TEAM REPSOL MITSUBISHI RALLIART READY FOR RACING LANCER'S COMPETITION DEBUT

FIA INTERNATIONAL CUP FOR CROSS COUNTRY BAJAS
BAJA PORTALEGRE 500
30 OCTOBER 2008
PRE-START
TEAM REPSOL MITSUBISHI RALLIART READY FOR RACING LANCER'S COMPETITION DEBUT

The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team has chosen this weekend's Baja Portalegre 500 in Portugal for the official competition debut of its latest cross-country rally car, the new diesel-powered Racing Lancer.

A single car has been entered for Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret (France) who will contest the three-day event which features a total route length of 589.82km, including 515.16km divided into four special stages. The fifth and final round of the 2008 FIA Cup for Cross-Country Bajas is based in Portalegre which is situated 230km northeast of the Portuguese capital Lisbon.

Mitsubishi's 3-litre V6-engined Racing Lancer, which delivers more than 280bhp (206kW), has come straight from a ten-day test session in the south of Morocco where the team was able to fine-tune its suspension and engine settings, as the countdown to the 2009 Dakar in Argentina and Chile enters its final phase. After the tests, the car was revised and prepared for the Baja Portalegre 500, in Morocco, before being transported by road to Portugal in time for Friday afternoon's start.

"This event is the final active phase in our Dakar 2009 preparations which began in earnest last May," observed Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team Director, Dominique Serieys. "It comes immediately after our third test session of the year, in Morocco where we covered approximately 5,000km with the Racing Lancer. The conditions weren't at all easy on this last test session due to heavy rain, but the tests enabled us to evaluate and validate the latest parts and tunings. The Baja Portalegre 500 will give us a chance to complete our work and see where we stand compared to the competition.

"The choice of the Portuguese event was also a way of expressing our solidarity with the organiser, Jose Megre, who's fighting illness at the moment," continued Dominique Serieys. "Stéphane Peterhansel was chosen for this important job because he's been closely involved with the Racing Lancer project since the beginning. It wasn't simple to select one driver out of the four, but Stéphane has worked extensively on the new car's engine, transmission and suspensions.His long experience with the Montero/Pajero Evolution means he has a valuable benchmark in his mind which will facilitate comparisons."

"It's a privilege for me to have been given the opportunity to drive the new Mitsubishi Racing Lancer on its maiden competition outing. I'm proud and happy to have been given that honour," admitted Stéphane Peterhansel at the scrutineering on Thursday. "This is our only chance to drive the car on an event before it heads out to Buenos Aires...So we'll use it to validate all the latest evolutions that have been made during the course of its development which started more than a year ago. I find the mission very stimulating.

"Until now our work has focused on African Dakar-style terrain, so this weekend will give us a chance to work on a set-up for twistier, narrower stages which could well be on the menu of this year's Dakar" added the winner of September's thrilling PAX Rally which included similar territory in the mountains near Castelo Branco.

The 2008 Baja Portalegre 500 starts on the afternoon of Friday, October 31st with a short 6.18km super-special. Serious action begins on Saturday with a programme of almost 400km divided into two stages, and the event concludes with a final 110km selective section on Sunday prior to the official finish later the same morning in Portalegre. The conditions are expected to be wet for the first day, with the possibility of clearer weather as the weekend progresses.

Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX09 video

Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX09 Video
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In the spirit of fairness and courtesy, please put a link back to this post when you embed this video in your website or blog. I enabled embedding in this video hoping that I get traffic to my blog, at the same time I want to share this fantastic video to everyone. Thank you for your cooperation -rcpax.



This video shows in summary how the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX09 came to be. The design of this new racing machine started sometime in 2007, and in 2008 we saw a working prototype. Mitsubishi is always ahead of the game. Realizing that the Dakar is getting faster and faster each year, they realized they needed a base vehicle based on a hatchback if they want to continue their dominance in the Dakar. So they did away with the SUV body of the Pajero.

