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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan
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What Changed for 2009:
Though the Lancer nameplate is fairly new to the U.S., Mitsubishi has been using the name on its compact cars for more than 30 years. Here in the States, Lancer models went by the name of Mirage. (Before that, the Lancer name was applied to Dodge cars in 1961-62 and again in the late 1980s.) By the time Mitsubishi adopted the Lancer name in the U.S., the model lineup was best known for the high-performance, all-wheel-drive (AWD) Lancer Evolution model—also known as “Evo.” For 2008, Mitsubishi gave the regular front-drive (FWD) Lancer a thorough makeover with aggressive styling that included a “shark-nosed” front end, more standard and optional equipment, and a new CVT that the manufacturer claimed would provide the fuel economy and acceleration of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission.
For 2009, the GTS model gets a more powerful 2.4-liter MIVEC engine that generates 168 hp. New high-contrast meters are installed in GTS models. Also for 2009, a FAST Key (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) entry system is included in the optional Sun and Sound package for ES and GTS models. (This allows keyless entry from either front door via remote control.) That option package also includes a sunroof and a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium audio system with Sirius satellite radio.
Mitsubishi’s high-performance Evolution model returned to the lineup during 2008 with a 291-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and AWD. The new version features electronic stability control, active yaw control, an active center differential, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). The track-ready Evolution GSR appeared early in 2008, offered only with a 5-speed manual transmission. In June, the Evolution MR went on sale with a Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift transmission (TC-SST), aimed at a broader spectrum of buyers.
A new Lancer Ralliart version debuted in summer 2008, as a 2009 model. Intended as a balance between the ultra-hot Evolution and the Lancer 2.4 GTS, the Ralliart holds a 237-hp, 2.0-liter turbo engine and the Twin Clutch transmission.
Model Lineup
As in 2008, the regular 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer is offered in three trim levels: DE, ES and GTS. According to Mitsubishi, each version has distinct seating materials and interior trim. The DE includes 16-inch steel wheels, power windows, a CD/MP3 player, tilt steering column, seat-mounted side air bags, 2-row side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag. ABS, air conditioning, power locks and keyless entry come bundled together as an option package; they are standard on the ES, which also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, a fold-down 60/40-split rear seat, alarm, map lights, and floor mats. The GTS is the sportiest version, adding 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and body enhancements that include front and side air dams, along with automatic climate control and Bluetooth phone compatibility. Also standard on GTS are fog lamps, a rear spoiler, sport front bucket seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A sunroof and an upgraded Rockford-Fosgate stereo and navigation system are optional for the ES and GTS, and the GTS version can add a hard-drive-based music server.
In addition to the new 237-hp engine, Mitsubishi’s 2009 Lancer Ralliart includes a Ralliart-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Active Stability Control (with traction control) is standard. Evolution buyers get a choice of two distinct models: traditional GSR with manual shift, or a milder-mannered MR edition that employs Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch transmission.
Powertrain
DE and ES versions of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer are powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with VVT that puts out 152 hp at 6000 rpm and 146 lb.-ft. of torque at 4250 rpm. California and states that comply with California emissions get a PZEV (Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) version that puts out 143 hp and 143 lb.-ft. of torque. The GTS’s new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine develops 168 hp at 6000 rpm and 167 lb.-ft. at 4100 rpm. Transmission choices are a standard 5-speed manual or an optional CVT in place of a traditional automatic. GTS models with the CVT have a Sportronic manual mode that emulates a 6-speed transmission, with the driver selecting virtual “gears” via magnesium steering-wheel-mounted paddles. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2009 Lancer are 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway with a manual transmission, 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway for the CVT. The new GTS engine earns estimates of 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway with manual shift and 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway with the CVT.
Under the Lancer Ralliart hood, a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine develops 237 hp, mating with a Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). Its EPA estimate is 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Evolution models get the full treatment: a 291-hp turbo and either a 5-speed manual (GSR) or 6-speed Twin Clutch transmission (MR). The EPA gives Mitsubishi’s Evolution a 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway fuel-economy estimate with manual shift, and 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway with the twin-clutch unit.
Safety
All 2009 Mitsubishi Lancers come with front air bags, seat-mounted side air bags, 2-row side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag. ABS is optional on DE and standard on ES and GTS models. A tire-pressure monitor is standard.
