Galant VR4 Eterna 5 door returns in 2009.. hits US in 2010 as ralliart sportback

[PSI_BOOST]

That's right, Mitsu has Subaru squarely in their sights and is going after the "old enough to need a practical vehicle but young enough to want an AWD turbo car" set.

In keeping with the "everything old is new again" theme, mitsu has brought back the once beloved official milf wagon of 1980's Japan- the Galant 4 door hatchback aka 5 door.

Available in FWD non turbo, AWD non turbo, AWD turbo and AWD turbo Ralliart trim, the Galant Fortis Sportback is on sale now in Japan, as I previously reported- and now planned for sale in the US as the "lancer sportback ralliart".

This little monster will pack the same DOHC 2 litre turbo mill as the Galant VR4and EvolutionX (aka Lancer Ralliart and Lancer Evolution X in the US) backed up by a trick AWD system, and wrapped up in a package designed to remind people of the old GVR4 that introduced the US to 4 door AWD mitsu goodness 2 decades ago.

Enjoy the pics and article, and as usual, I scooped it first. These pictures and articles are from Carview Magazine's test of the GSX and GVR4 versions.
Who says it was pointless to study Japanese?
-PSI
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[Whiplash]

Awesome.

 

[vanilla gorilla]

Thats cool.
Im still kind of iffy about the new mitsubishis...not performance wise, but reliability and longevity.

 

[NeMiZiS]

I saw this on DSMtalk yesterday! But it is still cool.

 

[crimsondragon]

Uhm...I don't get it? It looks like an Evo X wagon. What's the point? It's not a different car. I'm usually a fan of Mitsu but I'm sorry. There's no creativity in the company anymore. Now they're just making the same car with slightly different characteristics and calling it a new different model. At least back in the day, the Lancer, Evo 8+9, and Galant looked different.

 

[Ludachris]

Yawn.... until they make a special edition coupe version of the Evo and call it the Eclipse or the Evo "sportcoupe", I won't be much impressed with any of their announcements.

 

[GofaST4life]

Uhm...I don't get it? It looks like an Evo X wagon. What's the point? It's not a different car. I'm usually a fan of Mitsu but I'm sorry. There's no creativity in the company anymore. Now they're just making the same car with slightly different characterics and calling it a new different model. At least back in the day, the Lancer, Evo 8+9, and Galant looked different.

couldnt have said that any better crimson.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

couldnt have said that any better crimson.

x3

They make a EVO IX wagon. Its a EVO IX with a longer rear and hatchback. This looks like an EVO X wagon. Are you sure it's a Galant?

 

[Defiant]

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Not much of a sport. I don't see any rack at all. Must be darts or something.

 

[PSI_BOOST]

The car is a Galant- It is just called a "galant fortis" in Japan because the US built galant has become so big that they can't sell it as a galant there anymore.. and the lancer has also increased in size... hence the name "Galant Fortis"


Here is the Paris-dakar race version of the car

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Mitsubishi "Racing Lancer" hits the sandbox - Autoblog

2008 DAKAR RALLY | MOTOR SPORTS | MITSUBISHI MOTORS JAPAN

The race version omits the two rear doors... just like the eclipse did in 1989...

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...which is no accident since the next "retro cars" mitsu plans to introduce are the Eclipse GSX and GTO VR4, using the same platform- and equipped with a turbo diesel 4 and 6cylinder engine, respectively.

Mitsu is trying to cut costs by basing several cars with different characters on the same platform. This was done back in the 1980s and 1990s, since the Galant VR4, Galant Eterna, Galant Legnum, Eclipse and FTO (all Galant frames) and Lancer Evolution, Airtrek Evolution, Mirage Cyborg, Mirage Cyborg GSR AWD, Lancer GSR AWD, RVR Ralliart (all Mirage frames) were all built on the same platform, with slight alterations. This is a common practice among European and Asian automakers. And.. since the new cars will share engine and transmission cases and internals (with variance by model, of course) The new cars are once again interchangable..

very interchangable. The new lancer ralliart and evo X in the US are also interchangable with the new Airtrek Ralliart Turbo (which will be sold here as the new Outlander) and the Colt Ralliart Turbo- which uses a destroked 4B11 with lower displacement. Different transmission, cam, turbo, differtial, and intercooler options mean that the days of lego-block turbo/rear diff/transmission/block/head swaps enjoyed with the Mirage Turbo, 1st Gen DSM, 2nd Gen DSM, and 1st Gen Galant VR4 are back.

here is the 411 on what is in the pipeline.

