The ninth generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer saloon will make its bow in Irish dealer showrooms on Monday, 5 November. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the two-time winner of the World Rally Championship is one of the most recognisable vehicles in the Mitsubishi range and more than 5,000 owners in Ireland are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new model.

The new generation Mitsubishi Lancer, the ninth in all, comes to Irish customers next week with improved styling and safety features. Prices start at ?22,495 before delivery charges.

Built in Japan on Mitsubishi’s global platform, the all-new Lancer will compete in the extremely competitive family saloon segment, with its standout styling, characterised by features such as the large front grille, shark like nose and defined lighting cluster, sure to draw motorists to it.

Available from launch in one well-equipped model and with a 1.5L manual or automatic petrol engine, the new Lancer is priced at €22,495 excluding dealer delivery and related charges. A diesel-powered version using the 2.0 litre VW engine fitted to the Outlander and Grandis, will be available in 2008.

As standard on the vehicle will be 16” alloy wheels, blue tooth connectivity with voice recognition, multi function leather steering wheel and air conditioning. Built to secure a five star EURO NCAP safety rating, the Lancer also comes with nine airbags, including one to protect the driver’s knees.

The saloon range will be rounded off in May with the arrival of the iconic 10th generation of the Lancer Evolution. A hatchback version, which will be known as the Sportback, will launch in July 2008 with the same model line-up and engine variants as the saloon.

The new Lancer has been designed to secure a five star EURO NCAP safety rating through one of the most comprehensive safety packages in the segment, including nine airbags:

• two advanced dual front airbags for the driver and front passenger with occupant sensors their inflation pressure is controlled to match the severity of the impact;
• two standard front seat-mounted side-impact airbags;
• four side curtain airbags;
• one driver’s knee airbag deploying in the initial stage of an impact to protect the lower limbs.

Other passive safety features include:

• three point ELR seatbelts in all seats;
• Front seatbelt fitted with pre-tensioners that take up any slack in the shoulder belt when they detect a strong impact to better secure the occupant in a frontal crash.
• Force limiters that slacken the belt and absorb the load acting on the occupant and thereby reduce impact force acting on the chest. The door pillars and side roof use energy-absorbing trim that reduces impact loads on an occupant’s head in case of a crash.

For optimum pedestrian protection, the front bumper, bonnet, fenders and cowling all employ impact energy absorbing structures. These elements provide an effective crumpling zone without affecting the strength or flexibility of the body. The internal structure of the front bumper is designed to provide an energy-absorbing zone, while the placement of appropriate material and a lower bumper beam reduces pedestrian leg injury.

The Lancer also employs Mitsubishi’s RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) uni-body that brings dramatic advances in multi-directional impact safety performance. As a fundamental starting point, this proprietary design disperses energy loads during side and rear impacts and controls distortion, enhancing occupant protection and also helping to protect the fuel system during a rear impact.

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