The logical thing for Mitsubishi is to base their new rally machine on the Lancer, but since they will compete in the Super Production class, it means they can start from scratch, take all the strong points they've learned from engineering the Pajero Evo from MPR10 to MPR14, and incorporate all these with into a package looking like a Lancer Sportback but with suspensions and frame tougher than the Pajero Evo. The engine will now be diesel, consistent with Mitsubishi's commitment to improve clean diesel technology for their cars.

If Mitsubishi wins the 09 Dakar with the MRX09 Racing Lancer, they will set a another record. 13 overall Dakar victory since the race was first held, and 8th victories in a row, and the first diesel car to ever win the Dakar. So stay tuned, and we'll know how this machine will perform in the 08 Baja Portalegre under the hands of Stephane Peterhansel with Jean Paul Cotrett.


Testing the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer



The Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX09 gets thoroughly tested in the desert sand of Morocco. Putting the machine to the test on conditions similar to the Dakar.

Video by MMSP/Ralliart

Mitsubishi Racing Lancer to make competition debut on Baja Portalegre

New turbodiesel Mitsubishi Racing Lancer to make competition debut on Baja Portalegre
Tokyo, October 27, 2008 — Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) and its motor sports subsidiary MMSP have entered an all new turbodiesel Racing Lancer (FIA Group T1 Super Production Class) for Portugal's Baja Portalegre (Thursday October 30-Sunday November 2), round six of the 2008 FIA Cup for Cross Country Bajas.

The all-new Racing Lancer will be driven on the Portuguese event by Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart's Stephane Peterhansel (France) and loyal co-driver Jean Paul Cottret (France), with whom Peterhansel has shared all his cross-country rallying successes on four wheels. Peterhansel won six Dakars on two wheels before switching to cars in 1999. Since joining Mitsubishi in 2002, the Frenchman has claimed three further Dakar victories with different iterations of the Pajero/Montero Evolution (in 2004, 2005 and 2007) to become one of the annual marathon's top stars.

To boost power output at all engine speeds, the new Racing Lancer's diesel engine is equipped with a two-stage turbocharger which calls on small and large turbines in accord with engine speed and load. In addition, the team's partner Valeo contributed to the development of a particularly efficient cooling system to cope with the hot climates frequently encountered in cross-country rallying. The 3.0-liter V6 powerplant delivers maximum power of more than 280ps (206kW) and peak torque of 66.3kgm (650Nm). The new car's more aerodynamic body styling is derived from that of the production-model Lancer Sportback*1 in order to cope with the increasing speeds of cross-country rally events.

Other differences compared to the previous car include reduced weight thanks to a new, fully-integrated multi-tubular steel frame, and a lowered positioning of the fuel tank for a lower overall center of gravity. Handling has been further enhanced by the reduced moment of inertia resulting from the revised location for the spare wheels, as well as by significant modifications to the suspension geometry. Performance on rough terrain has been improved, thanks to BOS dampers which can be adjusted through a wider range of settings.

The Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart-run Racing Lancer is equipped with Valeo-developed lighting and Brembo brakes with 16-inch ventilated discs and six-piston calipers all around. Mitsubishi's new cross-country rally challenger sits on 7JJx16 OZ aluminum alloy wheels and BFGoodrich low rolling resistance competition tires (245/80-16).

*1 Scheduled for Japan market release before the end of 2008, the production car will be named Galant Fortis Sportback locally.

See the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer Gallery here: http://paxtech.blogspot.com/search/label/MRX09

[update 30-NOV-08] New Racing Lancer MRX09 Photos

Mitsubishi MMR25 Concept

Mitsubishi breaks from convention and introduces the MMR25, 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

While the look is shocking, the multi-terrain, omnidirectional wheels consist of eight independently-controlled motors, allowing for “8 x 4” wheel drive so that the car can be driven forward while pointing in any direction. The MMR25 drives sideways into a corner and points the nose of the car outwards before even reaching the apex of the curve while driving sideways or backwards.

The MMR25 also uses special Oblique Aerodynamics to give the vehicle aero advantages. The center wing acts as a spoiler, actuated by pneumatic and fabricated from Memory Metal Alloy while the front and rear spoilers double as suspension blades which are able to control stiffness and ride height.

