2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Road Test

Looks, style and street cred are extremely important in the puddle-deep market of sports compacts, trailed closely by horsepower

Looks, style and street cred are extremely important in the puddle-deep market of sports compacts. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

(not torque), and then price. For not having the Evo's turbocharged grunt or all-wheel drive, the Ralliart's 'axis of evil' looks complete with enough scoops and intakes to suck up a forest full of furry animals, and a bi-plane spoiler which slices, dices, cubes and quarters, the Lancer Ralliart ranks favourable against its sport compact competition.

A tasteful, rather than excessive, skirt wraps around the Lancer's lower extremities, matched up front by a pair of projector beam fog lamps, and a bow-shaped spoiler in back. Clear-lensed Altezza-like (Toyota-badge version of Lexus IS 300 not available in North America) taillights are a personal pet peeve on anything but an Altezza, but I'll forgive them here; as the car has the substance to back up its boy-racer mods and alongside its twin-star alloys, has turned the pedestrian Lancer into an object of desire.

Beneath the pinched hood and triple-diamond badge is Mitsubishi's stalwart 2.4-litre SOHC inline four, which is available in

Beneath the pinched hood and triple-diamond badge is Mitsubishi's stalwart 2.4-litre SOHC inline four. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

most cars sold here and is the base block for the new Evo IX. Compared to its installation in the Galant and Eclipse, the Ralliart's engine has been fettled with for an additional lease on life.

While there's nothing wrong with the stock cast-iron steed, the Lancer benefits from a higher compression ratio for extra kick, a dual-port exhaust manifold for enhanced breathing, as well as lighter internal components such as the pistons, con-rods and crankshaft. The end result: more power, and a free-revving character that's eager to tackle the road ahead. Inarguably, the biggest advantage which the Ralliart packs is MIVEC, Mitsubishi's variation on variable valve timing.