Founded in April of 1984, Mitsubishi’s Ralliart Division is a hallowed name in motorsport, particularly rallying, with huge success in the World Rally Championship (four Driver’s Championship with Tommi Mäkinen) and a record 12 wins at the gruelling and legendary Paris-Dakar Rally.
With licensee operations in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, Ralliart became a dominant force in global rallying, enjoying massive success even at the grass-roots Group-N production-car motorsports.
In 2002, Mitsubishi Motor Sport was founded in Germany and all major licensee operations were taken over and consolidated into this new company. In 2010, in the face of financial difficulties and a changing global landscape, Ralliart and Mitsubishi Motor Sport started winding down operations to focus on hybrids, EV’s and ultimately, finding relevance in a changing environment.
Fast forward to a decade, and things are somehow better and brighter for the brand, particularly in Asean, Central Europe, Africa and South America. Sales of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport and Strada / Triton pick-up have done exceedingly well, and the Mirage has brought affordable motoring to the masses, critical in to ensuring safety in mobility during these COVID times.
So to help bring back the excitement in these models, Mitsubishi is introducing a Ralliart variant of the famous Mirage and Strada / Triton pick-up which will be unveiled starting tomorrow at the Bangkok Motor Show, being held from March 22 to April 3, 2022.
The Strada / Triton Ralliart was actually launched in November of 2021, but this time, a double-cab variant was added to increase popularity and appeal of the variant. In the Philippines, should these models ever be introduced, the private car owner will opt for the double cab variant, thanks to its increased versatility. A new front air-dam, rear air-dam and low-profile side skirts give the low-riding Strada / Triton a mean, tarmac-spec looking rally stance. Inside, the Ralliart gets red accent overlocks with special interior matting sporting the Ralliart logo.
Two colors are available from the Thailand launch: a two-tone white with black roof and jet-black mica, with the door handles, rear gate handle, door side mirrors and front grill painted in sporty black for both exterior colors. And it wouldn’t be a proper Ralliart model without the racing stripes on the side.
The Mirage Ralliart, available only in hatchback variant looks like a rally car with its red mud-flaps, black over-fenders with a carbon-like grain, blacked-out door window frames, side mirrors door handles, alloy wheels and rear spoiler. The inside also gets Ralliart badged floor matts, and special red and black two-tone seats. Ralliart side stripes are all standard.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines should find wisdom in bringing in these two models. Perhaps a surprise appearance at the upcoming Manila International Autoshow 2022 on April 7-10? An Xpander Ralliart would be a hit too with car enthusiasts faced with adulting requirements and would solidify the nameplate’s return to the limelight.
