No Mitsubishi works enrty in 2003!!!!!!!!! - Page 2

NSX · 01-07-2003, 10:16 PM

Wow..that's tough...
The colt looks kind of like the 5th gen Honda Civic Hatchback

Nice little thing.

Here's the best case scenario I see:
In 2004, Mitsubishi returns with the Lancer Evolution VIII! That's not all....they have Mika Hakkinen as their driver!!!

MUHAHAHAA

Comments? Flames?

ales · 01-08-2003, 02:11 AM

Well, if Mika does well and enjoys it (the rally he's entering soon), I can see that happening! (wishful thinking, I know).

As for Evo VIII - nah! I like the Colt idea, considering how much @ss Pug are kicking with their small car

RallyRaider · 01-08-2003, 03:53 AM

Are Mitsubishi bringing out a new version of the Colt soon? The current one(called Mirage in Australia) has been out for five years or more. Might make more sense to develop a newer model.

Then again, I guess the problem with the Lancer Evo VII (and to a lesser extent the latest Impreza) is the heavier weight, which I seem to recall is due to new Japanese regulations. If that is the case developing an older car that doesn't have the weight penalty may be a good thing.

ales · 01-08-2003, 04:37 AM

How can japanese regulations influence WRC cars?

As far as I know, the WRC and WRC2 Lancers (that are somewhat erroneoulsy refered to as just Evo VII-s) have not too much to do with the Evo VII (road car) ...

My guess is that it's the size that matters

RallyRaider · 01-08-2003, 05:04 AM

True Alex the Evo VII WRC is not based upon the Street Evo VII at all but rather the regular garden variety Lancer

You see every Mitsubishi Evo up to the VI was based upon Group A rules. The Evo VII rally car uses the WRC rules - very different. WRC rules allow for much more modifications to the basic car but must be based upon a car with a much bigger production run than the old Group A. That means having Homolgation specials like the Evos, STI WRXs and GR4 Celicas isn't viable anymore.

WRC rules have caused the the Lancer WRC to be based upon a mass production model with a heavier chasis to meet Japanese design regulations. So the domestic politics of a particular Pacific rim nation can very much influence WRC stage times!

ales · 01-08-2003, 05:25 AM

Ahh, I see now. I just thought that even if the roadcar chassis is very heavy, they could make it significantly lighter for the WRC-spec cars as I'm sure there is a very wide variety of structural changes that are allowed. Look at your favourite littel 206 bugger - none of the street cars have AWD, yet it hasn't stopped the team modifying the chassis to that extent (probably only has door handles from the road-oing 206, if even that.)

RallyRaider · 01-08-2003, 03:14 PM

Yeah I want a turbocharged, AWD 206! But there is no such animal!

Yes the WRC rules allow for many changes to be made to the base car but if you start with a heavy chasis you are at a disadvantage. Look at the Focus - as much as they have tried to shave weight off the car to get it to the minumum it is still badly nose heavy. The 206, being so small allows the engineers to play around with with balast much more, so it is almost perfectly balanced.

In fact by the letter of the law the 206 is too small for the WRC. The minimum length is ment to be 4 meters which the 206 is just under. Only by special waiver to fit big bumpers does the 206 reach 4 meters. However I think you'll find all the Wold Rally Cars have special waivers from the FIA in some areas. Look what Mitsubishi were alowed to do with the Evo6.5 - it didn't follow either rulebook to the letter!

ales · 01-08-2003, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyRaider
Look what Mitsubishi were alowed to do with the Evo6.5 - it didn't follow either rulebook to the letter!

I'm afraid I have no idea about that. care to enlighten me?

And I have no proble with the 206. I love the car!

RallyRaider · 01-08-2003, 03:24 PM

Basicaly the Evo VI was a Group A car. But with special dispensation from the FIA (and with agreement from the rest of the teams) Mitsubishi were allowed to incorporate changes within the WRC rules, partucularly in the suspension area.

This made the car much more competitive in early 2001 after it was falling behind in 2000. Only sting in the tail of the deal was that Mitsubish had to agree to introduce the full spec WRC by the end of 2001. And that probably cost Tommi the title

ales · 01-08-2003, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the info.

NSX · 01-09-2003, 04:12 PM

But if they bring in the colt, what are they going to do with the Lancer?

They can't just ditch it; the Lancer Evolution series [IMO] is what Mitsubishi is known for...

Guido · 01-10-2003, 03:24 AM

Why not?? Toyota ditched the Celica for the Corolla, if I remember correct...

ales · 01-10-2003, 03:36 AM

I think that the road Evos will be well and truely continued.

NSX · 01-10-2003, 03:36 PM

hmm..still.

I hope the re-enter rally w/ a new Lancer, but if not, it would be amazing if they entered some GT series.

A Lancer racecar

ales · 01-10-2003, 03:48 PM

There are some in the Australian championship (was it a class in the GT championship or something like that?), although pesonally I see the LanEvo only as a rally car. This is what it was meant to be. But, like all great cars, it seems to have reached the point wher there is no further potential under current regulations.

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