Lancer rallies diesel hope

MITSUBISHI will enter its diesel-powered ‘Racing Lancer’ at next January’s Dakar Rally.

Competing for the first time through Argentina and Chile (rather than in Africa) from January 3 to 18, the 2009 event sees the debut of four Racing Lancers in Sportback guise.

Spearheading Mitsubishi’s Paris motor show line-up next month, the Racing Lancer complies with FIA Group T1 regulations and uses a new multi-tubular steel frame clothed by carbon panels to help reduce weight, as well as a new fuel tank design to lower the centre of gravity and improve handling.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with a two-stage turbocharger of varying sizes to help deliver at least 206kW of power and 650Nm of torque via a Ricardo five-speed sequential gearbox.

Drive is channelled to all four wheels through a self-locking differential as per the one used in Mitsubishi’s other rally weapon, the Pajero/Montero Evolution.

Other Racing Lancer elements include a double wishbone suspension layout featuring anti-roll bars and BOS dampers, OZ aluminium alloy wheels, vented 16-inch brake discs using six-piston Brembo callipers, and low-energy 245/80-section 16-inch cross-country rally tyres.