Taiwan gets facelifted Lancer: Lancer Fortis 2.0

Taiwan gets facelifted Lancer: Lancer Fortis 2.0

Mitsubishi's redesign of the new Lancer and Lancer Evolution have a strong impact on the future exterior styling of their products. Already clearly reflected in the concept cars they build, the aggressive "shark" nose, closely resembling a jetfighter with it's massive air intakes, Mitsubishi is likely to permeate this styling to a lot of it's product redesigns. We have now the Concept-cX, Concept-X (now the Evo X), Concept Sportback, and Concept-ZT sporting this aggressive body styling.

However in Taiwan, Mitsubishi has a different approach. They gave the new Lancer a tame, almost "wholesome" look rather than the aggressive styling of the US Lancer or Galant Fortis. Nevertheless, it is still the same Lancer but with a different styling. It may not be too apparent from first glance, but looking at it in angles will reveal the new Lancer body. Even the rear has been redesigned.

From the pictures below, I'd say Mitsubishi has done a good job in making a less aggressive, "homey" version from the sporty Lancer. And I bet this is more of a market preference more than anything else.

From what it looks like, the interior is almost like the US Lancer, with woodgrain panel accents, a Multimedia Console similar to the US MMCS, Outlander styled steering wheels and gauges, 7 airbags (including knee area), sunroof, same 2.0L 4B11 engine mated to a CVT as with all other new Lancers, same alloy wheel design as US GTS trim. So in summary this is mostly facelift. And although some may prefer the sporty styling of this car, Taiwanese get the tamed version. But it's still the same sporty sedan when it's on the road, and it handles like every other new Lancer.

-rcpax