Test Drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X since 2008 Sedan

New Lancer, President and Japanese Sushi

Lancer, Focus, Corolla or Lacetti? I once set this question for a thousand times. Most recently, these models competed for the wallets of the emerging middle class. And fighting still! But if the same Focus managed to keep leadership in the segment (in many respects, of course, due to the Russian assembly), then Lancer lost a lot during the crisis. For example, at the end of last year, Lancer is not even in the first twenty of the most popular models in Russia.

Of course, this situation was not too pleased both the Mitsubishi itself and the Rolf-import company, which sells these cars in Russia. And it was decided to get rid of Lancer from his main disadvantage - poor noise insulation.

Shumka has always been a weak point of Lancer, but recently against the background of the updated competitors who paid no attention to the elimination of noise, Lancer began to look very sad. Especially considering the increasing cost. Although it is worth noting that the prices of Lancer grew not due to the greed of the Mitsubishi leadership, but because of the serious growth of the Japanese yen. If in 2007 for one dollar gave 120 yen, now only 82 in the end the goods collected in Japan began to cost in the world market more expensive. The explanation is good, but we are with you what is the case before the yen course? We want to have an inexpensive car that goes well and never breaks.

 
The first lancer with improved noise insulation has already been released and started their way to Russia.

Interestingly, the Russian side insisted at the modernization of Lancer (in Europe, the car will have old noise insulation). Engineers analyzed all sources of noise penetrating the salon, it turned out that the mains are the sounds from the engine and the road (however, the owners of Lancer knew this without difficult laboratory research). And for the fight against them, the Japanese created two anti-net packages at once.


Basic machines will not have a back of the spoiler. This is the prerogative of cars in the most expensive configuration, which will also get a slightly other aerodynamic kit

The first is designed to fight the noise from the engine and the floor: additional insulation of the engine compartment and dashboard, a new floor covering in the cabin and trunk, special mats under their feet. The second includes the clerken trunk, the rear shelf and the side panels. Also, there are additional sheets of insulation of the rear wheel arches, the area of \u200b\u200bthe sound insulation laying is increased in front, and the floor gasket under the feet of passengers of the second row of stunned from 3.2 mm to 6 mm.

The basic Lancer in the configuration of Invite will receive only the first level of additional noise insulation, and more expensive versions will have two packages.


In addition to noise insulation, other main changes in Lancer will be new alloy wheels and a color monitor in the center of the instrument board

It is also necessary to note the appearance on the equipment of the new color display from Outlander XL, which came to shift not the most beautiful monochrome. Also updated cars received other alloy 16-inch drives (now ten spokes instead of five), the new front bumper (it got the usual Lancer from RalliArt version) and a little different design of the radiator grille. Now there is a silver strip. Here, in principle, all: noise insulation, new display, bumper, discs and strip.

Of course, the old and new cars will need to be compared in Russia on the same road with the same tires. But after the test drive at the Mitsubishi polygon in the Japanese city of Nagoy, the feeling that the updated Lancer really became quieter. Of course, the motor and the road is still heard, but there is no other sounds that had previously dominated in the cabin. Superior Lancer can now be compared with the old car, which has additional noise insulation worth 15-20 thousand rubles, by the way.


Alas, but climate control for Lancer is not available. Just air conditioning. But the heated chairs enters the basic configuration

I liked the new color display, thanks to which the board of devices began to look more fun and modern. In addition, information is now better perceived.

To talk in detail about the controllability, the characteristics of the engines and the softness of the suspension Lancer 2011 there is no particular sense, because here the renewed car does not differ from the old. Lancer will continue to be delivered to Russia only in the body of Sedan (sales of hatchbacks were stopped last year they were slightly expensive than sedans and enjoyed minimal demand). Engines to choose from only two pieces: 1.5 liters (109 hp and 143 nm) and 1.8 liters (143 hp and 178 nm). But the 2.0-liter motor on ordinary lancer will not be such cars are too expensive.

Prices remained before. And this is important, especially if you consider that from now on, you can completely easily save on sound insulation. But even despite the improvement, the price of Mitsubishi Lancer is not so sweet. Basic machine with a motor 1.5 liters and one noise insulation package costs from 629,000 rubles. Lancer In the middle configuration with two Shumkov packages - it is already from 659,000 rubles. per version with a handle and from 689,000 rubles. For a model with a variator. Well, the most expensive car with a 1.8 liter engine, a variator, in the rich version of Intense with five pillows and a new aerodynamic kit with a rear spoiler will cost 799,000 rubles. Moreover, even such a Lancer does not have a biased system, and climate control is also not provided for only air conditioning.

The updated Lancer has become better than the old model is a fact. And the point is not in the new bumper and, of course, not in a silver strip on the grille. The car has improved consumer characteristics noticeably better became noise insulation. Although at the same time, from other disadvantages, he has not yet got rid of the simplest salon. The price of Lancer is now not so interesting as in the good old days. But in Russia there are quite a few people who will forgive Lancer his minuses for the sake of Japanese assembly and reliability. And the road clearance here is one of the largest 135 mm passenger models.