MMR25: Jon Hull - Design, surfacing, rendering and animation

Mitsubishi MMR25 Gallery

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander [US]

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander [US]

Outlander ES



We pushed the 2009 Outlander ES so you can roam further than before. Feel the power of the 2.4-liter, 168-horsepower, aluminum DOHC MIVEC I4 engine, teamed with the CVT Sportronic® transmission. Check out the bold new styling and incredible standard features. It's definitely time to get in and get going.
ENGINE: 168 horsepower 2.4-liter, MIVEC four-cylinder engine with 167 lb-ft of torque
TRANSMISSION: 2WD or 4WD with Sportronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
INTERIOR: Air conditioning · Power windows, locks and mirrors · 140-watt Mitsubishi CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers · Multi-information dot-matrix display · 60/40 split-fold/tumble/recline adjuster back seats · Nine cup holders and 13 storage compartments
EXTERIOR: Aluminum roof panel · Flap-fold tailgate · Combination LED tail lamps · Chrome exhaust tip and daytime running lights
SAFETY: Active Stability Control (ASC) · Four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) · Advanced, dual-stage front SRS airbag† safety system with roll-sensing, side-curtain airbags · Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) · Anti-theft alarm system · LATCH system.
†Airbags are part of a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). To decrease the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, always wear your seatbelt, sit upright in the middle of the seat and do not lean against the door. Always place children 12 and under in the rear seat and use appropriate child restraints. Never place a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat. See your owner's manual and instructions provided with your child restraint for additional information.


Outlander SE



The new Outlander SE gives you more of everything you want: unique styling, technology galore, 18” alloy wheels; under-floor stowable, compact third-row seating; great handling and a Sportronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with magnesium paddle shifters. And it asks less of you where it really counts: the gas tank. With a 168-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder DOHC MIVEC engine.
ENGINE: 168-horsepower 2.4-liter MIVEC DOHC four-cylinder engine with 167 lb-ft of torque
TRANSMISSION: 2WD or 4WD with Sportronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
INTERIOR: Air conditioning · Power windows, locks and mirrors · Power glass sunroof · FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) key · Multi-information dot-matrix display · 60/40 split-fold/tumble/recline adjuster back seats · · Cruise control · Nine cup holders · Sport fabric seats with leather bolsters · High-contrast meters · 115V power outlet and 13 storage compartments · 650-watt (max.) Rockford Fosgate® premium audio system with nine speakers including an integrated, enclosed 10-inch rear subwoofer · Digital Signal Processing · 6 CD/MP3 player · MP3/audio input jack · SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with a six-month prepaid subscription (from date of purchase)
EXTERIOR: Chrome-plated door handles · Aluminum roof panel · 18-inch, alloy wheels · Flap-fold tailgate · Rear LED tail lamps · Chrome exhaust tip · Foglights · Daytime running lights · Chrome accents.
SAFETY: Active Stability Control (ASC) · Four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) · Advanced, dual-stage front SRS airbag† safety system with roll-sensing, side-curtain airbags · Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) · Anti-theft alarm system · LATCH system..
†Airbags are part of a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). To decrease the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, always wear your seatbelt, sit upright in the middle of the seat and do not lean against the door. Always place children 12 and under in the rear seat and use appropriate child restraints. Never place a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat. See your Owner’s Manual and instructions provided with your child restraint for additional information.