The new Eclipse GSX will be on this platform, using a 4B11 turbo diesel motor. Release date- 2010 at Chicago Auto Show (where the 1989/1990 Eclipse GSX first premiered)
The new 3000 GTO will be on this platform, using a V6 twin turbo diesel motor. Release date- 2011 at Tokyo Auto Show (where 3000 GTO first premiered)

Mitsu is hoping to cash in on feelings of nostalgia of Gen Xers who liked the 1st Gen Eclipse, Galant VR4, and 3000GTVR4.

 

[Ludachris]

If Mitsu does go through with the plans stated above, I think they'd do really well. They've already had some success with the Evo and even the Lancer. I'd buy a new GSX if it had the same platform as the Evo in a 2-door package, as I'm sure many would - as long as it doesn't necessarily look like the rally car above. An updated version of the 1G with the styling cues of the Evo could be pretty cool looking...

 

[laserspeeddemon]

I would by a new GSX also.

 

[Ludachris]

...which is no accident since the next "retro cars" mitsu plans to introduce are the Eclipse GSX and GTO VR4, using the same platform- and equipped with a turbo diesel 4 and 6cylinder engine, respectively.

Mitsu is trying to cut costs by basing several cars with different characters on the same platform. This was done back in the 1980s and 1990s, since the Galant VR4, Galant Eterna, Galant Legnum, Eclipse and FTO (all Galant frames) and Lancer Evolution, Airtrek Evolution, Mirage Cyborg, Mirage Cyborg GSR AWD, Lancer GSR AWD, RVR Ralliart (all Mirage frames) were all built on the same platform, with slight alterations. This is a common practice among European and Asian automakers. And.. since the new cars will share engine and transmission cases and internals (with variance by model, of course) The new cars are once again interchangable..

very interchangable. The new lancer ralliart and evo X in the US are also interchangable with the new Airtrek Ralliart Turbo (which will be sold here as the new Outlander) and the Colt Ralliart Turbo- which uses a destroked 4B11 with lower displacement. Different transmission, cam, turbo, differtial, and intercooler options mean that the days of lego-block turbo/rear diff/transmission/block/head swaps enjoyed with the Mirage Turbo, 1st Gen DSM, 2nd Gen DSM, and 1st Gen Galant VR4 are back.

here is the 411 on what is in the pipeline.

The new Eclipse GSX will be on this platform, using a 4B11 turbo diesel motor. Release date- 2010 at Chicago Auto Show (where the 1989/1990 Eclipse GSX first premiered)
The new 3000 GTO will be on this platform, using a V6 twin turbo diesel motor. Release date- 2011 at Tokyo Auto Show (where 3000 GTO first premiered)

Mitsu is hoping to cash in on feelings of nostalgia of Gen Xers who liked the 1st Gen Eclipse, Galant VR4, and 3000GTVR4.

What is the source of this info? I'd like to read up on it a little more...

 

[GsxEcutioner]

I have the Original

 

[94Jettameowpsst]

diesel WTF

full boost on a 42r at 2500rpm ftw!

 

[InfiniteGSX]

diesel WTF

Say that to a guy who's getting better MPG then you are, and pushing down 4 times as much torque and double the power in a Diesel Truck. One of the few vehicles that pulled my 13 second TSI AWD on 91 Octane, was my second dad's GMC Sierra Dualie with a Banks Kit. It didn't hold up off the line, but sure enough it walked me.

Its not going to be like old smokey... the old diesels that sound like crap and smoke a crap load... More along the lines of the new GM's... Very quiet, extreamely powerful, and cleaner then old school Diesel.

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[97gstjosh]

Yeah......not impressed

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Yeah......not impressed

You should be, Mitsubishi needs all the friggin help it can get. Subaru is kicking their ass. Every kid on the block and even some kids's fathers own a damn STI or WRX. They even have #1 Support in the Rally Sport. Every car they sell comes with AWD and AWD these days is getting VERYYYYYY popular. And so far Mitsubishi has only a select few, totaling up to 40Grand for a damn Evo! Now the Lancer Ralliart is almost half the price of an Evo and is pretty much the same damn car minus wide fenders, and adjustable driveline. And I believe there is a SUV thats AWD. Wow! Killer! WE ROCK!

Mitsubishi needs to step their game up. GM, Dodge and Ford have already claimed they are doing bad, mainly GM. GM Has claimed they are possibly going to shut down half of thier sub companies such as pontiac and olds and whatever else. Dodge doesn't have a real economy car to save their soul, and as much as I hate those electric bastards, its in demand! Ford has a few Hybrids, Toyota is right with ford on Hybrids, and even going to be releasing a AWD Hybrid. This is the stuff thats in demand.

