Wagon on a roll

By PHIL HANSON

Here's a newcomer that's conventional in appearance and unremarkable in its specification. Thank heaven there are colours like bright yellow and brighter red to liven up what seems to be an ordinary sort of package compared to some recent high-tech newcomers.

So why are people queueing to buy it? Mitsubishi was holding orders for more than 150 of its reborn Lancer wagons even before they rolled off the ships this week.

It goes to show that a vehicle doesn't have to be at the cutting-edge of either technology or design to become a favourite with buyers.

The market has been starved of smaller station wagons, which are still popular with fleets and some private buyers, despite the ever-growing range of people movers and cargo-friendly SUVs.

Mitsubishi bought a large stock of the outgoing Lancer, hoping it would last until this new model became available. But they sold quickly, such is the appeal of a wagon in the 1.8- to 2-litre range that's built to get on with the job. For nine months sales staff have had to assign customers a spot on the waiting list, or see them walk out the door.

Hyundai felt worse pain when it sold the last of its well-liked Lantra wagons and had no direct replacement.

With a price tag that starts under $28,000 less than the old GLXi model, the new Lancer wagon offers strong value for penny-conscious fleets and private customers.

Since most buyers will be looking for a no-nonsense, workhorse wagon, Mitsi has taken a punt by offering more than just bright colours to spice up the range. It's slipped in a sporty version, the VR-X, for $31,990 with a body kit, fog lamps, a revised suspension and 195/50R16 tyres on 16-inch alloys. They reckon it might appeal to the private market, but it's also going to be a useful pawn in the politics of the fleet parking lot, where status is often reflected by the version of the car an employee drives.

VR-X is the only new, small two-wheel-drive wagon of its type with a sports package available in New Zealand and indicates the company's intention to target the private buyer market in addition to the usual fleet customers for small wagons, says Peter Wilkins, Mitsubishi's general manager of sales and marketing.

Both the base ES and the VR-X offer more than a cubic metre of storage, four-wheel disc brakes ventilated in the front with three-channel ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). Dual airbags help protect the front occupants.

The SOHC multi-point injection engine that replaces the 1800cc motor on the previous model delivers maximum power of 92kW at 5500rpm - six kW more than the 1.8 - and torque of 173Nm at 4250rpm. It drives via either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed INVECS II auto with sport mode. The automatic is standard on VR-X.

Originally introduced years ago and progressively refined, INVECS II is still a benchmark transmission. Its intelligent learning and adaptive systems provide a seamless performance that alters to suit individual driving styles. It can even deliver a smooth change by reducing torque temporarily during shifts.

The latest Lancer uses MacPherson struts with coil springs at the front and multi link at the rear, both ends with stabiliser bars. A lightweight sub-frame and anti-dive geometry at the front are designed to improve stability during braking. The linkage alignment at the rear reduces toe changes during cornering, helping to deliver predictable driving. Ground clearance on the ES is 150mm, but different settings on the VR-X reduce that by 15mm to 135mm.

The new body was designed using Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Engineering (RISE). Characteristics include large cross-section components that absorb energy by progressive deformation. Reinforced centre pillars work with the side impact beams in the doors and additional structural members under the rear cargo floor to provide rigidity and body integrity in accidents.

Interior features include manual air conditioning, a 60/40 split rear seat with centre armrest, tonneau cover for the rear cargo area and parcel net anchor points.

With rear seats folded the cargo area totals 1079 litres, with them upright, 591 litres. Beneath the rear floor is a 35-litre storage compartment.