Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) announced today the much anticipated Lancer Sportback hatch is now on sale in Australia.

The all-new Lancer Sportback completes the acclaimed Lancer line-up, which includes 2.0- and 2.4-litre street sedans and hatches, the outstanding Lancer Evolution sports sedan and the all-new Ralliart Lancer variants, available in both Sportback and sedan body styles.

Announcing the arrival of the first vehicles into dealerships, Mitsubishi’s president and chief executive officer, Robert McEniry, said the arrival of the all-new Lancer Sportback completed the wide-ranging and award winning Lancer family in Australia.

“Mitsubishi now offers a complete range of vehicles in the small car segment, and I would be very surprised if there is any requirement any small car customer could have that couldn’t be met by one of our stylish and highly specified Lancer sedan or hatch vehicles,” Mr McEniry said.

The all-new Lancer Sportback continues the Lancer initiative of bringing life-saving five-star safety to the small car market – just like its sedan brother - with standard Active Stability Control with Traction Control (ASTC), ABS braking system with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) and the availability of seven airbags across the entire range.

Designed in Europe to meet the exacting standards of Continental car connoisseurs, the Lancer Sportback will appeal to all small-car consumers who seek stunning style, pert performance, five-star safety and the versatility of a hatch-style body in their vehicle.

According to Mr McEniry, the company has experienced solid success with sales of the Lancer sedan since its release last year, and with its versatile hatch style body, the all-new Lancer Sportback will open up additional opportunities.

“In the current economic environment, Australians are turning to the small car to meet their driving needs, and the success of the Lancer sedan is testament to that fact.

“There is no doubt that the all-new Lancer Sportback will open up additional opportunities for us here in Australia. It is 13 years since Mitsubishi has been able to offer a hatch-style body in the small car market, and now we have the opportunity to expand our appeal to all small-car consumers.

“This car looks fantastic and is designed to appeal to the style-conscious driver who enjoys an active lifestyle and demands great looks, great flexibility and great safety and performance from their vehicle,” Mr McEniry said.

The new Lancer Sportback comes to the Australian market place in three well equipped and attractively priced street variants that mirror the sedan’s line-up – the entry level ES, mid-range VR and sporty VRX. In addition, the Lancer Ralliart Sportback will join the line-up, and along with its Ralliart Sedan brother, will provide a logical transformation to the big daddy of the Lancer range, the Evolution sedan.

Three engines are available in the Lancer Sportback line-up, with the ES and VR receiving the 2.0-litre dual overhead cam MIVEC four-cylinder engine which delivers 113kW of power @ 6000 rpm and 198 Nm of torque at 4250 rpm. VRX Sportbacks will be powered by the new 2.4-litre engine just released in the premium Lancer VRX and Aspire sedans. Generating 125 kW of power @ 6,000 rpm and 226 Nm of torque @ 4,100 rpm, the Lancer Sportback VRX offers a more powerful, yet more economical driving experience than many of its competitors.

Sports car fans will appreciate the blistering performance of the Lancer Sportback Ralliart, which features a retuned version of the Lancer Evolution’s inter-cooled and turbo-charged 2.0-litre MIVEC engine which delivers 177 kW @ 6,000 rpm and 343 Nm of torque @ 4750 rpm and comes standard with the famous Twin Clutch Sport Shift Transmission (TC-SST), also borrowed from the Lancer Evolution.

ES, VR and VRX Lancer Sportbacks offer a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with Sport Mode and INVECS III software, to deliver flexible, responsive and economical motoring.

Just like its sedan brother, safety is an integral part of the Lancer Sportback’s design and all variants bear the latest Mitsubishi safety technology. ASTC is standard across the range, as is ABS, EBD and BA. A total of seven airbags are available on all Mitsubishi Lancers - entry level ES models receive standard SRS driver and passenger airbags and driver knee airbag, with side and curtain airbags an affordable option. All other Lancer models receive the full seven-airbag pack as standard fitment.

Add to this Mitsubishi’s acclaimed RISE body structure, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, five height adjustable headrests and the Lancer range presents the prime, affordable, safety-oriented choice in the Australian small car segment.

Solid, stable and enjoyable performance adds to the Lancer Sportback driving experience. ES and VR models bear standard sixteen inch wheels (alloy on VR) and 205/60 R16 tyres and fifteen inch ventilated front disc brakes and fourteen inch solid rear discs. The VRX variant adds a special sport-tuned suspension package and eighteen inch wheels with 215/45 R18 tyres and stops promptly courtesy of sixteen inch ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes.

Key to the Australian small car hatch segment consumer is the flexibility to meet the demands of their active lifestyle, and the Lancer Sportback leaves nothing to chance. The vehicle has been designed from the inside out to promote a variety of interior configurations, ease of use and voluminous storage solutions.

In addition to numerous bins, door and seat pockets, consoles and stowage boxes, the Lancer Sportback offers a large rear cargo area, with the added benefit of a cargo floor height adjustable function which can add 90mm to the depth of the area (this feature not available on Ralliart model). A handy rear seat auto folding function means it is possible to fold the rear seats separately (60/40 split) via a lever located near the tail gate, providing even more easily accessible storage space.

All Mitsubishi Lancer Sportbacks receive the top end specifications and features that consumers have come to expect from the high quality Japanese-manufactured Lancer line-up.

The entry-level ES variant offers all the safety and engineering features listed before for secure, relaxed driving and adds a plethora of creature comforts – three-way adjustable driver’s seat, central locking, front and rear power windows, air-conditioning, FM/AM Tuner with CD and MP3 compatibility and audio jacks, and cruise control with steering mounted controls. Optional side and curtain airbags are available on the ES model.

The mid-range VR model includes all these specifications and builds in even more features – side and curtain airbags, dusk sensing headlamps, rain sensing wipers, alloy wheels, front fog lamps, lip spoiler, leather wrapped steering wheel, six CD stacker with remote steering mounted controls and, for lovers of wide open spaces, an optional sunroof is available.

For drivers who like an energetic, flexible and dynamic on-road experience, there is only one choice – the sporty VRX model. This variant of the Lancer range takes the standard specifications of the VR model and adds sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, front air dam, rear spoiler, eighteen inch wheels, sport type front seats and fabric, unique panel and door trim, paddle shifts (CVT model only), Smart Key entry and Bluetooth hands-free phone with steering wheel controls. Options include the sunroof from the VR model as well as an optional Rockford Fosgate Premium Audio system with nine speakers and the acclaimed Mitsubishi Multi-Communication System which offers satellite navigation and integrates with the vehicle’s computer to control lighting, audio, telephone and comfort settings.

All Mitsubishi Lancer Sportbacks are available in a palette of designer colours, including Effect Grey, Lightening Blue, Red, Black, Mystic Blue, Champagne, Cool Silver and Solid White.

Like all Mitsubishi vehicles, the Lancer Sportback is protected by the company’s industry leading and comprehensive five year/130,000 whole vehicle warranty, backed up by its 10 year/160,000 km powertrain warranty and a five year/unlimited km roadside assistance package.

As has come to be expected from Mitsubishi’s Australian vehicle line-up, enhanced value is achieved through offering exceptional levels of standard safety and comfort features, and the Lancer Sportback is no exception to the rule. Once again takings its cues from its sedan sibling, the Lancer Sportback pricing starts at just $20,990 for the ES model, $25,590 for the VR model, and $29,790 for the 2.4-litre VRX model.

The entire Lancer range is on sale now from Mitsubishi’s 200 plus dealer locations across Australia.