Tokyo 23 August 2007 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the market launch of the Galant Fortis*1, a new style sedan, at affiliated dealerships throughout Japan today. Powered by a 2.0-liter engine, two- and four-wheel drive Galant Fortis models carry a price tag ranging from 1,785,000 yen to 2,436,000 yen. (SUPER EXCEED and SUPER EXCEED NAVI PACKAGE trim levels are due to go on sale in late October.) Galant Fortis is the first new sedan introduced by the company in Japan in seven years.
Galant Fortis has been developed to a product concept that called for "a global sporty sedan that delivers high and well-balanced levels of safety, comfort and environmental performance." Development was aimed to create a new sedan distinguished by: a design that immediately identifies it as a Mitsubishi Motors sedan and gives expression to the feel, the purposefulness and the stable road stance associated with the sedan body style; and by a quality of handling and response and the particular flavor of ride that define the Mitsubishi Motors brand. Principal product features are as follows:
Galant Fortis achieves a global standard in living space with a wider and taller body without any undue stretching of overall length. With its wider track the packaging reconciles the requirements of stable handling and response with its excellent maneuverability that stems from a minimum turning radius of 5.0 m.
- The exterior design creates a body with vibrant looks and a strong road presence using proportions comprising a large cabin wrapped in sporty, wide-stance styling and by combining the Mitsubishi Motors sedan's hallmark inverted-slant nose with a trapezoidal grille. (Galant Fortis is the first model to employ the "new face" front visage that establishes the design identity of Mitsubishi Motors sedans to be introduced in future.)
- The powertrain uses a new 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC aluminum block engine, which earns a 4-star rating for emission levels 75% below those required by Japan's 2005 Emissions Standards, mated to Mitsubishi's INVECS-III 6-speed Sport Mode CVT that delivers responsive power transmission while returning excellent fuel economy. A high-rigidity platform with excellent impact safety performance and a revamped suspension underpin and support high levels of handling and response and safety performance.
- Features enhancing passive and impact safety include a 7-airbag SRS system (driver and front passenger airbags, driver knee airbag, side and curtain airbags); adaptive front lighting (AFS) that improves the driver's field of vision at night; and rain-sensitive auto wipers.
- The Galant Fortis series is available with a Rockford Fosgate premium sound system giving superior sound reproduction as well as paddle shifters that allow the driver to shift gears without taking his hand off the steering wheel. Standard on all models is Mitsubishi Motors cocochi-interior*2 that includes a deodorizing clean air filter and odor-eating head lining.
*1 Lancer in some markets
*2 Cocochi is a pun on the Japanese word for "cozy"
I. Galant Fortis walkaround
Trim level lineup
The Galant Fortis series comes in three major trim levels distinguished by external appearance and interior trim: EXCEED, SUPER EXCEED and SPORT. The SUPER EXCEED and SPORT trim levels are also available in NAVI PACKAGE versions which come with HDD navigation, rearview camera and other advanced features.
- EXCEED: Entry grade with full-functionality and comprehensive convenience and amenity specifications.
- SUPER EXCEED - Uptown exterior and interior looks provided by: classy chrome parts (front under grille, headlight and trunk lid moldings); 16-inch alloy road wheels; leather/Granlux*3 seat upholstery; wood grain ornamentation panels; exclusive-design floor console; and high-contrast instrumentation.
*3 A suede-look artificial leather made by Seiren Co., Ltd.
- SPORT - Sporty bias with following as standard: Front and side airdams, 18-inch alloy road wheels and HID lights and front fog lamps that tweak up its aggressive looks; Sport suspension; paddle shifters; adaptive front lighting (AFS); cruise control; and steering wheel remote audio controls.
Design
(1) Exterior
- To a theme of "achieving a neat balance between comfort and safety levels and a design distinguished by sporty lines," we have created a roomy interior space supported by a wide stance and wrapped in sporty exterior styling that accents the fender flares. We have achieved the high design quality sought in a sedan by giving painstaking attention to the detailing and to achieving a pleasing contrast between its muscular surfaces and edgy character line.
- Galant Fortis is the first model to adopt the new Mitsubishi Motors sedan design identity in its front visage, distinguishing it immediately as a Mitsubishi sedan. The inverted-slant nose, traditional to Mitsubishi Motors sedans and incorporating a leisurely flowing engine hood line with good pedestrian protection, is combined with a trapezoidal grille to give the front end a dynamic and forcefully progressive appearance.
- The edgy treatment of the rear end and the high location of the rear combination lights create a stylish design that also makes the vehicle more visible to following cars.
- The Galant Fortis series is available in a selection of eight body colors, including Aqua Metallic and Black Mica, all designed to express beauty and strength. (White Pearl costs an extra 31,500 yen, tax inclusive.)
(2) Interior
- Development of an interior followed a theme of "Creating the ideal marriage between vehicle operating functions and a comfortable interior space." The bowed dashboard creates a sense of roominess while the detailing is designed for optimum driver operability, visibility and viewability. The use of silver accents in the instrumentation, climate controls and steering wheel enhances the sporty and uptown look to the interior.
- Galant Fortis uses sculpted front seats with side supports and cushioning designed for optimum location and support while the rear seat uses large cushions that engender a sense of being comfortably cocooned. EXCEED and SPORT employ suede knit seat upholstery keyed to the interior color. SUPER EXCEED uses a classy combination of bitter-brown real and artificial leather.
- The Galant Fortis series comes in two interior color schemes: a sporty black monotone and a classy and relaxing black/beige two-tone (SPORT is only available in a black monotone). Accent panels are silver on EXCEED, wood grain and silver pin molding on SUPER EXCEED and a geometric pattern on SPORT.
Powertrain
- The Galant Fortis series is powered by a new compact and lightweight 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC unit, with die-cast aluminum cylinder block and MIVEC variable valve lift and timing on both exhaust and inlet valves, which delivers superior emissions and mileage performance. All models in the series earn a 4-star rating for emission levels that are 75% below those required under Japan's 2005 Emissions Standards and return mileage that meets the 2010 fuel economy standards.
