Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer at a glance

Why the generations are numbered differently

Mitsubishi sold different Lancers in different markets, often at the same time. Japan had rear-drive and front-drive Lancers side by side in the early 1980s, and the Lancer Fiore and later Lancers were related to the Mirage. Europe received its own selection. German Wikipedia counts eight generations and calls the 2007 car the eighth. English Wikipedia counts the same car as the ninth, because it includes Japanese and Asian models that Europe never got. It then lists the Taiwanese Grand Lancer of 2017 as the tenth. This page follows the German count for Europe and names both where they differ.

The rear-drive Lancers, 1973–1987

The first Lancer appeared in February 1973 to fill the gap between the Minica kei car and the larger Galant. It came as a two- or four-door saloon, a two-door hardtop and an estate, with 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.6-litre engines. In German Wikipedia's European data the 1200 gave 40 kW (55 PS) and the 1600 GSR 60 kW (82 PS). Europe got the car from 1977. The GSR made the name in rallying, with two Safari Rally wins and four in the Southern Cross Rally. A hatchback coupé, the Lancer Celeste, was added in 1975 and ran until July 1981.

The second car, the Lancer EX, arrived in 1979 and was shown in Europe at the Frankfurt show that year. It was a four-door saloon only. The 1.4-litre engine used Mitsubishi's MCA-Jet system and Silent Shaft balancer shafts and gave 59 kW (80 PS). A turbocharged 1.8 followed with 99 kW (135 PS) in 1980 and 118 kW (160 PS) with an intercooler in 1983. For Europe, the EX2000 Turbo used a 2.0-litre turbo with 125 kW (170 PS) and reached 200 km/h, more than twice the power of the first 1600 GSR. A Group 4/Group B rally version was rated at 206 kW (280 PS). Japan kept selling the EX alongside the front-drive Lancer Fiore until 1987.

Front-drive Lancers, 1983–2007

From 1983 the European Lancer was a front-drive saloon, joined by an estate in 1985 and an all-wheel-drive estate in 1986. In this era the Lancer moved closer to the Mirage, or Colt, from which the Japanese front-drive Lancers were derived. The 1988 car added a hatchback. Its GTi-16V of 1990–1991 was the first Lancer with four valves per cylinder, rated at 100 kW (136 PS). In 1992 a 1.8-litre with 103 kW (140 PS) followed.

The 1991 generation (codes CB1A–CD8A) offered a saloon, an estate from 1992 and four-wheel drive on the 1.6 estate. More importantly, it was the base of the first Lancer Evolution of 1992, a rally homologation saloon with 184 kW (250 PS). The Evolution story up to the Evo X is told on our separate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution page.

The 1996 Lancer (CJ0) shared much with the Colt; in Germany only the 1.3-litre was sold for the first two years. In May 2000 Japan launched the Lancer Cedia, a saloon and estate that reached North America for the 2002 model year, replacing the Mirage there. North American cars had a 2.0-litre engine with 89 kW (120 hp), and Australian cars got a 2.4-litre with 115 kW (154 hp) from 2005. In Europe this car (CS0) arrived in 2003 with 1.3, 1.6 and 2.0-litre engines of 60 to 99 kW.

The 2007 Lancer: Galant Fortis, Sportback, Ralliart

Mitsubishi unveiled the last global Lancer in Detroit in January 2007, and it went on sale in North America that March as a 2008 model. In Japan it was called the Galant Fortis; "fortis" is Latin for strong, brave and resolute. The body used Mitsubishi's RISE safety structure. The Sportback hatchback arrived on 15 November 2008 and replaced the estate in Europe.

The Ralliart arrived in late 2008 in Australia. It put a turbocharged 4B11 2.0-litre, the engine family of the Evo X, plus all-wheel drive and the six-speed twin-clutch gearbox into the normal body. The Evolution X itself had 92 kW more than the 2.4 GTS.

In Australia the 2008 Lancer earned 15.56 of 16 points in ANCAP's frontal offset test, 14 of 16 for side impact and full points in the pole test with curtain airbags. Australian sales rose from 19,688 cars in 2008 to 23,064 in 2010, then fell to 7,560 by 2017. In Germany the Lancer was still listed from €14,990 in February 2016, only €1,000 above the new Fiat Tipo saloon. Worldwide production ended in August 2017 without a successor, although Brazil continued until 2019.

Grand Lancer and other relatives

In Taiwan, China Motor Corporation developed its own version and announced it in January 2017 as the Grand Lancer. It was a heavy facelift of the 2007 car, with Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield grille, new panels and a new interior, styled with Pininfarina Shanghai. CMC confirmed the end of production on 1 April 2024, which closed the Lancer name after 51 years.

Partners also used Lancer engineering. Malaysia's Proton sold the 2007 Lancer as the Proton Inspira (see our history of Proton). An earlier Lancer-based car reached Europe as the Proton Persona 400.

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