Outlander XLS V6



Driving on asphalt in the Outlander XLS may be optional, but exclusive extras come standard: under-floor stowable, compact third-row seating; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; 18-inch, aluminum alloy wheels; FAST Key (Free-Hand Advanced Security Transmitter) passive, keyless entry system; automatic climate control; Bluetooth® hands-free phone interface with voice recognition. The list goes on and on.
ENGINE: 3.0-liter, 220-horsepower*, SOHC MIVEC V6 engine with 204 lb-ft of torque
TRANSMISSION: 2WD or 4WD; six-speed Sportronic® transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
INTERIOR: Air conditioning · Power windows, locks and mirrors · · FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) key · Multi-information dot-matrix display · 60/40 split-fold/tumble/recline adjuster back seats · Cruise control · Nine cup holders · Sport fabric seats with leather bolsters · high-contrast meters · · 13 storage compartments
EXTERIOR: Silver roof rails and chrome-plated door handles · Aluminum roof panel · 18-inch, alloy wheels · Flap-fold tailgate · Combination LED tail lamps · Color-keyed mirrors · Rear privacy glass · V6 badge · Dual exhaust finisher · Fog lights and daytime running lights
SAFETY: Active Stability Control (ASC) · Four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) · Advanced, dual-stage front SRS airbag† safety system with roll-sensing, side-curtain airbags · Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) · Anti-theft alarm system · LATCH system.
*In California and other low-emissions states, the PZEV engine has 213 horsepower.
†Airbags are part of a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). To decrease the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, always wear your seatbelt, sit upright in the middle of the seat and do not lean against the door. Always place children 12 and under in the rear seat and use appropriate child restraints. Never place a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat. See your owner's manual and instructions provided with your child restraint for additional information

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander [US] Gallery

Complete Gallery of Exterior and Interior photos at: http://outlander.freeforums.org/2009-mitsubishi-outlander-t229.html

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander for Europe

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander for Europe
New Outlander = Polished
Fresh from its new European production site at NedCar (Born, The Netherland), Outlander will polished its credentials for 2009.

As a reminder, this transfer was decided in order to ease the strain on production capacity in Japan, thus avoiding any missed sales opportunities in view of the strong sales of Outlander in Europe and elsewhere (and of the equally successful New Lancer family today produced alongside in Japan).

Growth:
European sales figures are very revealing indeed of that success and demand, boosted by the car’s design, driving dynamics, roominess & flexibility, good performance, low fuel consumption & CO2 levels and good value-for-money:

- European mid-size SUV sales*:
o Total: 268,291 units vs. 247,784 units (+ 8.3%)
* # 1: Volkswagen Tiguan 32,787 units (new)
* # 2: Toyota RAV4 31,645 units vs. 44,860 units (- 29.5%)
* # 3: Honda CR-V 29,177 units vs. 32,170 units (- 9.3%)
* # 4: BMW X3 23,782 units vs. 28,717 units (- 17.2%)
* # 5: Suzuki Grand Vitara 18,646 units vs. 25,271 units (-26.2%)
* # 6: Land Rover Freelander 16,880 units vs. 16,647 units (+ 1.4%)
* # 7: Mitsubishi New Outlander** 15,271 units vs. 11,435 units (+ 33.5%)
* # 8: Nissan X-Trail 13,810 units vs. 10,605 units (+ 30.2%)
* # 9: Chevrolet Captiva 12,726 units vs. 13,049 units (- 2.5%)
* # 10: Hyundai Santa Fe 11,349 units vs. 19,471 units (- 41.7%)

*Jan.- May 2008 vs. Jan- May 2007 [Source: Jato dynamics, 20 European countries]
** Outlander sales reached 17,085 units for the Jan-May 2008 period within MME sales territory (34 countries) vs.
12,007 units Jan-May 2007 (+42.3%)

Chrome pack:
To mark this success, the 2009 Outlander will be further and subtly distinguished inside and out:
- New chrome pack incl. grille frame, side window line and tailgate (Instyle)
- New & more substantial side airdam
- Evolution of the ICE system:
o Improved Mitsubishi Multi Communication system (MMCS): increased HD capacity from 30GB to 40GB, Music server storage up to 2000 songs/150 CD’s, new countries added*) and standard Aux-in Audio + Video connection in combination with the MMCS Rockford Fosgate premium audio system.
* Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia.
o Intense & Instyle: Aux-in Audio connection in combination with the Rockford
Fosgate premium audio system.
o Intense w/ MMCS: Aux-in Audio + Video connection in combination with the
Rockford Fosgate premium audio system and HDD navigation system

The New 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander for Europe

Mitsubishi TMR Triton Concept [AU]

"New Mitsubishi TMR Triton Concept model"
Now on display at the Sydney Motor Show, 9th-19th October 2008

The design concept for the TMR Triton was to improve upon the great Triton base, by delivering
increased power, performance and handling, while remaining true to the toughness and dependability for which Triton is known. The TMR Triton is a concept vehicle which closely represents a production reality.

