Need 4 Lancer

SEATTLE, WA - September 6, 2008: Affordable performance. That’s the key to the Lancer Ralliart for 2009. While its big brother, the Lancer EVO will knock your socks off, this $26K hot little sedan will certainly peel them off. We took our cameras inside to hear all about it from Mitsubishi Manager of Product Strategy, Bryan Arnett.

The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is the latest in a long line of high-performance 4-wheel drive (4WD) Mitsubishi models. The Lancer Ralliart All-Wheel Control (AWC) system is based on the Mitsubishi Active Center Differential (ACD), which uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch center differential to distribute drive torque between the front and rear wheels in response to driving conditions. The system is controlled by the AWC computer, which takes input from a variety of engine and wheel speed sensors, G-force sensors and steering angle sensor information. The AWC computer uses a proprietary Mitsubishi algorithm to calculate action of the ACD unit in response to road conditions. The ACD provides an excellent balance between steering response and traction characteristics and allows the driver to set system response parameters using a “Tarmac, Gravel, Snow” selector. The ACD is essentially the same that was used in the previous-generation Lancer Evolution (Evolution IX in other markets.) Likewise, the helical limited-slip front and mechanical limited-slip front rear differentials are adapted from the previous-generation Lancer Evolution. (The new-generation Lancer Evolution, in comparison, is equipped with the Super All-Wheel Control system featuring both the Active Center Differential and the Active Yaw Control torque-vectoring rear differential.)
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Mitsubishi’s new trapezoidal grille design is spreading throughout the lineup, and the Outlander looks to be the next vehicle that gets struck with the corporate underbite. At least now the Lancer won’t be the only Mitsu wearing a grille cribbed from the ‘57 Chrysler 300. The new front fascia will include angry-eye headlamps and appears to be the only external change to the Outlander during its mid-cycle freshening. A gaggle of engineers were rumored to be fussing over the cars that spy photogs snagged in the Western US desert, which may mean powertrain changes. Can we cast our vote for an Evo powertrain under the new sheetmetal?

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/15/spy-shots-mitsubish-outlander-getting-lancer-face/