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2005 Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 news, pictures, and information | ||
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The Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car has undergone months of intense development work and the team's latest challenger for the FIA World Rally Championship - the Lancer WRC05 - will break cover at the 2005 Rallye Monte-Carlo, January's season-opening event.
The FIA World Rally Championship regulations have changed in a number of areas for 2005 and the Mitsubishi Motor Sports team has seized this chance to further enhance key areas of the Lancer WRC05. One of the most notable changes permits manufactures to increase the width of the car body shell by 0.2 inches, from 70 inches to 70.2 inches. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Lancer WRC05 now has re-designed front and rear wings, rear quarters and bumpers, making subtle visual changes but aiding stability.
In tandem wîth this, longer suspension links and drive-shafts are required and uprights have been modified to optimize the suspension geometry. In short, there has been a complete review of the suspension and, while the Tarmac-specification dampers used in the 2004 Rallye Catalunya-Rally de Espana were designed to comply wîth the new wider body shell of the WRC05, specific changes have been made to adapt the uprights and dampers to the new geometry on the gravel specification Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05. While retaining a light-weight form, these will improve stiffness and be used from Rally México onwards. Further modifications to the internal components are also then planned, affording greater freedom and finer tuning.
Improvements to the engine include new waste gate and anti-lag valves, both of which will be run from Rallye Monte-Carlo. These parts, working wîth an improved engine control, will give a significant performance improvement and more accurate tuning possibilities.
'In particular, this means we can get much closer to the limits acceptable to the engine in all conditions,' commented the team's Technical Director, Mario Fornaris. 'The final fine-tuning can now be on the absolute limit.'
Improvements to the turbo-charger have also been investigated, although assessment of the increase in efficiency is still on-going and will be included in the WRC homologation in December if proved to be effective.
The Lancer WRC05s automatic clutch and gearshift have already proved successful during testing and this system will see ‘paddles' adopted on the §teering wheel for changing gear, an active gearshift system that negates the need to use the clutch.
Development work is on-going wîth the center differential and although the aim is to have this ready for Monte-Carlo, the most likely date for the new component is Rally México, in March. Active front and rear differential prototypes have yet to undergo testing and, according to development results in the first quarter of the year, may or may not be implemented into the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05, especially as this active system will be banned in 2006.
In 2004, it was ascertained that gear ratios needed to be improved and longer ratios will be adopted for first, third and fourth gears, anticipated from Rally New Zealand onwards.
'Our target is to finish all the development work for the Lancer WRC05 within the first six months of the season,' stated Fornaris. 'Then we can really focus on results, podium finishes and our championship aspirations for 2006.'
One of the other most significant changes to the Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car will be that it will run on Pirelli tires for the first time.
'We have started testing wîth Pirelli and are very impressed wîth their professional approach and the facilities it is putting at our disposal,' added Mario Fornaris. 'We are in the process of learning the tire range and adapting the Lancer WRC05 to optimize their performance, but from the first results I believe there is big potential wîth our new partner. We will take advantage of Pirelli's strong points and, in the spirit of our technical partnership, will help Pirelli to improve its tires feeding them wîth our car data. Working together on the tire development is very important for us.'Source - Mitsubishi
The FIA World Rally Championship regulations have changed in a number of areas for 2005 and the Mitsubishi Motor Sports team has seized this chance to further enhance key areas of the Lancer WRC05. One of the most notable changes permits manufactures to increase the width of the car body shell by 0.2 inches, from 70 inches to 70.2 inches. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Lancer WRC05 now has re-designed front and rear wings, rear quarters and bumpers, making subtle visual changes but aiding stability.
In tandem wîth this, longer suspension links and drive-shafts are required and uprights have been modified to optimize the suspension geometry. In short, there has been a complete review of the suspension and, while the Tarmac-specification dampers used in the 2004 Rallye Catalunya-Rally de Espana were designed to comply wîth the new wider body shell of the WRC05, specific changes have been made to adapt the uprights and dampers to the new geometry on the gravel specification Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05. While retaining a light-weight form, these will improve stiffness and be used from Rally México onwards. Further modifications to the internal components are also then planned, affording greater freedom and finer tuning.