In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal crash test, the Lancer scored a perfect 5 stars for the driver and 4 stars for the passenger; side crash-test scores were 5 stars for front-seat occupants, 4 stars for rear-seat occupants. (NHTSA tagged the early 2008 Lancer with a "safety concern" warning because the rear door opened during a crash test. Mitsubishi modified the latch design, NHTSA re-tested the car, and the problem did not recur. Owners of 2008 Lancers built before May 11, 2007 could have the car modified free of charge.) The Lancer earned 4 stars in NHTSA’s rollover rating. In its crash-test program, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave Lancer a “Good” rating for frontal impacts. Testing has not yet been done for side impacts.
Technology
Again for 2009, the Mitsubishi Lancer uses a CVT in place of a conventional automatic transmission. The CVT replaces traditional gears with pulleys and a belt. CVTs never actually shift gears; instead they continuously vary the ratio of engine speed to road speed, allowing the engine to produce as much power as needed. The manufacturer claims the result is better acceleration and fuel economy compared to a traditional automatic transmission. The maker adds that in many cases—including that of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer—the CVT produces better fuel economy than a manual transmission.
Transmissions also are the technological high point in the Lancer Ralliart and the Evolution MR. Both of those use Mitsubishi’s innovative Twin Clutch transmission, said to yield quick upshifts with no drop-off in engine power. Mitsubishi claims the "engine-control benefits of a manual transmission," but with no clutch pedal. In Normal mode, TC-SST promises greater fuel efficiency than an automatic transmission. Essentially, it’s a manual-type transmission that can select two gears at a time. One gear is engaged by either of two wet multi-plate clutches; the other is pre-selected, ready to be engaged by the second clutch. Gear changes occur when the clutches are simultaneously "swapped." As described by Mitsubishi, it "behaves like two three-speed manual transmissions operating on the same output shaft." Odd-numbered gears and even-numbered gears are on separate input shafts. Three drive modes are available: Normal, Sport and S-Sport—each operating either manually or automatically.
- New 168-hp, 4-cylinder engine for GTS model
- DE and ES keep 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT)
- All 2009 non-turbo Lancer models can have continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
- Sporty GTS model again features sport-tuned suspension
- Optional hard-drive-based music server for GTS
- Evolution model, added during 2008, can have twin-clutch transmission
- Lancer Ralliart model debuts with 237-hp, modified Evo engine
- Twin Clutch transmission goes into Ralliart as well as Evolution MR
Though the Lancer nameplate is fairly new to the U.S., Mitsubishi has been using the name on its compact cars for more than 30 years. Here in the States, Lancer models went by the name of Mirage. (Before that, the Lancer name was applied to Dodge cars in 1961-62 and again in the late 1980s.) By the time Mitsubishi adopted the Lancer name in the U.S., the model lineup was best known for the high-performance, all-wheel-drive (AWD) Lancer Evolution model—also known as “Evo.” For 2008, Mitsubishi gave the regular front-drive (FWD) Lancer a thorough makeover with aggressive styling that included a “shark-nosed” front end, more standard and optional equipment, and a new CVT that the manufacturer claimed would provide the fuel economy and acceleration of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission.
For 2009, the GTS model gets a more powerful 2.4-liter MIVEC engine that generates 168 hp. New high-contrast meters are installed in GTS models. Also for 2009, a FAST Key (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) entry system is included in the optional Sun and Sound package for ES and GTS models. (This allows keyless entry from either front door via remote control.) That option package also includes a sunroof and a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium audio system with Sirius satellite radio.
Mitsubishi’s high-performance Evolution model returned to the lineup during 2008 with a 291-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and AWD. The new version features electronic stability control, active yaw control, an active center differential, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). The track-ready Evolution GSR appeared early in 2008, offered only with a 5-speed manual transmission. In June, the Evolution MR went on sale with a Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift transmission (TC-SST), aimed at a broader spectrum of buyers.
A new Lancer Ralliart version debuted in summer 2008, as a 2009 model. Intended as a balance between the ultra-hot Evolution and the Lancer 2.4 GTS, the Ralliart holds a 237-hp, 2.0-liter turbo engine and the Twin Clutch transmission.