Surprise from the president
In Japan, the President of Mitsubishi Motors Mr. Osamu Masuko met with us. And during the press conference, it turned out that Russian journalists are more interested in not updated Lancer, but an electric vehicle I-MIEV. After all, Mitsubishi decided to start the delivery of this car to Russia! Realizing that the electric car enjoys mad popular with journalists, a change in the program of a personal instructions of the president was urgently amended. And we were able to ride not only on improved Lancer, but also on I-MIEV.


According to President Mitsubishi Osamu Masuko, in the near future his company will begin to produce several hybrids and electric vehicles at once. Moreover, it will be about the so-called Plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged from the usual electrical network. Such machines will pass several tens of kilometers only on one electrical machine, which will significantly save on fuel. The line of electrocars will also develop, for example, the Japanese will soon begin selling a small van on the basis of I-MIEV. An electric sports coupe may appear

i-MIEV is very cool. To make sure it is necessary to ride on it. The first shock is experiencing when you try to start the engine. After all, instead of the usual sound, you hear silence. The fact that the car is ready for the movement, you only understand on the tanned little inscription ready. And then the most interesting begins. You chew on gas and start accelerated rather quickly. In full silence that any person leads to delight! Surprisingly, on a short straight 64-strong I-MIEV in just a few seconds, it is capable of typing almost 100 km / h (the arrow showing the degree of energy consumption, while ruthlessly falls into the anti ECO zone). And it is necessary to remove the leg with the pedal of the gas, how the car begins to actively slow down at this moment, the battery recharging occurs.

At the same time, I-MIEV also rulits good! As a result, a small electric vehicle at a speed of up to 100 km / h is traveling almost like hot hatchback (maximum speed is limited at 130 km / h). Only you move almost in full silence during overclocking only barely audible sound of the electric motor.

In general, Mitsubishi I-Miev produced at all the best impression always pleasant to ride in the present on the car of the future. And during the trip to I-Miev, I did not want to ask myself in style and how much this car will cost us?, Where to find a station in Moscow to recharging the battery? etc. Everyone knows that in Russia there is no infrastructure for the development of the fleet of electric vehicles, and the price of this small typewriter will be about one and a half million rubles.

So in Mitsubishi, it does not even ascend themselves with hopes for at least some serious sales of I-MIEV. But challenge to all competitors and be a pioneer, you will agree, it is worthwhile. And for the image of Mitsubishi, the appearance of I-MIEV will be on hand. After all, it is precisely such models that we have a modern company that is one of the leaders of the world car industry.



Local coloring
As you already understood, our test drive passed in Japan. February is considered in Tokyo the coldest month of the year. Nevertheless, now there is excellent weather there: during the day plus 12-15, the sun shines, some Japanese women walk through the streets in short skirts. Moreover, men do not turn their heads after them, and pretend that it should be.

Japan even surprises people who often travel. Of course, everyone knows that there is a lot of skyscrapers, many unusual cars for Europeans and there are multi-level junctions. But when you first see how the high-speed highway is laid at the height of the sixth floor, which passes in the half-meter (!) From residential (!) Houses with balconies, it becomes somehow not in itself. They say when such multi-level highways began to erect in the country, it was a lot of opponents of such a decision. They say, people who live in houses near the air freeways will suffer. However, the desire to solve the transport problem was stronger, and the Japanese came from the interests of a small number of residents of the country, but they received a modern transport infrastructure in return. As a result, in Tokyo, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, traffic jams are not so often. In addition, they are not fatal. According to Moscow standards, these are not traffic jams, but only difficult movement - the flow albeit slowly, but constantly moving.

European cars in Japan are rarely found. But full of old taxis. But the olds they are only at first glance such models are still released

And I also pleased the feeling of calm. In Japan, a very low crime rate. They say, here you can leave a wallet on the street with money, and no one will touch it. And the little children there no one is afraid to let go to school. First, no one will ever offend them, and secondly, each kid has special cell phones with a kind check. And if the child is in danger, will be lost or he will just become scary, he pulls out this check. Moreover, the signal that the small citizen of Japan is in danger, instantly acts not only at the police station, but also on the phones of ordinary people who are nearby. And they all instantly hurry to help him.

Left at the top of the underground parking for bicycles. And at the top on the right is an environmentally friendly taxi, which usually ordered the defenders of nature. On the bottom of the photo you can see the road signs highlighted at night due to them feel very confident

And if the police sees at night on a drunken man street, then she will not stop it, check the documents and ask idiotic questions in the style that you are so drunk?. The ministers of the law will simply go for you a few blocks and wait, when you finally catch a taxi or come home. And if you are bad, then they ... they will take you home and even put in bed. Moreover, the police work with foreigners. The last one is forgiven everything here: they may not bow when meeting with a respected person, call him just by name, without adding the prefix San, move the road to the red light, incorrectly put on the table wand, go somewhere without a queue and even litter on the street . Although you will not want to throw a cigarette on the asphalt, even if you read not those books in childhood. On the streets of cities Cleanliness. Ideal!

