LONDON — Finally, Mitsubishi intends to plug the midrange gap in its sport-compact performance lineup, with an all-new 236-horsepower edition of the Lancer Ralliart, with go-fast bits from the Evo X.

Depending on where the car is priced when it arrives later this year in North America and Europe, the 2009 Ralliart is likely to be pitted nose to nose with the Subaru WRX, while the Evo X dukes it out with the full-house Subie STi.

According to Mitsubishi's European distributor, the new Ralliart will get a detuned version of the Evo's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to the Evo's six-speed twin-clutch SST transmission, along with full-time four-wheel drive, active yaw control and an active center diff.

Among the car's features, according to Mitsubishi, will be Recaro front seats, aluminum pedals, sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, rain-sensing wipers, xenon headlamps with washers and a specific Ralliart grille.

Mitsubishi isn't saying just yet, but word on the street is that Europe will get a Ralliart five-door, patterned along the lines of the Concept Sportback the company unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt show, while U.S. buyers will be offered a Ralliart four-door sedan.

What this means to you: This poor man's Evo is still an impressive piece. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=124149

Nice find good to know but I am still going to go with the EVO X.

Yup, Evo X for me as well.

But my GF was looking at a GTS, now I'm going to convince her to ditch that weakling and buy this beast.

My guess is about 28k for pricing. You don't want it too close to the Evo X GSR or too little where people buy this and not the GTS.

28k is about perfect.

something is wrong when the GSR Evo X does not come equipped with Recaro seats but the Ralliart version, which is probably 7-10 grand less, does.

probably selfish thinking on my part but I want the Evo X to distance itself in terms of looks and performance as much as possible from the base Lancer and the Ralliart versions. The second you look inside a vehicle and see Recaro seats, that should be a dead giveaway that it's an Evo.

something is wrong when the GSR Evo X does not come equipped with Recaro seats but the Ralliart version, which is probably 7-10 grand less, does.

probably selfish thinking on my part but I want the Evo X to distance itself in terms of looks and performance as much as possible from the base Lancer and the Ralliart versions. The second you look inside a vehicle and see Recaro seats, that should be a dead giveaway that it's an Evo.
GSR comes with Recaro seats they are not leather but still Recaro.

the sportback shape is quite nice. I had initially thought that the evo X would be released in sportback shape as well. It may still be on the cards after the X has been released worldwide just to keep the Evo X interest going...

I would probably change to an evo X sportback if that was the case.. probably not everyones cup of tea, but I do agree with the reasons why the STi when to the hatchback design.. too bad the sti looks like it hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down.

btw I did want leather recaro seats but the finish on the cloth seats are pretty good, so I wont be changing to leather when that option hits NZ. The interior of the X is pretty good.. although a softer plastic on the dashboard would have gone a very very long way.. even so... the interior is lightyears ahead of the evo 9.

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showpost.php?p=5131325&postcount=407
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/jmk2888/img005.jpg
notice the ralliart grill badge, the HID looking headlights, and the gunmetal GTS wheels

that chrome trim around the grill looks cheesy.

I think it looks sharp.

Heck of a lot prettier than the WRX.

that chrome trim around the grill looks cheesy.
:+1:

that chrome trim around the grill looks cheesy.

How? all its doing is defining the front grill which mitsubishi are proud of..

Its a bit of chrome who cares

The car doesnt come with active yaw control, sorry. Also the recaro seats cost extra, not stock.

Obviously there is a lack of communication at Mitsubishi....Every dealer or rep says it gets AYC while the official press from mitsubishi says it only gets ACD

It seems this information gap is probably experienced world-wide.

I was 1.5 years on the waiting list to get the first private road registered Evo X in the world outside Japan.

My dealer didn't know what I was getting until they were putting it on the ship. Luckily enough I had a choice of colour.. but that was it.. they couldn't tell me anything else about it. I got the technical brochours when it landed. I'm pretty happy with my 'pot luck' choice.

It seems this information gap is probably experienced world-wide.

I was 1.5 years on the waiting list to get the first private road registered Evo X in the world outside Japan.

My dealer didn't know what I was getting until they were putting it on the ship. Luckily enough I had a choice of colour.. but that was it.. they couldn't tell me anything else about it. I got the technical brochours when it landed. I'm pretty happy with my 'pot luck' choice.

That's good faith right there!