Improvements to the engine include new waste gate and anti-lag valves, both of which will be run from Rallye Monte-Carlo. These parts, working wîth an improved engine control, will give a significant performance improvement and more accurate tuning possibilities.'In particular, this means we can get much closer to the limits acceptable to the engine in all conditions,' commented the team's Technical Director, Mario Fornaris. 'The final fine-tuning can now be on the absolute limit.'
Improvements to the turbo-charger have also been investigated, although assessment of the increase in efficiency is still on-going and will be included in the WRC homologation in December if proved to be effective.
The Lancer WRC05s automatic clutch and gearshift have already proved successful during testing and this system will see ‘paddles' adopted on the §teering wheel for changing gear, an active gearshift system that negates the need to use the clutch.Development work is on-going wîth the center differential and although the aim is to have this ready for Monte-Carlo, the most likely date for the new component is Rally México, in March. Active front and rear differential prototypes have yet to undergo testing and, according to development results in the first quarter of the year, may or may not be implemented into the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05, especially as this active system will be banned in 2006.
In 2004, it was ascertained that gear ratios needed to be improved and longer ratios will be adopted for first, third and fourth gears, anticipated from Rally New Zealand onwards.
'Our target is to finish all the development work for the Lancer WRC05 within the first six months of the season,' stated Fornaris. 'Then we can really focus on results, podium finishes and our championship aspirations for 2006.'One of the other most significant changes to the Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car will be that it will run on Pirelli tires for the first time.
'We have started testing wîth Pirelli and are very impressed wîth their professional approach and the facilities it is putting at our disposal,' added Mario Fornaris. 'We are in the process of learning the tire range and adapting the Lancer WRC05 to optimize their performance, but from the first results I believe there is big potential wîth our new partner. We will take advantage of Pirelli's strong points and, in the spirit of our technical partnership, will help Pirelli to improve its tires feeding them wîth our car data. Working together on the tire development is very important for us.'Source - Mitsubishi
MITSUBISHI MOTORS CONFIRMS ITS 2005 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHP PROGRAM
• Two-car team registered in 2005 FIA World Rally Championship• Rovanperä, Panizzi and Galli to drive Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05
team will contest all 16 rounds of the series wîth the latest specification Mitsubishi World Rally Car, the Lancer WRC05. Mitsubishi Motors is therefore fulfilling the commitment it gave in 2003 to come back to the FIA World Rally Championship and participate in a three year program until 2006.
'In October 2003 we announced our team's three-year turn-around program, namely that in 2004 we would come back to the series wîth the Lancer and then target podium positions in 2005. For 2006, our aim is to claim the world title again; I feel those objectives are on track', said Isao Torii, President of Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports.
Strong driver line-up to challenge the 16-round World Championship in 2005
For 2005, the Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports driver line-up includes Finland's Harri Rovanperä, Frenchman Gilles Panizzi - who has been instrumental in the development of the Lancer World Rally Car this year - and Italy's 'Gigi' Galli. Thirty-eight-year-old Rovanperä will contest all 16 rounds of the championship, the Finn providing the team wîth valuable knowledge of all events in the series; in particular the gravel rounds the Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports team missed during the 2004 season.
'The championship is more and more dominated by gravel rallies and we need a driver who knows all these events very well', said Isao Torii. 'Harri Rovanperä is a good loose surface driver, especially on the high-speed events. We feel fortunate that he is joining the team and expect some good performances. He drives consistently and finishes rallies; we will be very reliant on him.'
Team-mate Gilles Panizzi, whose dedication to test and development work this year has been invaluable to the team, will compete in selected rounds of the series, notably the sealed-surface events where Mitsubishi has high expectations of the Frenchman being a potential winner.
