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Mitsubishi Motors has commissioned this interesting photoshoot featuring the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 side by side in static and action shots. Both are turbocharged and feature all-wheel drive, but they are totally different machines despite sharing the Lancer nameplate.
The Racing Lancer does not use the Lancer’s chassis, as you would already know looking at how much larger it is, or if you’ve been reading this blog’s previous coverage of the Racing Lancer. It’s actually built on a tube steel frame structure, with carbon fiber “skin” bolted on. It’s a hardcore rally machine that’s used as Mitsubishi’s entry in the Dakar 2009.
Powering it is not a variation of the 4B11T that powers the Lancer Evolution, nope. This one’s an oil burner! A 3.0 litre V6 mated to a Ricardo 5-speed sequential gearbox puts out 260 horsepower and a massive 650Nm of torque over a decent torque curve, or at least that’s what Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart’s driver Hiroshi Masuoka says. According to Hiroshi, the diesel engine outperforms its petrol-powered siblings in terms of controllability on a challenging terrain, and it also rushes faster out of corners and along straights.
One may wonder if Mitsubishi plans a “CrossLancer” by putting a higher suspension and offroader styling bits onto its Lancer hatchback by deriving the look from the Racing Lancer’s styling elements. Anyway, check out two more shots after the jump.
Related Posts:
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 for Dakar 2009
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 in action!
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer wins its maiden race!
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
well the cross lancer would be an idea like a 2 door bmw X6
yeah.. called it lancer kubota..
carlos sainz currently leading the dakar in a VW. mitsu are 4th and 5th.
so that’s mean.. mitsubishi is a HOAX.
overated…
bmpower said,
January 6, 2009 @ 9:07 am
so that’s mean.. mitsubishi is a HOAX.
overated…
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I really dont see what you’re trying to get at with your comments as there is definitely no basis for what you’re saying.
Its still a long race yet and anything can happen. and i dont think mitsu are overated. they are still the most successful manufacturer in the history of the “Dakar”. Their achievements in this race speak for themselves.
260hp only? I can see the huge torque value but the power is too weak. Japanese just can’t do diesel like the Germans can.
If reliability is the key of winning Dakar, perhaps the fastest car like X3, Tuareg may not win.
The Dakar rally car is a totally custom made car. It shares absolutely nothing with the Lancer… except the name. Well… Confusing marketing eh?
That Racing MRX looks wierd to me. I like the rear end but not the front. The front looks like an angry old man ^^
bmpower said,
January 6, 2009 @ 9:07 am
so that’s mean.. mitsubishi is a HOAX.
overated…
Hoax? Get your sentence straight dude.
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Well, the front for me really looks similar like a EVO X being cropped and distorted on Photoshop. Seriously.
the pulis are getting hands on the evo x… beware u speedy dudes out there!
When is Proton Lancer coming?
I dont thnk the racing lancer using the same chasis as evo x, see the door line, its differ… Racing lancer is uglier..while evo x, actly, not ugly at all. Anyway kudos Mitsu. Perhaps, this year might be the succesful year for mitsu in all rally event…
lancer? long live the impreza
having evo x is just like having sex.the feeling i cannot……………………..
you want to know about mitsubishi i love it because the old proton saga used mitsubishi's engine. Thats why the old proton saga is very powerful.