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Lancer – 8th generation – Asia

With the exception of the Lancer Evolution X, the Lancer is marketed as the Galant Fortis (Latin for strong, steadfast and courageous) in the Japanese domestic market. It comes in 3 trim levels: Exceed, Super Exceed, and Sport.

The new Lancer was released on September 15, 2007 in Taiwan and has been named Lancer Fortis. It’s powered by a 4B11, 2.0 litre DOHC engine outputting 157 hp (117 kW) and the transmission is a 6-speed (fixed gears in sport mode) version of the CVT. However, unlike other Lancer models in USA and Japan, Mitsubishi has changed the front and rear ends to make it look like a family car.

Due to popular demand of the 7th-gen Lancer in Singapore, it will continue to be sold alongside the new Lancer which will be called the Lancer EX to differentiate itself from the former. The 1.5l, 2.0l and the GTS (marketed as the GT) variants are available in Singapore. For MY2009, the GT has been refreshed all around with updated front grill, darkened clear tail lamps, and chrome lining with an additional floor console internally. Rear brakes has also been upgraded for the 2.0 variants to disc brakes for better stopping power.

In Malaysia, only the GTS is offered and is marketed as the GT. However, Proton has renewed cross-licensing and technology transfer agreements with Mitsubishi as of October 2008, and it is expected that a second-generation Proton Waja will be a re-badged eighth generation Lancer but with possibly different engine options, and has minor changes, even less than the Lancer Fortis in Taiwan.

In Indonesia, like Malaysia, only the GTS is sold and is badged as the GT using the new 2.0L engine and is sold alongside the Evolution X, and like Singapore the previous generation Lancer is still sold, marketed as the Lancer Cedia using the same 1.8L engine as the 7th generation Lancer. With the agreement with Proton finalized on October 2008, it is expected that the Lancer-based Waja will be exported to Indonesia.

Hong Kong received its unique edition of the Lancer in 2008, dubbed the Lancer 2.0. The car comes in two trim levels, without a name for either of them. Both are equipped with the 4B11 2.0 4 cylinder engine, 7 airbags, 8 speaker stereo system (manufacturer not known), Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with HID as well as 18″ alloy wheels. The upper trim has Ralliart style body kit which includes a revised front bumper, side skirt, rear bumper with diffuser and the addition of a correct-to-Evolution-X rear spoiler,while the lower trim make do without the abovementioned features.

In Philippines the Lancer arrived in Mid 2008 known as the Lancer EX to differentiate it from the 7th-generation Lancer still sold in the Philippines. For the 2010 MY, the Lancer EX underwent a facelift, and is still available with 4 trims, the GT-A, now with a redesigned front grille resembling the Lancer Ralliart from the USDM, the GT, essentially identical to the GT-A but is paired to a 5-speed manual, the GLS which is essentially identical to the USDM ES model but with dual SRS airbags and standard front foglamps, and the GLX, which is essentially identical to the USDM DE, but with the same rims as with that of the GLS and with dual SRS airbags. All models sport clear-type black taillamps, ABS, EBD and share the same 2.0L 4B11 MIVEC powerplant.

Lancer – 7th generation – Other markets

In Japan, the Lancer Cedia was offered with many different trim levels and engines, including options which were never seen in export markets. It was also one of the first models to use the INVECS-III CVT transmission. There was also a Ralliart version of the sportswagon which was powered by a turbocharged 1.8 L GDI engine. As of 2009, the seventh generation Lancer sedan is still being sold alongside the new eighth generation, which is known in the home market as the Galant Fortis.

In Pakistan, this variant was launched in 2005 with cosmetic changes from the front and the back. Thai production was switched to the new model, and in all markets except for India the seventh-generation model was no longer marketed, four years after the Cedia’s introduction. India received the new Lancer in 2006, known locally as the Mitsubishi Cedia to distinguish it from this version that is still assembled and sold as the Lancer because of its continued popularity. In Malaysia, the Lancer was made available after Mitsubishi had sold all its shares in Malaysian carmaker Proton, marking the return of Mitsubishi in Malaysian market after being absent since 1985 due to the agreement with Proton. The Lancer sold in Malaysia was powered by the 4G18 engine which also powered the early 1.6 Proton Waja model. In the Philippines, the Lancer underwent a facelift, now without the central semi-triangle in the grille. It is offered in 2 trims, the base GLX with a 5-speed manual and the GLS with an all-new INVECS-III CVT with manual override. All of them are powered with an l4 1.6L 4G18 SOHC engine.

In some European markets, the Lancer began to take the place of the Carisma in 2004. It is powered by a 1.3 L SOHC 4G13, 1.6 L SOHC 4G18 engine and a 2.0 L DOHC 4G63 (all 4-cylinder).

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