers will be able to pick from both Sportback and sedan versions of the Ralliart model. McEniry says he expects sales to be evenly split between the two variants.

AIMS also saw the public launch of the cooking model Sportbacks. To be offered in 2.0-litre ES and VR variants, plus a 2.4-litre VRX model (thereby matching the sedan spread, with the exception of the new Aspire), the Sportback is the first Mitsubishi hatch to be sold in the small car segment for 13 years.

Pricing will be identical to sedan versions and starts at $20,990 for the ES.

"We've really only been competing in 50 per cent of the [small car] market [with the sedan], so we see an opportunity here with the Sportback to double our [Lancer] sales. There may be some cannibalisation on the way through -- very minor -- but our dealers have reacted very positively to the cars," McEniry told the Carsales Network.

McEniry said he expected Lancer Sportback to win sales from both Mazda3 and Corolla.

A very different Toyota will be the target of Mitsubishi's latest 'showcar' -- a tuned turbodiesel version of the Triton. Aimed foursquare at the TRD Hilux, in terms of performance and expected retail price, the Triton TMR is the handiwork of Alan Heaphy's Team Mitsubishi Ralliart operation.

Featuring modified suspension and brakes and sporting bodykit, special alloys, tyres and a hard tonneau, the Triton TMR packs an impressive 132kW and 450Nm -- up from 118kW/343Nm of the standard turbodiesel Triton.

TMR's Heaphy says the car is a more practical production reality than his last hot Mitsu, the supercharged TMR380. With minimal engine mods (a modified ECU essentially), the vehicle is expected to gain full ADR compliance, allowing it to be sold via Ralliart dealers or direct by TMR.

In the meantime, Triton buyers can spec a similarly look for their light commercial. The hard-tonneau equipped Triton Fastback will be offered (without the mechanical mods) via Mitsubishi dealers starting this month.

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