2009 Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX09

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart has a busy time ahead. As well as competing in selected rounds of the inaugural Dakar Series; the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup and the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas with the tried and tested Pajero/Montero Evolution - it is also developing the new ‘'Racing Lancer'' with the clear objective of winning the 2009 Dakar.

The Racing Lancer, Mitsubishi's latest cross-country rally car, is powered by a new turbocharged diesel engine which has already been put through its paces in a specific version of the Pajero/Montero Evolution on the following races: the Central Europe Rally (the first event of the recently-established Dakar Series), the Rali Transiberico (second round of FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup), and the Baja Espana (third round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas).

Competing at rally speeds against leading teams has enabled Team Repsol to gather invaluable data which is not obtainable through testing alone.

Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan) has competed twice with the turbocharged Pajero/Montero Evolution and is enthusiastic about the newcomer's potential: 'The diesel version is overwhelmingly easy to drive thanks to its tremendous torque which is available over an even broader rev-band. It outperforms the petrol-powered car in terms of controllability over challenging terrain, as well as when accelerating out of corners and along high-speed straights. With the right set-up it would be comfortably faster.'
Joan 'Nani' Roma (Spain) drove a Pajero/Montero Evolution with the new turbo-diesel grafted into it on the Rali Transiberico, adapting his driving style to the new engine's torque characteristics. Roma succeeded in posting three fastest stage times on the Portuguese event, leading at one point, which proves the potential of the new engine.

This experimental car covered more than 8,000km in testing and competition, allowing engineers to develop new suspension geometry designed to cope with the different weight distribution and torque characteristics.

A new engine compartment layout has also been developed, ensuring better cooling for the engine
and auxiliary components. Technical improvements to the turbocharger have produced improved response at low revs, as well as more power at high engine speeds, and reliability has also been enhanced.

In preparation of the 2009 Dakar, Team Repsol has entered three petrol versions of the Pajero/Montero Evolution for Portugal's PAX Rally: the second event of the recently-established Dakar Series (9-14 September). Stéphane Peterhansel (France), Luc Alphand (France) and Joan 'Nani' Roma (Spain) will be in the drivers' seats, developing the suspension and tyres which will be carried over to the Racing Lancer.

The Racing Lancer itself is due to undergo testing in Morocco, covering 8,000km. Following its extensive development program, the Racing Lancer makes its official debut in round six of the 2008 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup (Portugal, 30 October-2 November). The car will be in the hands of Stéphane Peterhansel, the Dakar's most successful competitor with a total of nine outright wins.

Source - Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Introduces new 'Racing Lancer' (MRX09) for the 2009 Dakar

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has developed a new competition car, the Racing Lancer, whose mission will be to target victory on next year's Dakar which breaks new ground in 2009 with a switch from Africa to South America. For Mitsubishi Motors, not only does the Dakar serve as a platform for the sales and marketing of the Pajero/Montero but it also provides a unique proving ground for powertrains and 4WD transmission systems. In light of the corporate decision to focus the firm's cross-country rallying activities on the development of a new diesel engine, Mitsubishi Motors sees it as a natural step for the Lancer (known in Japan as Gallant Fortis), a commercially and globally important model powered by the diesel powerplant, to take over the competition baton from the Pajero/Montero and the Pajero/Montero Evolution. The technological expertise accumulated thanks to the firm's cross-country rally program - which includes the Dakar - will be applied to its diesel engine development, including the new-generation clean diesel that will power the future production cars. Meanwhile, as was previously the case, the 4WD systems technology will also be carried over to the production versions after their configuration has been optimized as a function of their end-use.

Únder its new corporate communication tagline 'Drive@earth', Mitsubishi Motors has a commitment to providing the joy of mobility for customers worldwide while at the same time taking a responsible stance on the environment. Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart will also play an important role as an integral part of the automobile research and development program.

The Racing Lancer is a Super Production Cross-Country Rally car, which has been developed in compliance with the FIA's Group T1 regulations (modified cross-country rally cars). It also complies with the new rules due to come into force in 2010. Needless to say, the new rally car has profited from the technical expertise and experience gained with the Pajero/Montero and the Pajero/Montero Evolution which secured 12 outright Dakar wins during its uninterrupted 25-year participation on the celebrated African event, a sequence which began with the fifth edition of the rally in 1983. The MRX09 features a new, multi-tubular steel frame which has benefited from advanced CAE analysis with a view to optimizing the layout and dimensioning of the tubing. The car will be powered by the 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine which the company is currently developing on qualifying rounds of the 2008 Dakar Series and the 2008 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup. The carbon-fibre bodywork of the MRX09 is redolent of the Lancer Sportback, a new sporty hatchback due to be released on the European market this summer. The new car will be equipped with the same 4WD system, drive train, suspension and brakes following their modification in accordance with the new technical regulations and as a function of the characteristics of the diesel turbo powerplant.


* MRX09: the new codename for Mitsubishi's latest cross-country rally challenger. 'MRX09' stands for 'Mitsubishi Rally 'Cross Country'('X'), plus a suffix for the year in which it competes ('09' = 2009).

Source - Mitsubishi