In Japan, there is its own statue of freedom. True, it is much less than American

Perhaps there are only two things that in Japan can steal. These are bicycles and umbrellas. Why umbrellas? And no one knows, but when the rain begins in Tokyo, then even very serious people can approach the umbrellas standing near the houses (and they are often not credited inside), just take and leave. The rain ended the umbrella folds and leave from a completely different house. Apparently, the same story and bicycles. That is why in cities many bikes are chained chains (while there are bags near them, and no one touchs them), there are underground parking for two-wheeled machines, and about large business centers there are special cells with climb storage locks.

Of course, in Japan, there are full and other problems: the economic crisis that has already soldered the yen, growing unemployment, influxing emigrants (for example, the Roppong area, which is considered to be the entertainment center, flooded with African Americans, which are in need of bringing to clarify the feature of the law and plunge into the world of debauchery and vice ).

Many so far sincerely believe that Japan is a paradise for purchases of all sorts of electronics. To be honest, a very controversial statement, especially if you remember that a huge part of the goods is simply not suitable for our 220 volts (in Japan 100 volts). In addition, due to the strengthening of the local currency, Japan has now turned out to be a fairly expensive country. It is also believed that all the Japanese eat sushi without a break. This is also wrong. Sushi is traditional, but far from everyday food of locals. For expensive. By the way, sushi stand in Japan about the same as in Moscow, and some more expensive. But the taste seems to be the same rice with fish, but the sensations are completely different. Although there is also the problem of the very sushi, the very sushi can cause you psychological trauma, and you can no longer eat this dish in Russia.

Competitors
According to dealers, today the Russians buy only the Russians (109 hp) automatic lancer. Such a car costs from 659 thousand rubles. And there is a good set of equipment: ABS, driver and passenger front airbags, air conditioning, on-board computer, front and rear power windows, electric side mirrors, as well as CD magnetol. True, you still need to remember about the paint surcharge for any color, except for the white, is 7000 rubles. What can competitors offer? We picked up ten sedans, which are Lancer rivals in power (from 100 to 130 hp) and cost (from 550 to 700 thousand).

Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 (109 hp) at from 622 thousand rubles
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
Cruze on 2 airbags more, but there is no on-board computer, and for the painting metallic will have to pay 10 thousand rubles.

Ford Focus 1.6 (100 hp) at from 638 thousand rubles (578 thousand rubles for auto 2010)
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
Focus is equipped worse: no heating of seats and factory music, power windows only in front. True, all these simple bells are available as options.

Hyundai Elantra 1.6 (122 hp) at from 659 thousand 900 rubles (629 thousand 900 rubles on promotion)
Warranty 60 months or 120 thousand km
By equipping Elantra and Lancer Gemini, only Korean radio tape recorder has a USB connector for connecting an external audio device.

Mazda 3 1.6 (105 hp) at from 692 thousand rubles (685 thousand rubles for auto 2010)
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
In the assets of Mazda, original alarm, six airbegs, a multifunctional display, as well as leather finishing of controls.

Nissan Tiida 1.6 (110 hp) at from 575 thousand rubles
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
Tiida is noticeably cheaper, but equipped a little better than Lancer: there are side airbegie and headlight washer.

Opel Astra 1.6 (115 hp) at from 636 thousand 800 rubles
Warranty 24 months
Astra has 4 Eyrbega, 7 speakers, climate and cruise control, but for metallic and rear windows need to pay a little.

RENAULT FLUENCE 1.6 (106 hp) at from 652 thousand rubles
Warranty 24 months
Fluence has fontamounts, four safety pillows and a leather steering trim.

Skoda Octavia 1.6 (102 hp) at from 639 thousand rubles
Warranty 24 months
Octavia surprised the poverty of the equipment: no air conditioner, audio systems, rear power windows, and the airbag is only one.

Suzuki SX4 1.6 (112 hp) at from 614 thousand rubles
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
Suzuki instead of the audio system will only have an audio preparation, but the speakers are eight instead of four; The rest of the absolute parity.

Toyota Corolla 1.6 (124 hp) at from 679 thousand rubles
36 months warranty or 100 thousand km
Despite the fairly high price, Corolla is almost no different from Lancer for equipment: except for two more pillows.

It turns out that now among sedans with automatic transmission only Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla cost more than 1.5 liter Lancer. Not the best information for Mitsubishi, but in the Japanese company are confident that they will be able to significantly increase their sales this year. In many ways precisely at the expense of the updated Lancer.

Denis Smolyanov
Photo by the author
Competitors Alexey Kovanov
 

A source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.