The 3.2L common rail turbo diesel engine in the Triton is well renowned for it’s high level of performance, but that didn’t stop TMR from improving on this excellent base. A TMR engine enhancement package has been applied to the Triton, meaning power has increased to an impressive 132kW @ 3,800rpm and torque to a phenomenal 450Nm @ 2,000rpm. These are increases of 12% and 31% respectively. Definitely more than enough to help get the tough jobs done or enjoy that long weekend away.

As the Triton is already a stylish recreational vehicle which stands out in a crowd, a few changes were all that were necessary to turn the TMR Triton into a real head turner. The addition of the sports head lamp kit along with the chrome upper and lower sports grilles has created a distinctive, tough yet sporty look. The finishing touch to the exterior package is the application of unique TMR Triton badging.

There is no point having all that power and torque if you can’t control it. Making a great handling vehicle is a job that the TMR team is used to. The first area addressed was the suspension, with Koni 8240 series shock absorbers fitted to the front and rear of the vehicle. The improved on road performance as a result of these suspension enhancements has not come at the expense of off road ability with standard vehicle ride height and ground clearances maintained.

The braking hardware has also been given a serious makeover to keep up with the newfound power. A specially developed front brake package has been fitted, consisting of large 4 piston calipers with 343mm x 29mm ventilated and slotted two piece discs with high performance Ferodo DS25HP brake pads. This enhancement, together with the original equipment ABS/EBD system ensures strong braking performance in all conditions.

To make the most of the improvements to power, handling and braking, and to enhance off road ability, a new set of wheels and tyres were selected. The stylish 18” x 8” Dakar alloy wheels neatly fit over the impressive front brake package. Pirelli Scorpion ATR 255/55R18 tyres with a symmetrical tread design delivers the all-terrain versatility needed on a vehicle like the TMR Triton. Excellent traction on every surface, reduced aquaplaning, top braking efficiency, the highest resistance to damage, and comfortable driving on sealed roads are all attributes of the Scorpion ATR’s.

The modern and luxurious interior has not escaped the upgrades. Quality stitched TMR logos have been added to the front and rear leather seats. Stainless steel scuff plates and full carpet mat set complete the TMR interior package.

The audio system has been improved with the addition of the highly functional Eclipse CD3200 Multi Source Sound System. This head unit has a powerful 50W x 4 internal amplifier along with USB input, integrated Bluetooth handsfree and full iPod control.

Combining the Tritons highly advanced Super Select 4WD system that allows operation in either 2WD, full time 4WD or 4WD high / low range and the expertly applied TMR upgrades results in a recreational vehicle that has exceptional on and off road performance and the ability to handle whatever challenges are faced.

Performance:
TMR Engine power upgrade
Power: 132kW @ 3,800rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 2,000rpm

Suspension:
TMR tuned front and rear Koni 8240
Series shock absorbers

Brakes:
TMR developed front brake package
consisting of: 4 piston calliper and 343mm x 29mm
ventilated and slotted two piece discs with Ferodo DS25HP pads

Wheels and Tyres:
18” x 8” Dakar Alloy Wheels
Pirelli P255/55R18 Scorpion ATR tyres with full size spare

Exterior:
Sports headlamp kit
Upper and lower sports grille
Distinctive TMR vehicle badging

Interior:
TMR Trimmed front and rear seats
Eclipse CD3200 Multi-Source
Sound System (50W x 4, Bluetooth, iPod, USB)
Stainless Steel Scuff Plates
Triton Carpet Mat Set

Mitsubishi TMR Triton Concept Gallery