2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Offers European Sport Sedan Dynamics
Thernall-new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer was engineered from bumper to bumper tornprovide a driven-to-thrill experience behind the wheel. Drivingrnenthusiasts will feel the difference through every curve, especially inrnthe sport-tuned Lancer GTS model. Customers who purchase a Lancer DE orrnES model will find themselves enjoying driving more than before.
Thernsource for Lancer's engaging, fun-driving character is a new globalrnperformance-engineered platform that has been optimized for arnmaximum-performance variant (which will arrive at a later date). Thisrnplatform was introduced first for the 2007 Outlander SUV, a vehiclernthat provides uncommonly energetic driving responses for its segment.
Thern2008 Lancer GTS - with the standard 5-speed manual transmission or thernoptional Sportronic(R) CVT - combines a sport-tuned suspension withrn18-inch wheels 215/45 R18 tires and large 4-wheel disc brakes to makernthis model an aggressive twisty-road tamer. Lancer models - andrnespecially the sport-tuned GTS - will offer an international drivingrncharacter more commonly found in expensive European sport sedans.
Thern2008 Lancer DE and ES models, with their standard 16-inch wheels (alloyrnon ES) and 205/60 R16 tires, provide solid and stable drivingrnperformance that can help make even an ordinary commute to work morernenjoyable. The ES adds standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) with ElectronicrnBrake-force Distribution (EBD), as well as a rear stabilizer bar forrnsharper handling.
Wider, Road Hugging Stance
Thern2008 Lancer projects a tauter, stronger stance through its design, andrnthe effect is more than skin-deep. The new Lancer is built on a longerrnwheelbase and wider track - but with a slightly shorter overall length.rnA 2.3-inch increase in both the front and rear track dimensions - nowrn60.2 in. - sets the stage for the new Lancer's solid, stable handlingrncapability. Wheelbase was lengthened to 103.7 in. from 102.3 in, andrnoverall width is increased from 66.7 in to 69.4 in. Overall length,rnhowever, has been reduced by 0.6-in., giving the new Lancer a morernroad-hugging stance that is especially evident with the GTS model'srnstandard 18-in. wheels and 215/45 R18 tires.
Safety-Optimized RISE Body Structure
Thernreassuringly solid feeling one gets driving the new Lancer is rooted inrna body structure engineered with greater inherent strength than itsrnpredecessor. That is one reason the new platform can be used for arnvariety of model types, including the new-generation Outlander SUV. Ofrncourse, the new structure has also been optimized for a higher level ofrncrashworthiness, as well.
The 2008 Lancer is built aroundrnMitsubishi's next-generation Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE)rnunibody design. The highly rigid structure makes extensive use ofrnhigh-tension steel, a material that was not used in thernprevious-generation Lancer. A stiff body structure can allow sportrnsuspension tuning without compromising a compliant ride, and thisrnplatform allows for further handling development even beyond the newrnLancer GTS model.
The Lancer's structural and suspensionrndevelopment reflects Mitsubishi's renowned motorsports expertise. Inrnparticular, lessons learned from reinforcing the structure of thernprevious-generation Lancer Evolution model have been integrated intornthe new-generation Lancer.
Compared to the previous-generationrnLancer, torsional rigidity has been increased by 56 percent, andrnbending rigidity is up by 50 percent. These increases in both torsionalrnand bending rigidity exceed body stiffness measurements of even thernLancer Evolution IX.
Straight front side members with anrnoctagonal cross-section and a three-leg support structure, as well asrnincreased application high-strength steel, are designed to help Lancerrnmeet the highest crash test standards. The side pillars, roof jointsrnand cross-car structure - combined with the standard front seat-mountedrnside air bags, driver knee air bag and standard front and rear curtainrnside air bags - give the new Lancer a higher degree of collisionrnprotection.
Rigidity Throughout
The lowerrnbody structure, where the suspension attaches to the car, alsorndemonstrates the benefits of higher rigidity than before. Here, one canrnappreciate the holistic approach engineers used to achieve this goal.rnAs one example, the Lancer's new-generation 2.0-liter DOHC MIVECrn4-cylinder engine uses a rear-mounted exhaust manifold, as opposed tornthe front-mounted exhaust manifold on the previous-generation Lancerrnengine.
