Mitsubishi Lancer goes Platinum
BY MIKE COSTELLO | 2nd Jan 2012
These additions include parking sensors at the rear, a reversing camera mounted in the rear view mirror and voice activated Bluetooth connectivity.
The Platinum also gets leather-trimmed seats with heating function for driver and passenger (plus electric adjustment for the driver) and leather centre console and steering wheel with audio and phone controls.
Cosmetic upgrades include 16-inch alloy wheels, side air dams, chrome muffler tips, Platinum badging and a rear spoiler for the sedan bodystyle.
The 2.0-litre MIVEC petrol engine remains unchanged and can be matched to either manual or continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmissions.
“The Lancer Platinum Edition builds on the Lancer’s reputation for safety and style to offer customers a vehicle loaded with extra features,” said MMAL vice-president of sales Anthony Casey.
Both bodystyles can be had in manual guise for $21,690 (plus on-road costs), with CVT versions adding an additional $2500.
The Platinum retains the diamond-badged brand’s five year/130,000km warranty and roadside assist package, along with a 10 year/160,000km drivetrain warranty and capped price servicing for the first four years/60,000km.
As we have reported, October last year saw Mitsubishi give the Lancer range a minor upgrade including the addition of an electric power steering system in place of the existing hydraulic unit to ES and VR variants.
This set-up was claimed to improve fuel economy by up to one litre per 100 km, as well as decreasing carbon dioxide emissons.
The Lancer is Mitsubishi’s best-selling model in Australia, with VFACTS recording 17,308 registrations to end of November last year – enough for an 8.0 per cent share of the booming small car segment.
However, sales for the current model – which has been on-sale since 2007 – are in decline, with these figures down 19.4 per cent over the same period in 2010.
Mitsubishi will release the more efficient next-generation Lancer model in 2013.
