Subaru has the Impreza, the WRX, and the WRX STI. Mitsubishi has the Impreza covered with their Lancer and their EVO goes to battle against the STI but they lack a direct competitor to the regular WRX. Not anymore.
Take the narrow-body Lancer, add Mitsubishi's dual-clutch SST gearbox from the EVO, mix in a turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing an estimated 235 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque, add the all-wheel-drive system from the now departed EVO IX and you have the Lancer Ralliart. Standard equipment includes eighteen-inch wheels, Bluetooth, and keyless starting along with steering column-mounted paddle shifters. Options include Recaro seats, satellite radio, a sunroof, a 650-watt stereo, xenon headlights, and a navigation system.
Pricing should be competitive with the WRX, meaning in the $26-29,000 range. The newest WRX is a bit of a disappointment (at least in non-STI guise) so we think the Lancer Ralliart is an excellent opportunity for Mitsubishi to steal sales from Subaru, as long as buyers don't care about a manual transmission.
Click the link below for high-resolution Lancer Ralliart images.