First look: Lancer Sportback set for Paris debut

MITSUBISHI has released images of its forthcoming Lancer Sportback ahead of the five-door hatchback’s international debut in final production form at the Paris motor show in October.

Due in Australia inside six months, the Sportback will be shown in turbocharged, all-wheel drive Ralliart trim, which will to run doorhandle-to-doorhandle with Subaru’s Impreza WRX.

Like the sedan version due in the third quarter, the Ralliart hatch will feature a new 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC intercooled and turbocharged four-cylinder engine – a detuned (177kW/343Nm) version of the Lancer Evo’s more potent turbo four.

Australian specifications are still to be revealed, but the engine is expected to be mated to Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST) automated manual gearbox.

Other mechanical differentiators from lesser Lancers will include twin-piston front brake callipers and a larger brake master cylinder.

As with the sedan, visual highlights for the Ralliart version will include 18-inch alloy wheels, prominent air intakes, an aggressive front bumper treatment and dual exhaust outlets.

The Sportback will also be made available in cooking model variants. In Europe this includes 1.5 or 1.8-litre petrol engines and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Interior highlights include “auto-fold” rear seatbacks that can be folded using a lever located in the luggage compartment.

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Melbourne show: Lancer Ralliart lobs