Rush is on for Ralliart models

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Mitsubishi New Zealand is to launch a Ralliart version of the Diamante next month, a car built and backed by a revitalised Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd.

"The introduction of the Ralliart Diamante is an indication of the development path down which MMAL are taking the Diamante," said New Zealand sales manager Peter Wilkins.

This time last year, Mitsubishi was playing its future model line-up in this part of the world by ear as controversey raged over its assembly plant in Adelaide.

Would it close, or would it be rationalised, doing more for less? Would thousands of Australians be out of a job?

Would DaimlerChrysler, which owns 37 per cent of Mitsubishi, use the plant to build more right-hand-drive Chrysler models?

At one stage, Chrysler in Australia was so desperate for models it talked of rebadging and restyling a Diamante for launch in 2003. This plan was put on hold.

Mitsubishi wanted to first secure the plant's long-term future and sign-off replacement models for the Diamante/Magna.

Now it has. The plant will receive nearly $100 million from the South Australian and Federal governments for development of the new model, due in 2005. Further investment will be funded in Australia.

Under part of the Federal agreement, MMAL must set a research and development centre and hire at lease 300 automotive engineers and designers by 2005 to qualify for the package.

The carmaker is expected to work with Australian universities to encourage the development of automotive specialists.

The injection of capital gives MMAL a role in the global development of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, which plans to introduce 15 new models worldwide over the next three years.

MMAL, which has been exporting only about 2000 cars a year in recent times, most of them to New Zealand, is talking about exporting 50,000 to 60,000 cars annually by 2007 under its new role.

Mitsubishi's head office in Japan has approved the assembly in Adelaide of new-generation right- and left-hand-drive Galants. Australia will also develop a long-wheelbase version of the same model. There is talk it might help in exports to Canada.

It might also export the new Magna/Diamante to Japan. Mitsubishi Japan is reviewing domestic production of the Diamante and there is talk that MMAL might play a part.

Mitsubishi executives in New Zealand are bouyed by Adelaide's long-term future and expect more power, new features and new names in the model line-up this year.

"We have adjusted the specification line-up slightly with this change," said Wilkins.

"The VR-X has helped changed the image of the Diamante and the Ralliart model will push that further."

The $56,990 Ralliart Diamante is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 180kW at 5500 rpm and 333Nm of torque at 4000 rpm and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Power goes to the front wheels via a limited-slip differential and Mitsubishi says the Ralliart model gets from zero to 100 km/h in under seven seconds..

The engine has been reworked with a high-lift camshaft, sports exhaust, new cylinder head, increased compression ratio, stainless steel exhaust headers and revised engine management system.

Springs and dampers, developed with performance specialist Koni, have been upgraded to give more responsive, neutral handling. Steering components were also revised for better feel.