Having shown concepts at Geneva and previous shows, Mitsubishi will finally launch the production Lancer Sportback (five-door hatchback) at Paris alongside the European debut of the sporty Ralliart Lancers that fit between the standard models and the Evolution.

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“These two new members of the Lancer family will become the driving force of Mitsubishi Motors’ passenger car offensive in the heart of the European market,” the automaker said on Wednesday.


The Sportback is described as the most ‘European’ Lancer to date as it is expected to account for 70% of model line volume while Europe – a C-segment hatchback-obsessed market where models like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus dominate – will take 70% of the new version’s global volume.


The European Lancer line gets Euro V-compliant diesel engines when Mitsubishi’s own new 4N13 engine – developed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – is launched next spring.


The Sportback was designed for Europe where the five-door format is so popular (75% of the C-segment). It’s 4,585mm long (the sedan is 4,570mm) and offers 288 to 344 litres of space with rear seats up (cargo floor height is variable) expanding to 1,394 litres, seats folded.

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Using a name first seen in the United States in 2003, the Lancer Sportback will be launched in Europe next autumn, sharing its drivetrain with the sedan. This includes a range of three engines (1.5/109ps, 1.8/143ps, 2.0 diesel/140ps), four gearboxes (five- and six-speed manual, four-speed auto and a ‘six-speed’ stepped CVT) plus optional ‘sport’ chassis.


Ralliart versions of the sedan and hatchback will have the Evolution’s aluminium bonnet (hood) and a detuned version of that car’s new 4B11 two-litre turbo MIVEC engine developing 240ps/6000 rpm and 353Nm/3000 rpm (Evolution is 295ps/6,500 rpm and 366Nm/3,500 rpm).


The gearbox is similar to the Evolution’s dual clutch TC-SST unit but minus the ‘Super Sport’ setting. The permanent four-wheel drive system (AWC) is also less sophisticated than the Evolution’s (no active yaw control or sport ABS).


The Ralliart models will be launched next year.