Mitsubishi Lancer

The Mitsubishi Lancer is a compact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors since 1973. It has been known as the Colt Lancer, Dodge/Plymouth Colt, Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Chrysler Lancer, Eagle Summit, Hindustan Lancer, Soueast Lioncel, and Mitsubishi Mirage in various countries at different times, and has been sold as the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis in Japan since 2007. It has also been sold as Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis in Taiwan with a different facelift compared to Galant Fortis. In Japan, it was sold at a specific retail chain called Car Plaza.

Between its introduction in 1973 and 2008, over six million Lancers had been sold.

In February 1975 the Lancer was complemented by a hatchback called the Lancer Celeste, succeeding the Galant FTO. It was also called the Mitsubishi Celeste or Colt Celeste in some markets; and sold as the Chrysler Lancer in Australia, the Dodge Lancer Celeste in El Salvador, the Plymouth Arrow in the United States, and the Dodge Arrow in Canada.

The Celeste was originally available with 1.4- and 1.6-liter options, while a bigger 2.0-liter model was added later. An even larger 2.6-liter four was available in the US-market Plymouth Fire Arrow. The Celeste was facelifted in 1978, receiving square headlights and bigger squarer bumpers. Production of the Lancer Celeste ended in July 1981 and it was replaced by the front-wheel drive Cordia in early 1982.

In Japan, the Lancer Cedia was offered with many different trim levels and engines, including some options never exported. It was also one of the first models to use the INVECS-III CVT transmission. There was also a Ralliart version of the sportswagon which was powered by a turbocharged 1.8 L GDI engine. As of 2009, this generation of Lancer sedan is still being sold alongside the newer 2007 era generation, which is known in the home market as the Galant Fortis.

In Malaysia, the Lancer was made available after Mitsubishi had sold all its shares in Malaysian carmaker Proton, marking the return of Mitsubishi in Malaysian market after being absent since 1985 due to the agreement with Proton. The Lancer sold in Malaysia was powered by the 4G18 engine which also powered the early 1.6 Proton Waja model. In the Philippines, the Lancer underwent a facelift, now without the central semi-triangle in the grille. It is offered in 2 trims, the base GLX with a 5-speed manual and the GLS with an all-new INVECS-III CVT with manual override. Both are powered with an l4 1.6L 4G18 SOHC engine.

In Pakistan, this variant was launched in 2005 with cosmetic changes from the front and the back. Thai production was switched to the new model, and in all markets except for India the previous model was no longer marketed, four years after the Cedia's introduction. India received this 2000 era series of Lancer in 2006, known locally as the Mitsubishi Cedia to distinguish it from the previous version which was assembled and sold as the Lancer till June 2012, and Mitusbishi Cedia production closed in November 2012.

In some European markets, the Lancer began to take the place of the Carisma in 2004. It is powered by a 1.3 L SOHC 16valve 4G13 engine producing 82 PS at 5,000 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, 1.6 L SOHC 4G18 engine producing 98 PS at 5,000 rpm and 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm and a 2.0 L DOHC 4G63 producing 135 PS at 5,750 rpm and 176 Nm at 4,500 rpm.

The Lancer was released in Australia in October 2007, designated the CJ series and is initially available in ES, VR and VRX trims. The ES included cruise control, driver, passenger and knee airbags, stability and traction control as standard. The VR adds alloy wheels, foglights, side skirts, boot lip spoiler, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, 6-disc CD changer, as well as curtain and side airbags. The VRX gets extra skirts, a larger rear spoiler, 18-inch alloys and a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system. All three models shared the same 4B11 2.0-litre engine and can be had with manual or CVT. A Ralliart version has been introduced later, with a turbocharged version of the same engine, 4WD and paired with a 6-speed twin-clutch gearbox. The Evo X also joins the lineup afterwards. In late 2008, another variant, the Aspire, has been introduced. It includes more luxury features and has a 2.4-litre 4B12 engine mated only to the CVT. The VRX also gets the engine upgrade and can still be had with a manual. From MY 2013 onwards, the Aspire was dropped.

The Sportback body followed the sedan and can be had in ES, VR, VRX and Ralliart trims. Special models have also been introduced, such as the Platinum Edition, which is based on the VR but added a chrome grille and window surrounds, MMCS satellite navigation and Bluetooth compatibility for handsfree mobile phone usage. A new RX version is derived from the ES but comes with standard alloy wheels. Another model introduced in 2010 was the SX coming with factory alloys, leather steering wheel & gear shifter as well as factory spoiler.

In Europe, a 103 kW 2000 cc diesel model is also available which is built by Volkswagen.

In the Republic of Ireland, the specifications are different to those sold in the United Kingdom. The Lancer is available in five-door hatchback or four-door saloon bodystyles.

Engines are 1.5L 109 bhp 4-cylinder petrol, and the 1.8 petrol and 2.0 TDI models available in the United Kingdom are unavailable; but are popular grey imports. Trim levels are Base for the sedan, and Invite for the Sportback. It is a more basic version compared to other European markets.

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