Mitsubishi Sportback-2009 Launch

Although Mitsubishi U.S’s sales have been declining consistently due to lack of model line-up and sufficient marketing, the Japanese auto-maker seems to have taken positive response from it’s fuel-efficient and hot selling Lancer variants. Mitsubishi, infamous for it’s rally heritage than anything else, plans a hatchback version of it’s Lancer series. It seems they have the new Impreza bang on target.

Based on the EVO X, the Lancer sportback is primarily a hatch version of the big Mitsu. Although the boot has been chopped off, the designers have thankfully left the C-pillar geometry alone to keep the overall shut lines intact, thus keeping the rear quarter eye-pleasing, yet fresh.

The rear seems to have borrowed cues from the the Lexus RH 400 hybrid, with the tail lights & quarter panel bearing striking resemblances to the Toyota. Needless to say, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since most of the newer designs have more less become a mixture of sorts. The new Accord, for example. The side profile reminisces of the erstwhile 5-series. But that doesn’t make the Honda sloppy now, does it.

Although no official powertrain figures are available yet, there are pieces doing rounds that the Lancer Sportback will be offered in 3 engine variants; a 1.8 litre powerplant with 141 galloping horses, a fuel-efficient 2.0 litre oil-burner (read-diesel) pumping out 138+ horses (and enough torque to knock your socks off), and finally, the "sport" powertrain, with the EVO X’s gear. Hopefully, that will take the mighty Subaru head-on.

Here’s to Mitsubishi, the legend that re-wrote many a rulebook with it’s WRC chomping dynamics, heart-throbbing performance and legendary Japanese reliability...