If Mitsubishi could release pretty much every vehicle they have in every kind of platform from 2wd N/A, to AWD Boosted, including an AWD Boosted Sports Car (GTO (3000GT), Eclipse) and release alot of low priced AWD Gas mileage saving cars, they would be dominating EVVVVEEEERRRRRRYYYYYYY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

 

[97gstjosh]

You should be, Mitsubishi needs all the friggin help it can get. Subaru is kicking their ass. Every kid on the block and even some kids's fathers own a damn STI or WRX. They even have #1 Support in the Rally Sport. Every car they sell comes with AWD and AWD these days is getting VERYYYYYY popular. And so far Mitsubishi has only a select few, totaling up to 40Grand for a damn Evo! Now the Lancer Ralliart is almost half the price of an Evo and is pretty much the same damn car minus wide fenders, and adjustable driveline. And I believe there is a SUV thats AWD. Wow! Killer! WE ROCK!

Mitsubishi needs to step their game up. GM, Dodge and Ford have already claimed they are doing bad, mainly GM. GM Has claimed they are possibly going to shut down half of thier sub companies such as pontiac and olds and whatever else. Dodge doesn't have a real economy car to save their soul, and as much as I hate those electric bastards, its in demand! Ford has a few Hybrids, Toyota is right with ford on Hybrids, and even going to be releasing a AWD Hybrid. This is the stuff thats in demand.

If Mitsubishi could release pretty much every vehicle they have in every kind of platform from 2wd N/A, to AWD Boosted, including an AWD Boosted Sports Car (GTO (3000GT), Eclipse) and release alot of low priced AWD Gas mileage saving cars, they would be dominating EVVVVEEEERRRRRRYYYYYYY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

I agree I just meant the Galant VR4 Sportback
Im all for the eclipse I should have been specific my bad.
They need a little more cosmetic differences between vehicles

 

[Defiant]

If Mitsubishi could release pretty much every vehicle they have in every kind of platform from 2wd N/A, to AWD Boosted, including an AWD Boosted Sports Car (GTO (3000GT), Eclipse) and release alot of low priced AWD Gas mileage saving cars, they would be dominating EVVVVEEEERRRRRRYYYYYYY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Well, we wish. Yet when the DSMs were current, AWD was between 5 and 12% of the sales, depending on the year. And this "updated" some up here, some back there drive scheme just isn't the same as a good, solid 50/50.
And ask some of our Vendors here about DSM customers' follow-through habits.

But I would entertain the idea of a diesel. First Place at LeMans is good enough for me.

 

[DSMTriad]

Instead of diesel why dont they just bring the 6-bolt 4G63 back? Same thing as the 1G but aluminum block instead with MHI 16G.

 

["G"]

Old technology son, the japanese move forward not backwards.

 

[Ludachris]

Instead of diesel why dont they just bring the 6-bolt 4G63 back? Same thing as the 1G but aluminum block instead with MHI 16G.

Because fuel efficiency MUST be part of any company's future plans, and clean diesel is extremely fuel efficient - for some reason the US is one of the only countries that doesn't take advantage of the latest diesel technology. You can't repackage an old gasoline engine design and make it work. You need to keep up to date with technology.... otherwise you'll be asking for a bailout like the Big 3. The 4B11 is the natural progression of the 4G63.

Of all the fuel efficiency options out there, we should all be hoping for turbo diesel. It's the only option that will easily lend itself to the high performance market. If you have any doubts take a look in the diesel pickup truck arena and see how easy it is to double the power output of a turbo diesel. I know it's not what we're used to, but we it's the best of all the options for performance enthusiasts when the whole world starts forcing fuel standards upon the auto makers.

 

[DSMTriad]

Well I can't argue with progress but I was just thinking going old school would save money.

 

[PSI_BOOST]

What is the source of this info? I'd like to read up on it a little more...

have a look at the link I posted on the sportback Paris-Dakar rally car. It mentions that the turbodiesel v6 motor is being tested by racing, and homolgated for use in that platform by Mitsubishi. You may also refer to the following-
2011 Diesel Mitsubishi GTO Autojaponica
Full reveal: Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Also, in the November and December issues of Car Top magazine, and Best Car magazine (Japanese language print magazines you can find at your local Asahiya or Sanseido bookstore in the US) they mention the "New GTO and New GSX" as being the same car/platform and having 2 motor options- a 4B11 based turbodiesel, or a new V6 turbodiesel.

-PSI