2009 Mitsubishi Racing Lancer

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Mitsubishi's Turbodiesel Racing Lancer Ushers in a New Era of Mitsubishi Rally Racing

Mitsubishi's new Racing Lancer joins the Lancer Evolution WRC car and Mitsubishi Pajero in rounding out the Japanese automaker's rally racing lineup. Rally racing is done either in short stages as is the case in the World Rally Championship, or in longer races that span entire countries.

The brand-new 2009 Mitsubishi Racing Lancer has been specifically designed for the Dakar Series and other grueling endurance events spanning terrain too treacherous even for the Lancer Evolution WRC car.

In addition to a totally-new body and chassis that separate the new Mitsubishi Racing Lancer from the Pajero cross-country rally cars Mitsubishi has fielded in the Dakar and other rally races, the Racing Lancer sports a switch to a turbodiesel motor. Pajero cars used gasoline engines, as does the Lancer Evolution WRC cars. Diesel racing engines are relatively new on the world scene, though Audi has had great success with its R10 TDI race cars.

The use of turbodiesel engines in professional auto racing is a trend manufacturers across the world are beginning to take a look at. Diesel engines are known for their durability and huge torque numbers, and the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer is no exception. Spitting out more than 479 lb-ft. of torque, the Racing Lancer has been praised for its usable power delivery by the Mitsubishi Dakar Series racing team.

Said Mitsubishi Racing driver Hiroshi Masuoka after driving a Mitsubishi Pajero rally car equipped with an earlier version of this powertrain:

"The diesel version is overwhelmingly easy to drive thanks to its tremendous torque which is available over an even broader rev-band. It outperforms the petrol-powered car in terms of controllability over challenging terrain, as well as when accelerating out of corners and along high-speed straights. With the right set-up it would be comfortably faster."

As detailed in the official Mitsubishi Racing press release below, the Racing Lancer offers that setup. With its storied history in rally racing series around the world, Mitsubishi continues to stay at the forefront of the science of making perfect rally cars.
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Here are some more specs one the beast.
Specifications
Drivetrain
Layout Front-Engine, AWD
Transmission Ricardo 5 speed SMG
Engine
Displacement 2997 cc
Engine Type DOHC V6 Turbodiesel
Horsepower 260 hp
Torque 497 lb-ft. (650 Nm)
Exterior
Body Type 2 Door, 2 Seat Cross-Country Rally
Front Track 1750 mm
Length 4475 mm
Rear Track 1750 mm
Wheelbase 2900 mm
Width 1990 mm
Performance
Bhp per Liter 87 bhp
Power-to-Weight Ratio 0.14 bhp / kg
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mitsubishi-racing-lancer-2009-on-dunes-main.jpg


This thing is awesome. Maybe they could make a production version of it, kind of like what Ford is going to do with their F 150 trophy truck thing. What do you guys think?
 
I have no idea why I crave one, but I do.
 
To the badass car thread with it!

I want one. I will use it to embarass boy racers and scare the elderly.
 
i like how to really succeed off road they had to "SUV" the suspension. what is that a 6" lift, is it even a car anymore?
 
Well it's hardly going to be sold in showrooms, but what's your point? All Dakar cars need big suspension lift.
 
i guess what i am getting at is: they are using a lancer just to use one, if your going to change the suspension and the engine up that badly their iznt much point in not using something that was designed for it from the ground up. unless you have to use transformed cars to trucks for this event, im not that familiar with it.

i guess when it comes down to it a just think it looks ridiculous and out of place.
 
Each to their own. Apart from the Dakar motorcycles, virtually none of the vehicles that compete are truly based on the models they're named after apart from rudimentary similarities. Jean-Louis Schlesser used to run "Renault Megane" buggies - the only Megane parts on them were the front grille and front and rear lights.
 
I guess the Pajero was getting long-in-the-tooth, and this isn't a bad replacement.
 
Wow looks the business!, especially at the rear end, they could really sell an SUV looking like that but its probably only a one off... :indiff:

Robin
 
Robin.
Wow looks the business!, especially at the rear end, they could really sell an SUV looking like that but its probably only a one off... :indiff:

Robin
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It's a purpose-built race car. You can buy one, I suppose, in a couple years when they sell the works cars to privateers. If they do.

I suppose if you want one, Bowler will build you a Land-Rover-based Nemesis.
 
I'm pretty sure it's just me but I don't like the new Evo at all, looks nothing like it's predecessors. Look at cars like the Skyline, Mustang, Corvette.
 
DntMssWthTx
I'm pretty sure it's just me but I don't like the new Evo at all, looks nothing like it's predecessors. Look at cars like the Skyline, Mustang, Corvette.
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and this has what to do with this nearly unrelated Rally Raid car?
 
I think I'll take a pass on the car/body, but I wouldn't mind at all if they brought the engine to the streets. :D
 
It probably requires a fuel mixture of 1/4 air, 1/4 gas, and 1/2 sand. I love that car, It looks awesome.
 
Jim Prower
It's a purpose-built race car. You can buy one, I suppose, in a couple years when they sell the works cars to privateers. If they do.

I suppose if you want one, Bowler will build you a Land-Rover-based Nemesis.
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I dont think I have the cash to buy a works race car! :sly:... I was thinking of a less crazy price bracket! :sly:

exigeracer
Haven't seen an X6, have you?
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Yes I have, and yes, this does look like one :sly: I must be the only person on earth who thinks the X6 doesnt look ugly!.... why don't people see, its just like a 3 series coupe on hydraulics... whats so wrong with that!

Robin
 
Robin.
Yes I have, and yes, this does look like one :sly: I must be the only person on earth who thinks the X6 doesnt look ugly!.... why don't people see, its just like a 3 series coupe on hydraulics... whats so wrong with that!

Robin
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I love it. I think the X6 is, quite honestly, a very nice-looking SUV, or as BMW calls it, SAV. I've had the chance of seeing one in Jet Black with the 5-spoke 20" Alloys, and it looked very cool. 👍
 
-> As a fan of Mitsu's Rally escapades, I would think that this 'car' is a worthy replacement of the legendary Pajero Evo. But it will be a huge order to be passed on by an icon. Until Mitsu comes up with an new Pajero/Shogun/Montero (hopefully), this would be a great chance for the Lancer truly dominate the rally field.

-> I hope that there would be a production version, even as a limited production model. Just like the Pajero Evo before:

PajeroEvo97_025.jpg

^ My favorite 4WD of all time.

:)
 
:eek::drool:👍
That is all. But I wonder if the Dakar 2009 has been confirmed or not......
 
It's very cool, although the similarities to the Lancer stop at the name.

Speaking of production, I think Mitsubishi should have built the Pajero Evolution 2+2 Concept they had floating around a few years ago, it was very very cool. :p
TorqueOmata2104.jpg
 
^ Too bad that Mitsu didn't do it, the Paris-Dakar commitee should mandate homologation rules like the WRC. So we could see these production-based beauties on the road, even it doesn't arrive in the US. :indiff:
 
Well we could still see some styling cues from these vehicles ending up in production models so who knows...
 
Well, I must say I really liked that clean roofline on the car. Chop it down a bit and you have an SUV that looks the part of sport, but it is most certainly no auto for the faint-hearted in its current state.
 

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