Ralliart range bound for Australia

TOP Mitsubishi Motors Corporation executives have confirmed several important new mainstream models will wear the Ralliart badge in the revival of the company’s high-performance arm revealed by GoAuto last month.

As part of a revitalisation of the dormant Ralliart franchise that will be sold through an expanded national retail network of up to 30 dealers, Mitsubishi has also confirmed it plans to offer even higher-performance Ralliart cars to select customers under the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart moniker.

In a clear offensive against Subaru and its STi operations, Ralliart versions of the Colt, Lancer and possibly even the forthcoming shortwheelbase three-door Pajero will also send a clear signal to Toyota, Holden and Ford that Mitsubishi vehicles are soon to become much more fun and exciting.

Although Japanese executives have ruled out a Ralliart 380 in the short-term and dismissed either a turbocharged or all-wheel drive model of the new sedan, it has signalled that the Ralliart franchise is vital to broadcasting Mitsubishi’s motorsports involvement and losing the brand’s once-brown cardigan image.

The Ralliart Lancer will be part of the line-up after the new GS series sedan and hatch goes on sale late in 2006.

It could sport a de-tuned 2.0-litre turbo and provide a steppingstone from the Lancer VR-X to the hot Evolution X.

A turbo Ralliart Colt five-speed manual five-door, developing around 114kW, has been confirmed, boasting a body kit, 16-inch alloys, sports seats and interior.

With projected pricing of around $30,000, the hot hatch will battle in Peugeot GTi and RenaultSport Clio territory but also take aim at the Suzuki Swift GTi.

The upgraded 2006 Colt will also be available in a sporty VR-X model and manual transmission versions will appear for the first time in Australia.

An entry manual base Colt will allow the company to make the car more price-competitive with the likes of Suzuki’s Swift, which starts at $15,990.

Mitsubishi Australia sales and marketing chief, Masaharu Iwata, also confirmed that Ralliart after-market enhancements would be handled by TMR – Team Mitsubishi Ralliart technologies, leveraging the expertise of the Alan Heaphy-run Team Mitsubishi Rally.

TMR, based on Melbourne, is one of only three such facilities globally. The other three are in Japan and Europe.