Mitsubishi’s Lancer Desert Racer
Mitsubishi has made a gaggle of race vehicles over the past few decades, and taken home a large share of 1st-place trophies. Their latest Rally-winner is a converted Lancer that pumps through more sand dunes than one of those giant worms from Dune. If you had to cross one of the planet’s largest wastelands, wouldn’t you want to barrel through it as quickly as possible? Although the ride may be a little bumpy – have a closer look at this desert prowler below.
Mitsubishi has been producing winning race cars since 1962, when they first entered the Macao Grand Prix. It’s those years of experience that keeps the auto maker at the forefront of Rally championships. Mitsubishi’s latest entry for the 2008 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup is their Lancer Racer - a 260 horse power diesel V6 engine built into what looks like a prop from Mad Max. Now you may be asking, is it a car, a truck, or both? It’s Mitsu’s first crossover rally car to be exact, though we doubt many drivers have their kids or groceries strapped in its back seat.
The Lancer Racer will make its next appearance at the 2009 Dakar – Paris Rally (see our video page for a clip of the 2007 Dakar Mitsubishi race) .The Racer will also make a visit to the 2008 Paris Motor Show this October, where participants can have a look at the vehicle without getting dust in their eyes. Mitsubishi hopes the Racer’s clean diesel V6 will become a “key ambassador for diesel technologies.”
They should let Travis Pastrana have a crack at this. He would find a way to push it to its limits.
I imagine that people who drive hummers will love this as a more fuel efficient model of vehicle.
Though using clean burning diesel engines, especially those with good efficiency will help a lot when Bio-diesel is in mass production. Here’s to Mitsubishi.
is it avaliable in oz?
Feb 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
[...] It’s also a great promotional tool. No word on what will happen to the very advanced Mitsubishi Lancer rally cars built last [...]