you have to take into account that there were alot of people who werent buying lancers simply because the car looked outdated with its current styling. not to mention that they want to have a more uniform look to their line. i guess this is mitsu's attempt to solve both problems...?

 

oh happy day ... mitsu has seperated itself w/ a brand new distinctive look. no wait a minute this is the look of a pontiac or a rio or a prelude. this silver one looks really bad but the white one wasn't as ugly. i like ralliart. i like bigger rims but french connection that crap. this grill is the ugliest thing i've seen done to a lancer. GO 2002-03's or as we should call them now ... the Good looking lancers.
so to sum up:
2.4 Mivec:very good
Bigger rims: good
fogs: atleast they're there
Rear disc brakes: very good
Ralli///art:good
New look:are you out of your ****ing mind? bad ... very bad

 

Yikes!!! That thing is hideous. The head of Mitsubishi's design department needs a bullet between the eyes. C'mon, are they purposely trying to turn this company into the Japanese Pontiac? At least the Evo is somewhat appealing, although the 8 would look better with the 7's front end.

Erik in LA

 

The talk has always been under 20k on this one. It will not replace the Eclipse as the two cars (especially after the 05' arrives) will have a very different market.

 

any ideas on options for the ralliart yet?

 

sunfires and all the other cars mentioned sell very well. maybe mitsu is trying to get a piece of the pie by pseudo-quasi copying them...

 

Considering this is a pro website, and since most of us think that thing is the second coming of ugliness--"Cypress, we have a problem."


Erik in LA

 

I would be concerned that styling is moving down-market, but the prices are staying where they are at.
cars don't look like they're worth their price anymore.
If this is part of DCX branding strategy, I think it may backfire.

 

Wait until you see the 04 ralliart with a bodykit...then you'll want one.

 

have you seen one body kitted, or are you just being positive?

 

found this at IGN.com. some of the same stuff but i thought you guys might want to take a look

Mitsubishi 2004 Lancer Ralliart
If you can't get an Evolution.

February 12, 2003 - Today at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Increvealed the latest performance- oriented sedan joining the Lancer family. Set to arrive in showrooms this fall, the new 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart creates excitement behind the wheel by delivering improved acceleration and sharper handling in an affordable package. This front-wheel-drive, four-door Lancer sedan has been treated to a host of drivetrain, suspension and styling modifications designed to appeal to enthusiast drivers. The exterior treatment of Lancer Ralliart offers a peek at some of the future styling cues to be shared by the rest of the Lancer sedan family.

Lancer Ralliart

The Lancer Ralliart is a front-wheel-drive performance variant that fills a niche in the product line between the styling-focused Lancer O-Z(R) Rally sedan and the rally-conquering, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution. "Considering its long list of standard equipment and improved performance, we expect the new Lancer Ralliart to attract consumers as a value-laden package with an attractive price starting under $18,000," said Pierre Gagnon, chairman and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

This four-door compact sedan relies on a new high output 2.4-liter, SOHC, four-cylinder engine that enhances performance. The new engine utilizes variable valve timing to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and increase output to 160 horsepower. The new, larger displacement motor benefits from induction and mechanical enhancements that include the use of Mitsubishi's MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and lift Electronic Control) variable valve timing system that helps optimize engine performance at both high and lower speeds with alternate camshaft profiles. The improved breathing allows the engine to develop superior response and power at all operating speeds with a powerband that is well-suited to the five-speed's gear ratio spacing. A four-speed automatic transmission also will be available for the new Lancer model.

In keeping with the performance-oriented nature of the vehicle, the suspension performance has been upgraded with stiffer springs, dampers, a red, tubular front strut-tower bar, and a larger rear stabilizer bar. The Lancer Ralliart comes standard equipped with stylish Euro-flange, 16-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels and wider 205/50R16 tires that help extend the vehicle's cornering limits. The Lancer Ralliart also relies on the stopping power of larger four-wheel disc brakes, and offers an available ABS with EBD option.

As it appears on the Ralliart model, the new Lancer will wear an extended front fascia common to all 2004 Lancer models. This revised front end has been fitted with a sporty split- grille arrangement, and a new, sculpted halogen lamp arrangement. Revised decklid sheetmetal, clear taillight lenses, and a unique aerodynamic package that includes a new rear wing help complete the Lancer Ralliart's impressive visual package.

The Lancer Ralliart's interior is equipped with the same supportive front seats as found in the Japanese market Lancer Evolution GT-A. The seats feature premium black fabric with red trim, an embroidered Ralliart logo, and see-through headrests on the front seats. Other stylish interior accents include carbon fiber instrument panel accents, and titanium-hued audio panel trim.
Pricing for the new Lancer Ralliart is expected to start under $18,000 when the vehicles arrive in showrooms in fall of 2003. Popular options will include ABS w/EBD and a Sun and Sound package with a power sunroof and 315-watt, six-speaker, Infinity CD audio system with eight-inch DVC subwoofer.

Also on display at the Chicago International Auto Show, Mitsubishi presents an example of a 2004 Lancer LS. This economical sedan which includes a power glass sunroof for 2004 and also offers ABS with EBD, exhibits some of the revised front and rear end styling cues that appear on the exciting new Ralliart model.

 

A sunroof. Probably not much else.

BTW

I have not been able to confirm it but I am getting the distinct impression now that the 2.4 motor is going to be standard in the 04' Lancer - replacing the 2.0 - with the MIVEC version in the Ralliart. The 2.7 I think we may now only see in an AWD version of the Sportback.

 

anyone looking for pic of the new lancers can go to chicagoautoshow.com and click on live cam
then choose camera four and zoom into the mitsu display

 

http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national..._02_12_02.tmpl

 

thanks for the link mike, i'm a mike also by the way. That is some very good news. I just hope that the parts will be interchangeable with the previous us spec model lancers. I've got my fingers crossed.