'Gilles has been incredibly supportive of the team and has contributed enormous amounts to our development program', added Torii. 'We did not give him the car to challenge, but next year we have big expectations and see him as a potential winner on Tarmac, especially in the second half of the season.'
Gigi Galli's commitment impressed the team from the outset and the Italian's fine sixth overall in Mitsubishi's Group N machinery in Sardinia, and seventh in Spain in the Lancer WRC04, has secured him a place as the team's third driver. He will share the second Lancer WRC05 wîth Panizzi, although a third car may be entered on some European events. 'Gigi has made very good progress and although it was very difficult to compare the results of our three young drivers this year, his performances in Sardinia and Spain are what made us decide to retain him in 2005', Torii concluded.
New Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 development in progress
'We have concentrated very seriously on development of the Lancer WRC since August this year and that strategy paid off in Spain, where the progress we made saw two cars finish in the top seven', said Isao Torii, President of Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports. 'We still have more development work to do. An active differential system and modified semi-automatic gearshift will be the main targets in the development program and our primary focus for the first half of the season. But we intend to get back on the podium in the second half of next year; Rally Japan, in particular, being our target.'
The Mitsubishi Motors assault on the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship will kick-off in January wîth the famous Rallye Monte-Carlo (January 20-23), one of the most unpredictable and treacherous events in the series.Source - Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Lancer was first introduced in 1973, and since that time more than six million examples have been sold. It has carried many different names, sold by different manufacturers, and come in different shapes and sizes. Since the cars inception, it has proven to be a solid competitor in rally competition. It has been a very versatile, and capable automobile.
When first introduced, it joined Mitsubishi's other models which included the Galant, their compact car, and the Minica kei car. The Lancer fell into ranks between these two models, serving as the company's lower-to-middle class vehicle. When introduced, it was offered in twelve different trim levels, included the base 1.2-liter sedan, and ranging towards the rally-prepared 1600 GSR. Two bodystyles were offered, the 2-door coupe and the 4-door sedan. There was also a five-door station wagon, but the production levels on this never reached very high. A hatchback was added in 1975, called the Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste and offered with either a 1.4- or 1.6-liter engine. A 2.0-liter unit was later added.
The second generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer was introduced in 1978 and remained in production until 1983. The only bodystyle offered was the four-door sedan; two engine sizes were available, a 1.4- and 1.8-liter four-cylinder unit. The big news for this generation was the addition of the Lancer EX, which brought with it a turbocharger for the 1.8-liter engine.
In 1982 the next generation of the Lancer was introduced. A new model was launched, dubbed the lancer Fiore and based on the Mitsubishi Mirage. This generation of the Lancer was offered in a 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, and five-door station wagon. The 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines were still available. A diesel version was introduced, and fuel injected and turbocharged versions were offered.
The station wagon was added in 1985, and it was followed quickly by a four-wheel drive version.
In 1988 the next iteration of the Lancer began, and would persist until 1992. The design changed; the car became less boxy, and more aerodynamic in appearance and principle. The edges became more round and modern. The shape followed the design of the Galant.
By now, the Lancer name was being shared with the Dodge Lancer, which was being sold in the United States by Chrysler Group. In Japan, the model was known as the Mirage Aspire.
This generation of the Lancer was sold as a 3-door hatchback, four-door sedan, and 5-door hatchback. Front and four-wheel drive was available.
In 1991, the differences between the Mirage and the Lancer became even greater, though both were still built on the same platform. In the North American market, the Lancer was sold as the Eagle Summit.
A V6 engine, which displaced just 1.6-liters, was introduced and powered the Mirage, along with other Mitsubishi cars. It would even become the power source for one of the HSR Concept vehicles. This V6 engine was the smallest mass-produced V6, a title it retains to this day. Other engine options included a 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, and 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. The 1.3 and 1.5-liter versions were SOHC while the rest were DOHC. The 1.8 was created in both SOHC and DOHC fashion. The standard gearbox was the five-speed manual, with the four-speed automatic being sold as optional equipment.
