Magna marches fourward

MITSUBISHI is pushing to unveil a four-wheel drive performance Magna in mid-2002, rather than wait for the heavily facelifted Magna due in 2003.

The 4WD will sit at the top of the range, above the two-wheel drive Ralliart Magna - due to be launched this October.

Pricing should be about $50,000 for the 4WD, which is expected to go on sale in the third quarter of 2002 and will be powered by the same 180kW, 3.5-litre V6 as the 2WD.

Mitsubishi has been working on a four-wheel drive high-performance version of Magna for some time. But it had not been expected to arrive until the second quarter of 2003 along with the rest of the revamped range.

Asked if the 4WD would be on sale next year, one senior Mitsubishi insider said: "We are flat-out trying to get that because it would be a big thing for us".

We could get our first look at the 4WD Magna at this year's Sydney Motor Show in October, along with several other new generation concepts.

At the Sydney show last year Mitsubishi showed the 2WD Ralliart Magna, the Sportswagon and the Lancer cabriolet.

"Hopefully, at the Sydney Motor Show next time we'll have a total new range of cars to show you," the source said.

"We're trying to go to another level."Further down the track, Mitsubishi Australia would like to put the 4WD system under the Magna wagon, creating a Subaru Outback competitor, but that would not happen before the 2003 upgrade.

"It's very difficult because of the style of the suspension," the source said.

"We are looking at it, but it's a lot of investment because of the style of that wagon."There is also a suggestion that the next step will be to supercharge the engine, which will be boosted to a capacity of 3.8-litres when the new Magna is unveiled.

This would push the power peak well beyond 200kW.

"We're looking at all our options, but it (forced induction) will probably be a thing for later on," the source said.

"We think 180kW is absolutely ample for that car (4WD)."Development of the 4WD Magna is being performed by Mitsubishi Australia, with the final sorting to be done by performance partner, Ralliart.

Development of the 4WD Magna is based on the Mitsubishi Japan luxury model Diamante.

It is believed Mitsubishi's plan is to strip Diamante back to bare basics, toughen the suspension system and install the local 3.5-litre V6, as well as exterior and interior components and appointments.

The Diamante uses a permanent viscous-couple 4WD system but has a different front suspension to the Australian Magna, replacing struts with double wishbones.

Its petrol tank position has also proved a challenge for the Australian engineers.