Model Lineup
As in 2008, the regular 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer is offered in three trim levels: DE, ES and GTS. According to Mitsubishi, each version has distinct seating materials and interior trim. The DE includes 16-inch steel wheels, power windows, a CD/MP3 player, tilt steering column, seat-mounted side air bags, 2-row side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag. ABS, air conditioning, power locks and keyless entry come bundled together as an option package; they are standard on the ES, which also gets 16-inch alloy wheels, a fold-down 60/40-split rear seat, alarm, map lights, and floor mats. The GTS is the sportiest version, adding 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and body enhancements that include front and side air dams, along with automatic climate control and Bluetooth phone compatibility. Also standard on GTS are fog lamps, a rear spoiler, sport front bucket seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A sunroof and an upgraded Rockford-Fosgate stereo and navigation system are optional for the ES and GTS, and the GTS version can add a hard-drive-based music server.
In addition to the new 237-hp engine, Mitsubishi’s 2009 Lancer Ralliart includes a Ralliart-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Active Stability Control (with traction control) is standard. Evolution buyers get a choice of two distinct models: traditional GSR with manual shift, or a milder-mannered MR edition that employs Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch transmission.
Powertrain
DE and ES versions of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer are powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with VVT that puts out 152 hp at 6000 rpm and 146 lb.-ft. of torque at 4250 rpm. California and states that comply with California emissions get a PZEV (Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) version that puts out 143 hp and 143 lb.-ft. of torque. The GTS’s new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine develops 168 hp at 6000 rpm and 167 lb.-ft. at 4100 rpm. Transmission choices are a standard 5-speed manual or an optional CVT in place of a traditional automatic. GTS models with the CVT have a Sportronic manual mode that emulates a 6-speed transmission, with the driver selecting virtual “gears” via magnesium steering-wheel-mounted paddles. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2009 Lancer are 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway with a manual transmission, 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway for the CVT. The new GTS engine earns estimates of 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway with manual shift and 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway with the CVT.
Under the Lancer Ralliart hood, a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine develops 237 hp, mating with a Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). Its EPA estimate is 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Evolution models get the full treatment: a 291-hp turbo and either a 5-speed manual (GSR) or 6-speed Twin Clutch transmission (MR). The EPA gives Mitsubishi’s Evolution a 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway fuel-economy estimate with manual shift, and 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway with the twin-clutch unit.
Safety
All 2009 Mitsubishi Lancers come with front air bags, seat-mounted side air bags, 2-row side curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag. ABS is optional on DE and standard on ES and GTS models. A tire-pressure monitor is standard.
In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal crash test, the Lancer scored a perfect 5 stars for the driver and 4 stars for the passenger; side crash-test scores were 5 stars for front-seat occupants, 4 stars for rear-seat occupants. (NHTSA tagged the early 2008 Lancer with a "safety concern" warning because the rear door opened during a crash test. Mitsubishi modified the latch design, NHTSA re-tested the car, and the problem did not recur. Owners of 2008 Lancers built before May 11, 2007 could have the car modified free of charge.) The Lancer earned 4 stars in NHTSA’s rollover rating. In its crash-test program, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave Lancer a “Good” rating for frontal impacts. Testing has not yet been done for side impacts.
Technology
Again for 2009, the Mitsubishi Lancer uses a CVT in place of a conventional automatic transmission. The CVT replaces traditional gears with pulleys and a belt. CVTs never actually shift gears; instead they continuously vary the ratio of engine speed to road speed, allowing the engine to produce as much power as needed. The manufacturer claims the result is better acceleration and fuel economy compared to a traditional automatic transmission. The maker adds that in many cases—including that of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer—the CVT produces better fuel economy than a manual transmission.
Transmissions also are the technological high point in the Lancer Ralliart and the Evolution MR. Both of those use Mitsubishi’s innovative Twin Clutch transmission, said to yield quick upshifts with no drop-off in engine power. Mitsubishi claims the "engine-control benefits of a manual transmission," but with no clutch pedal. In Normal mode, TC-SST promises greater fuel efficiency than an automatic transmission. Essentially, it’s a manual-type transmission that can select two gears at a time. One gear is engaged by either of two wet multi-plate clutches; the other is pre-selected, ready to be engaged by the second clutch. Gear changes occur when the clutches are simultaneously "swapped." As described by Mitsubishi, it "behaves like two three-speed manual transmissions operating on the same output shaft." Odd-numbered gears and even-numbered gears are on separate input shafts. Three drive modes are available: Normal, Sport and S-Sport—each operating either manually or automatically.