2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER GTS Test Drive

Mitsubishi gives the all-new Lancer GTS of 2008, a new more powerful inline 4-cylinder engine, and a new custom ‘Wicked White’ paint option, for model year 2009. The all-new Lancer GTS was engineered from bumper to bumper to provide a driven-to-thrill experience behind the wheel.

 

New styling includes a more aggressive front fascia with a ‘shark nose’, newly formed headlamp cluster, and two, wide, rectangular air-intakes. The aerodynamic bodykit comes with lower spoiler up front, deeper lower side skirts, and a rear featuring newly formed rear lamp clusters, a tall wing spoiler, and a wide, single exhaust tip. You can see the new wedge-shape with the steeply raked windshield pillars, scalloped doors, and rising beltline.

 

The all-new Lancer GTS projects a tauter, stronger stance through its design, and the effect is more than skin deep. The new Lancer GTS is built on a longer wheelbase and wider track-but with a slightly shorter overhang length. A wider track and longer wheelbase helps with Lancer’s solid, stable handling capability.

The reassuring solid feeling you get driving the new Lancer GTS is rooted in a body structure engineered with greater inherent strength than before. The new Lancer GTS is built around Mitsubishi’s next-generation Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution unibody design. This highly rigid structure makes extensive use of high-tension steel. A stiff body structure can allow sport suspension tuning without compromising a compliant ride.

 

The all-new 2008 Lancer GTS debuted last year with a redesigned 2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder engine that made just 152hp and 146lb.ft. of torque. The 2009 model gets a larger 2.4 liter inline four-cylinder with DOHC and VVT and now makes 168hp and 167lb.ft. of torque.

Mated to this potent engine is a standard 5-speed manual or an optional CVT (continuously variable transmission). Why a CVT and not a 5-speed automatic you might ask? A CVT not only can enhance performance and fuel economy, but also provides a smoother driving experience than a traditional automatic. The result is a more premium driving experience. A conventional automatic transmission uses fixed gear ratios, which engineers must select to provide the optimal balance of performance and efficiency and suit all customers and driving conditions. A CVT, in contrast, operates on a pulley system that allows an infinite variability between the highest and lowest available ratios with no discrete steps or shifts. A CVT smoothly adapts to changing vehicle speeds, allowing the engine speed to remain at its level of peak efficiency, helping to improve both fuel economy and exhaust emissions. Because a CVT doesn’t shift gears, you also benefit from smoother performance.

The CVT in the Lancer GTS features a Sportronic mode that provides instantaneous 6-step manual control via the magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters. Many conventional automatic transmissions offer manual control to provide a more engaging driving experience. However, the Sportronic CVT’s pulley hydraulics offer faster and crisper shifts than in conventional automatics. Such programming would theoretically have allowed Mitsubishi to select any number of gears, but six was determined as the best number for ease of use, sporty driving and flexible performance.

 

The all-new Lancer GTS rides on a new body structure of increased strength, rigidity and torsional stiffness, allowing the use of a flat front suspension crossmember to increase stiffness further and can directly receive lateral loads from the front lower arms. A strut tower brace, side and lower braces enhance lateral rigidity for precise steering response, while lower control arm attachment points and steering knuckles have been strengthened.

The combination of these enhancements, along with retuned lower control arm bushings, contribute to quicker steering response. As a result of these reinforcement measures, rigidity of the tire ground contact area was improved by a significant 18%, an improvement that enhances nimble handling, driving stability and ride comfort.

The MacPherson strut front suspension design is all-new with a sharpened focus on enhancing rigidity while reducing weight and lowering the roll center. Slightly longer (10mm) suspension travel enhances road holding even on rough roads, and road shock from driving over uneven surfaces has also been reduced. The GTS model employs a 21mm stabilizer bar, and exclusive sport-tuning of the spring rates and shock damping force. Fitting a stabilizer strut helps ensure optimal roll rigidity and improved steering stability.

 

The Lancer GTS’s sophisticated new trailing-arm type multi-link rear suspension is a major factor in providing ride and handling characteristics that are expected in more expensive sport sedans. The rack-type crossmember has been lightened, yet its rigidity increased to enhance handling response. Raising the trailing arm bushing has improved suspension operation when traversing rough surfaces and enhanced ride control. The GTS sport-tuned suspension gets a 20mm rear stabilizer bar, changes in spring rate and shock damping forces, and pillow-ball bushing for both upper and toe control arms.

