Better Late than Never: Sporty Galant Ralliart Arrives at ChicagoWhen Mitsubishi pulled off the covers of its two project vehicles at
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| The one that almost slipped away: Galant Ralliart. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
the 2004 SEMA tuner car show, it had an instant hit on its hands. The Galant and Endeavor Ralliart Concepts were immediate stars garnering plenty of positive feedback, and everyone thought that these sporty vehicles would get the green light right away - especially the Galant. But they didn't, and for a while it was thought that the idea had been killed off due to Mitsubishi's poor state of financial health. Nevertheless, at this year's Chicago Auto Show, two years after its original introduction, the Galant Ralliart has made its official production debut.
Part
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| New grille and bumpers featured on all '07 Galants. Ralliart gets special mesh grille. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
of what made the original Ralliart Concept so appealing was that it looked like a true sports sedan. Thankfully, none of its sportiness was lost in the conversion. Its low, wide stance has been improved with the addition of an aggressive body kit with integrated fog lamps and a wide low-mount intake. While all 2007 Galants will get the new chrome-colored nose cone, as well as new, less cluttered front and rear bumpers, the Ralliart features unique elliptical projector-beam headlamps, mesh inserts as well as a large, chrome-tipped exhaust pipe. Ralliart bi-color badges on the front grille advertise that this is no ordinary Galant.
Mitsubishi has dressed up the interior of the Galant Ralliart as well,
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| Navi and heart-stopping Rockford Fosgate stereo available on Ralliart Galant. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
with luxurious and sporting appointments. Among the list of upgrades includes a new steering wheel from the Australian Mitsubishi 380 sedan, perforated leather sports seats, and new textured trim, which replaces the bright-silver plastic fitted on standard models. All Ralliart models have a standard power sunroof, auto-dimming rear mirror, digital climate control, trip computer and the fantastic 360-watt Rockford Fosgate DSP sound system featured (in a more powerful form) in the Eclipse. The only major option for the Ralliart is a new DVD-based navigation system.
The
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| MIVEC bumps output of 3.8L V6 to 258-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
main thing that separates the Galant Ralliart from just any old Galant can be discovered under the hood. Mitsubishi has given this special sporting version the same heart as the new Eclipse, which means a big, burly 3.8-liter V6 with MIVEC variable valve timing. Compared to the non-MIVEC version of this engine featured in the Galant LS and GTS, the Ralliart pumps out an additional 28-horsepower for a grand total of 258-horsepower. While it may not be as powerful as Acura's TL, Nissan's Altima SE-R, or Toyota's V6-powered Camry, it more than makes up for it with 258 lb-ft of torque.
Mated to the uprated engine is a new five-speed automatic
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| Bodykit makes the Galant Ralliart look like a real sports sedan. Which it ought to be, given the Ralliart name. (Photo: Mitsubishi Cars North America) |
gearbox, snatched from the Eclipse. And what about a manual? Despite the fact that the Eclipse's six-speeder is a natural mate for the engine as well as the chassis architecture (they both ride on the same platform), it won't be available because the Ralliart's projected sales are too small to justify offering two gearboxes. Nevertheless, the additional cog in the automatic is a step forward, and if drivers desire, they can shift gears sequentially via Sportronic mode. Mitsubishi figures that with the extra power, the Galant should hit 100 km/h in a little under seven seconds. The five-speed automatic will also replace the old four-speed gearbox in the V6-powered Galant ES and GTS, improving performance and economy on lesser models.