The big news was the Lancer GSR, which had a high-performance turbocharged engine and would form the groundwork for the Lancer Evolution, commonly known as the Lancer Evo, which began in September of 1993. The Evo used the drivetrain of the Galant VR-4 rally car, and would soon prove its potential as a high performance competition machine.
All of the Lancer Evolutions has shared a two-liter, turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive system. The Evolutions, prior to version V, are the officially-approved models for Mitsubishi's efforts in the World Rally Championship's Group A class and SCCA Pro Rally Championship. The cars are built on the same platform as the other Lancers, but given many performance upgrades and mechanical improvements.
Lancer Evolutions continue to race in Group A and Group N classes.
The seventh generation of the Lancer was introduced in 1995 and produced until 2000. It continued the Lancers successful formula of enjoying strong sales throughout the world. In Japan, the name for the sedan and wagon continued as the Libero; related Mirage models were still available. The Coupe was known as the Mirage Asti in Japan, and the Lancer Coupe in the rest of the world.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V is the only Mitsubishi to earn the WRC Constructors Championship for its marque. Tommi Makinen has claimed four WRC Drivers Championships, from 1996 through 2000, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (IV, V & VI). Makinen has driven Mitsubishi's in most of his WRC career. The exception being a Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1994 and a Subaru Impreza WRC in 2002.
The eight generation of the Lancer was introduced in 2000 in Japan. Most of the other markets continued with the seventh generation. The 8th gen Lancer was available in a four-door sedan configuration or as a station wagon.
Styling changes for the Lancer occurred in 2004 and 2005 for the North American market. The grille was given more fins so it was closer in design to the American version of the Galant. The facia was changed slightly again in 2006.
The Sportback and Ralliart were introduced to the US in 2004. Both of these trim levels brought more equipped and bigger engines. The Sportback has a 160 horsepower engine and the Ralliart was just a little higher, at 162. For both, the suspension had been improved, resulting in better handling and performance. The cars were lowered and 16-inch alloy wheels could now be found on all four corners. Aerodynamic ground package, fog lamps, and front bucket seats completed the ensemble. The Ralliart was given clear rear tail lights and a rear deck spoiler, which did little except enhance the cars appearance. All Sportbacks were equipped with an INVECS-II automatic gearbox. The Ralliart had the five-speed manual as standard and the four-speed automatic as optional.
Slow sales and financial difficulties for Mitsubishi had the Sportback canceled after just one year.
The Mitsubishi Concept X was unveiled to the public at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show; Concept-Sportback was shown a little while later at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new lancer drew its design inspiration from both of these concepts, which was officially unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. Sales for this generation of vehicle went on sale in the US in March of 2007. it is available as a four-door sedan.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click hereWhen first introduced, it joined Mitsubishi's other models which included the Galant, their compact car, and the Minica kei car. The Lancer fell into ranks between these two models, serving as the company's lower-to-middle class vehicle. When introduced, it was offered in twelve different trim levels, included the base 1.2-liter sedan, and ranging towards the rally-prepared 1600 GSR. Two bodystyles were offered, the 2-door coupe and the 4-door sedan. There was also a five-door station wagon, but the production levels on this never reached very high. A hatchback was added in 1975, called the Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste and offered with either a 1.4- or 1.6-liter engine. A 2.0-liter unit was later added.
The second generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer was introduced in 1978 and remained in production until 1983. The only bodystyle offered was the four-door sedan; two engine sizes were available, a 1.4- and 1.8-liter four-cylinder unit. The big news for this generation was the addition of the Lancer EX, which brought with it a turbocharger for the 1.8-liter engine.
In 1982 the next generation of the Lancer was introduced. A new model was launched, dubbed the lancer Fiore and based on the Mitsubishi Mirage. This generation of the Lancer was offered in a 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, and five-door station wagon. The 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines were still available. A diesel version was introduced, and fuel injected and turbocharged versions were offered.