That change allowed use of a flat front suspensionrncrossmember, where the previous model required a saddle-shapedrncrossmember to provide clearance for the exhaust pipe. A flat frontrncrossmember can directly receive lateral loads from the front lower arm.
Strutrntower, side and lower braces enhance lateral rigidity for precisernsteering response, and lower control arm attachment points and steeringrnknuckles have been strengthened. The combination of these enhancements,rnalong with retuned lower control arm bushings, contribute to quickerrnsteering response. As a result of these reinforcement measures,rnrigidity of the tire ground contact area was improved by a significantrn18 percent versus the previous Lancer, an improvement that enhancesrnnimble handling, driving stability and ride comfort.
Redesigned Front Suspension
ThernMacPherson strut front suspension is similar in layout to the previousrnLancer's, but all-new, with a sharpened focus on enhancing rigidityrnwhile reducing weight and lowering the roll center. Slightly longerrnsuspension travel (10 mm) enhances road holding even on rough roads,rnand road shock from driving over uneven surfaces has also been reduced.
ThernLancer DE and ES models use a 20-mm (0.79-in.) front stabilizer bar,rnand the GTS model employs a 21-mm (0.83-in.) front stabilizer bar. ThernGTS also gets exclusive sport-tuning of the spring rates and shockrndamping force. Fitting a stabilizer strut helps ensure optimal rollrnrigidity and improved steering stability.
Multi-link Rear Suspension
ThernLancer's sophisticated new trailing-arm type multi-link rear suspensionrnis a major factor in providing ride and handling characteristics thatrnmight be expected from a more expensive vehicle. The rack-typerncrossmember has been lightened, yet its rigidity increased to enhancernhandling response.
Compared with the current Lancer, the toerncontrol arm has been lowered and camber rigidity increased to deliverrnbetter steering stability. Raising the trailing arm bushing hasrnimproved suspension operation when traversing rough surfaces andrnenhanced ride comfort. The Lancer ES features an 18-mm (0.71-in.) rearrnstabilizer bar, and the GTS sport-tuned suspension gets a 20-mmrn(0.79-in.) rear bar, changes in spring rate and shock damping forces,rnand pillow-ball bushing for both upper and toe control arms.rnContributing to handling stability in the all-new Lancer are ballrnjoint-type stabilizer links and a new hub unit bearing that providesrnhigher camber and toe rigidity.
More Precise Steering
Thern2008 Lancer owes its crisp, fluid steering response to the integrationrnof the highly rigid body structure, the newly designed suspension, andrnof course the new rack and pinion steering system itself. The newrnsteering rack has a slightly larger diameter than the previous Lancer's.
Thernoptimized steering column layout features joint friction-reductionrnparts that improve steering feel (reduced torque fluctuation). Supportrnstiffness at the steering wheel end of the steering column has beenrnincreased by 20 percent compared to the previous model, reducingrnsteering wheel vibration. Dampers used on the intermediate shaft helprnreduce shimmy.
Confident Braking Performance
Thernall-new 2008 Lancer GTS not only tames curves, but does so with thernconfident stopping power of the same brakes as the larger, heavierrnOutlander SUV -- 11.6-in. (294 mm) vented discs in front and 11.9-in.rn(302 mm) solid discs in rear. The Lancer DE and ES models employrn10.9-in. (276 mm) vented front disc brakes. The ES has 10.3-in. (262rnmm) solid disc rear brakes. The DE has highly efficient drum-type rearrnbrakes.
The front disc brakes utilize powerful dual-pistonrncalipers, with the GTS featuring single-piston calipers for its rearrndiscs. Front rotors on all models measure 1.0 in. thick, and the rearrnrotors on GTS are 0.4 in. thick. Additionally, higher frictionrncoefficient pads improve performance. The single 10-in. brake vacuumrnbooster, with a long-stroke master cylinder, improves boost power andrnbrake feel. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) is standard on GTS andrnES and available for DE models. The system incorporates ElectronicrnBrake-force Distribution (EBD). A change in the surface treatments forrnboth the calipers and rotors has eliminated hazardous materials.
