THE NEW DAKAR CHALLENGER: RACING LANCER

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has developed a new competition car: the Racing Lancer. Its mission will be to target victory on next year's Dakar. For Mitsubishi Motors, the Dakar not only serves as a platform for the sales and marketing of the Pajero but it also provides a unique proving ground for powertrains and 4WD transmission systems.

Crossover
With the all-new crossover Racing Lancer, MMC added a new dimension to its racing activities, blending 35 years of Lancer prowess with 25 years of Pajero epics. In effect, crossing over on-road and off-road rallying, as well as passenger cars and SUVs, Racing Lancer will reach a wider marketing audience than its predecessors, while re-launching Lancer’s racing career. The firm's latest cross-country rally car, which has been designed to take onboard the new super production regulations when they come into force in 2010, has benefited extensively from the experience acquired with the Pajero Evolution.

Sporting a silhouette inspired by the just-announced Lancer Sportback 5-doors sports hatch, Racing Lancer will indeed support Mitsubishi’s offensive in the passenger car sector in the same way as the previous Pajero Evolution was launched in parallel with the next-generation Pajero in 2006.

Diesel power
To become more tangible at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, this offensive will double as the framework for Mitsubishi’s mid-term passenger car strategy for Europe. Under the unusual banner of “One segment / One (green) solution”, MMC brings sporting heritage together with green designs.

Whilst a relative newcomer to diesel power, Mitsubishi’s long recognized expertise in engine development - a pioneer in areas such as clean emissions, balancing shafts, turbo-charging, direct injection since the 1970’s - has been mobilized to create a diesel engineering pole within the company. Creating an umbrella of competence, covering a wide range of diesel powertrains.

The development of the turbo-diesel engine began in April 2006 before being grafted into a Pajero Evolution for testing purposes in June 2007. Development of the body began in August 2007 and the first Racing Lancer was completed in June 2008. This car was put through its paces during one-week test sessions in Spain and Morocco, as well as over typical cross-country rally terrain in France. Based on the data collected during these tests, further sessions were organized in Morocco at the end of August/early September plus another two weeks in October prior to the Racing Lancer's debut on the sixth round of the FIA Cross-Country Baja International Cup.

Drive@earth
Under 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.

Target: the Dakar!
Racing Lancer is a super production cross-country rally car, which has been developed in compliance with the FIA's Group T1 regulations. It also complies with the new rules due to come into force in 2010. Supported by the very encouraging trial period of the new engine, already raced several times with Pajero Evolution over the last months, Mitsubishi Motors is confident that Racing Lancer will be a major player at the 2009 Dakar rally.

Tech talk
The Racing Lancer is based on a new multi-tubular steel frame. The team has taken particular care to minimize weight, while the additional space freed up by the longer wheelbase - a decision based on the regulations due to come into force in 2010 - has enabled the gas tank to be positioned lower in the car and has consequently brought down the centre of gravity. Handling has also been improved thanks to the new location of the spare tires, which ensures enhanced control of the moment of inertia.

Mitsubishi Motors' design department was responsible for the body styling, which uses carbon panels based on the design of the Lancer Sportback. The design was finalized after validation of the new car's aerodynamic performance in a wind tunnel.

The powerful 3-liter V6 diesel engine features a two-stage turbocharger which positions a small and large turbine configuration on each side of engine, working with both the small and large turbine according to engine revolution and load.

Peak torque is 66.3kgfm (650Nm), while maximum power currently stands at 280PS (206kW), although this figure is expected to increase as development work continues. The cooling system of the intercooler is positioned at the rear of the car and is fed by the characteristic roof-mounted air scoop.

The V6 engine is fed through a manual Ricardo five-speed sequential gearbox engineered to cope with the high torque delivered by the powerplant. The Racing Lancer's permanent four-wheel drive transmission features the same self-locking differential as that used for Pajero Evolution.

Both the front and rear suspension systems feature extensively revised geometry and are both based on a double wishbone layout with coil springs, anti-roll bars and uprated BOS dampers which can be adjusted through a broader range. The car runs on BFGoodrich's new low-energy 245/80-16 cross-country rally tires and OZ aluminum alloy wheels (16x7JJ). The vented 16-inch brake discs are coupled with six-piston Brembo calipers.