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"         Just about any car manufacturer wanting to sell a sporty car these days has created a &amp;quot;specialty sports brand.&amp;quot; As is most always the case, when a car wears a specialty brand badge (such as STi or SVT), it&amp;#039;s usually the highest-performing version of a particular model. Mitsubishi decided to take a different route. It has given its Ralliart moniker to a middle-of-the-line Lancer.   The reasoning behind this, according to Mitsubishi officials, is they believe the image of the top-of-the-line Lancer, the 271-bhp Evolution, is so formidable that it has become its own brand, with hardly anyone associating it with the stock sedan. And the company needed a product to match the likes of the Mazdaspeed Proteg\u00E9 and Ford SVT Focus, and at the same time make the Lancer more appealing. Thus the Lancer Ralliart was born.   Ralliart is Mitsubishi&amp;#039;s racing division. It has made a name in the World Rally Championships and Paris-to-Dakar Rally. The division has been around for years, but we&amp;#039;re first hearing about it because...well, let&amp;#039;s face it, rallying has never made the front-page news in the States. Still, ask anyone who has ever played the Gran Turismo video game, and he&amp;#039;ll give you a concise presentation of the company and its cars.   The U.S.-spec Lancer Ralliart is no Evo \u2014 far from it \u2014 but it is impressive in its own way. Providing power is a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter sohc inline-4 featuring the company&amp;#039;s valve timing and lift technology (called MIVEC). Output is rated at 162 bhp at 5750 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000, which is about 30 percent more than the stock car&amp;#039;s. What&amp;#039;s most noteworthy about this powerplant is its smooth delivery of power. It leaves the line with a pleasant pop, and gets to highway speed quickly while showcasing a hearty supply of low- and mid-range torque. At the test track, the Lancer Ralliart kept up with all but the best of them, running to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.7.   The Lancer Ralliart&amp;#039;s 5-speed manual gearbox has been strengthened to handle the extra torque, which results in a solid feel. Also, the shift throws are nice and short, thanks to the incorporation of the Evo&amp;#039;s shifter.   The handling of the car is first-rate...I would go far as to say that it&amp;#039;s the best-handling front-drive car Mitsubishi has ever produced. Turn-in is crisp, with a slight push through tight corners, and body roll is minimal. Mitsubishi did an impressive job of tuning the suspension system \u2014 MacPherson struts up front and multilink at the rear \u2014 to provide asphalt-sticking handling and an even ride. The body structure of the Ralliart sedan exhibits a high level of rigidity, apparent through tight turns and over bumps. The brakes have also been upgraded, with larger discs both front and rear; ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution come as standard fare.   The Lancer sports a new face (which will be incorporated on all 2004 model Lancers except the Evo). The Ralliart version will be distinguishable by a new rear spoiler, front and side air dams and unique foglights.   The Lancer Ralliart will reach dealer showrooms this month with an $18,000 price tag. There will be a wagon version available for $19,000 (comes with 4-speed automatic only), which should give the popular Mazda Proteg\u00E95 a run for its money. Mitsubishi says there will be Ralliart versions of other models to follow soon. Therefore, expect a Galant Ralliart and perhaps even a Montero with the tri-color badge. And the Evo? One can only hope. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a9665/mitsubishi-lancer-ralliart/>