Further contributing to handling stability in the all-new Lancer GTS are ball joint-type stabilizer links and a new hub unit bearing that provides higher camber and toe rigidity.
Bringing to your hands all of this sophisticated handling power and response is a crisp, fluid steering response to the integration of the highly rigid body structure, the newly designed suspension, and of the course the new rack & pinion steering system itself. The new steering rack has a slightly larger diameter than before. The optimized steering column layout features joint friction-reduction parts that improve steering feel. Support stiffness at the steering wheel end of the steering column has been increased by 20%, reducing steering wheel vibration. Dampers used on the intermediate shaft help reduce shimmy. This new system gave me a great feel for the road with instant response to my inputs, at any speed.

The all-new 2009 Lancer GTS not only tames curves, but does so with confident stopping power. Up front are 12.2in. vented discs clamped with dual-piston calipers, while the rear brakes measure 11.9in. solid rotors clamped with single-piston calipers. All calipers utilize higher friction coefficient pads to improve performance. The stopping power and control of its direction are further enhanced with standard ABS and electronic brake force distribution.

The stunning all-new 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS rides on 18X8in. 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 215/45R18in. high-performance summer tires for maximum grip and traction when blasting through a tight curve or when driving on wet or slick pavement.
The sporty good looks and performance driving capabilities are brought inside with a roomy, comfortable, and contemporary interior with sporty touches and high-tech goodies.

 

Open the wide-opening door and get comfortable in the deeply cut two-toned, sport-bucket seats. Grab and adjust the tilting, leather-wrapped, sport-steering with buttons for the audio system and cruise-control. visibility is excellent straight-ahead and at the sides but with the large, rear wing spoiler out the back, cuts down on visibility, but you’ll get used to it since most other cars will be in the rearview mirror anyway.

 

The dashboard features a faux carbon fiber strip that carries through to the doors for a real sporty touch. The instrument cluster is easy to see and understand and there is a driver information box in between the large 140mph speedometer and 8,000rpm tachometer that gives readouts of important engine functions, outside temperature gauge and trip computer. The center stack features easy-to-use dials for the climate controls system. Just above are controls for the audio system. The center console features a good layout with an easy-to-grip stick shifter, cubby-hole for storage, dual cup-holders, and an armrest with a deep and wide storage bin. All buttons, dials and levers are within easy reach and fully illuminated for safe nighttime driving.

 

The rear seats are also comfortable and supportive and feature a pull-down armrest with dual cup-holders and are split 60/40 and can fold to increase the already large trunk storage space.

 

Standard features inside include automatic climate control with micron filtration, AM-FM audio system with CD player, MP3 connection and 6-speakers, MP3 auxiliary jacks,
grab handles above each door, dual visor vanity mirrors, front map lights, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, power door locks/windows, power side mirrors, variable intermittent wipers/washers, 12-volt accessory outlet, remote keyless entry, rear heater floor ducts, front/rear floor mats, Bluetooth hands-free system. Options include leather seats, 650-watt Rockford/Fosgate Punch Premium sound system with 9-speakers and 10in. trunk mounted subwoofer, Sirius Satellite Radio, power glass sunroof, fast-key entry system, Navigation with 30GB harddrive, 6GB music server, trip computer, altimeter, barometer and maintenance readouts.

 

Standard safety features include front airbags, side airbags, side-curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front/rear crumple zones, active front headrests, adjustable rear headrests, LATCH child seat anchors, child safety locks, tire pressure monitoring system, 3-point safety belts for all five seats including front pretentioners/load limiters, engine immobilizer and an anti-theft alarm system.

 

The all-new 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS is one of the best bargains in the high-performance sedan segment with a base price of just $18,990.00 and $21,540.00 nicely loaded like I tested. With the optional CVT transmission, the GTS gets 21mpg/city and 27mpg/highway. Those are pretty good figures for a sporty, five-seat sedan.

COPYRIGHT:2008:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

Type: Compact Sedan
Where Built: Japan
EPA Class: Compact Cars

Dimensions

Exterior
Length: 180 in.
Width: 69.4 in.
Height: 58.7 in.
Wheel Base: 103.7 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.8 in.
Curb Weight: 2922 lbs.
Gross Weight: 4079 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 39.6 in.
Front Hip Room: 53.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 54.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 54.3 in.
Rear Hip Room: 54.1 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.2 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36.1 in.
Luggage Capacity: 11.6 cu. ft.
Maximum Cargo Capacity: 12 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance Data

Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 4 Base Engine Size: 2 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 4
Horsepower: 152 hp
Max Horsepower: 6000 rpm
Torque: 146 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4250 rpm
Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 32.8 ft.

Fuel Data

Fuel
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15.3 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway)
Manual: 22 mpg / 30 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway)
Manual: 336.6 mi. / 459 mi.