The station wagon was added in 1985, and it was followed quickly by a four-wheel drive version.
In 1988 the next iteration of the Lancer began, and would persist until 1992. The design changed; the car became less boxy, and more aerodynamic in appearance and principle. The edges became more round and modern. The shape followed the design of the Galant.
By now, the Lancer name was being shared with the Dodge Lancer, which was being sold in the United States by Chrysler Group. In Japan, the model was known as the Mirage Aspire.
This generation of the Lancer was sold as a 3-door hatchback, four-door sedan, and 5-door hatchback. Front and four-wheel drive was available.
In 1991, the differences between the Mirage and the Lancer became even greater, though both were still built on the same platform. In the North American market, the Lancer was sold as the Eagle Summit.
A V6 engine, which displaced just 1.6-liters, was introduced and powered the Mirage, along with other Mitsubishi cars. It would even become the power source for one of the HSR Concept vehicles. This V6 engine was the smallest mass-produced V6, a title it retains to this day. Other engine options included a 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, and 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. The 1.3 and 1.5-liter versions were SOHC while the rest were DOHC. The 1.8 was created in both SOHC and DOHC fashion. The standard gearbox was the five-speed manual, with the four-speed automatic being sold as optional equipment.
The big news was the Lancer GSR, which had a high-performance turbocharged engine and would form the groundwork for the Lancer Evolution, commonly known as the Lancer Evo, which began in September of 1993. The Evo used the drivetrain of the Galant VR-4 rally car, and would soon prove its potential as a high performance competition machine.
All of the Lancer Evolutions has shared a two-liter, turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive system. The Evolutions, prior to version V, are the officially-approved models for Mitsubishi's efforts in the World Rally Championship's Group A class and SCCA Pro Rally Championship. The cars are built on the same platform as the other Lancers, but given many performance upgrades and mechanical improvements.
Lancer Evolutions continue to race in Group A and Group N classes.
The seventh generation of the Lancer was introduced in 1995 and produced until 2000. It continued the Lancers successful formula of enjoying strong sales throughout the world. In Japan, the name for the sedan and wagon continued as the Libero; related Mirage models were still available. The Coupe was known as the Mirage Asti in Japan, and the Lancer Coupe in the rest of the world.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V is the only Mitsubishi to earn the WRC Constructors Championship for its marque. Tommi Makinen has claimed four WRC Drivers Championships, from 1996 through 2000, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (IV, V & VI). Makinen has driven Mitsubishi's in most of his WRC career. The exception being a Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1994 and a Subaru Impreza WRC in 2002.
The eight generation of the Lancer was introduced in 2000 in Japan. Most of the other markets continued with the seventh generation. The 8th gen Lancer was available in a four-door sedan configuration or as a station wagon.
Styling changes for the Lancer occurred in 2004 and 2005 for the North American market. The grille was given more fins so it was closer in design to the American version of the Galant. The facia was changed slightly again in 2006.
The Sportback and Ralliart were introduced to the US in 2004. Both of these trim levels brought more equipped and bigger engines. The Sportback has a 160 horsepower engine and the Ralliart was just a little higher, at 162. For both, the suspension had been improved, resulting in better handling and performance. The cars were lowered and 16-inch alloy wheels could now be found on all four corners. Aerodynamic ground package, fog lamps, and front bucket seats completed the ensemble. The Ralliart was given clear rear tail lights and a rear deck spoiler, which did little except enhance the cars appearance. All Sportbacks were equipped with an INVECS-II automatic gearbox. The Ralliart had the five-speed manual as standard and the four-speed automatic as optional.
Slow sales and financial difficulties for Mitsubishi had the Sportback canceled after just one year.
The Mitsubishi Concept X was unveiled to the public at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show; Concept-Sportback was shown a little while later at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new lancer drew its design inspiration from both of these concepts, which was officially unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. Sales for this generation of vehicle went on sale in the US in March of 2007. it is available as a four-door sedan.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007
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