Lancer EX —bigger is better

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 25

Lancer EX —bigger is better

By JOHN FRIDD, motoring editor Bigger is not always better — particularly in the motoring world these days —but in the case of the new, Mitsubishi Lancer the extra centimetres are very welcome. My over-riding impression after spending a week-end with a new Lancer EX was amazement that the Todd dealers around New Zealand managed to sell so many of the old Lancers, such is the improvement in the model. Mitsubishi has radically altered the Lancer in many areas' to make it slot in between the mini Mirage and the medium Sigma more comfortably on the competitive New Zealand market. The EX Lancer is a full 120 mm (5 in) longer, 75 mm wider and 10 mm higher than its predecessor, and this, coupled with space-saving thin interior door panels, has done wonders for the car’s back seat, which was one of the old Lancer’s worst points. With its shovel nose, impact bumpers and clean lines the EX Lancer joins the new generation of small cars that will become more and more popular during the early 1980 s. A lower waistline and subsequent larger glass area afford good vision from the driver’s seat.

A new motor, 6 cu cm bigger in capacity than the old Lancer’s 1238 cu cm unit, powers the EX. Its net power is identical, at 40 kw at 5000 r.p.m

and although the new car is a hefty 75 kg heavier there is no loss in performance in fact the EX seems a little livelier. This could be due to the slightly higher differential ratio used on the new car, but this has its disadvantage when the EX gets up to highway speeds — the engine, sounds a. little busy and one begins to wish the gearbox had an overdrive fifth for cruising.

, However, the Lancer is still commendably quiet on the open road, which is no doubt due partly to the thick toeboard between engine and passenger compartment and the semiconcealed gutters in the roof. The car holds the road well, only bumps during corners . taken fast upsetting it a little. On gravel roads the Lancer’s rally heritage shines through — here it is stable and predictable. In the rear-the Lancer trades its old leaf springs for a coil-spring set-up which improve its manners on the seal.

Behind the adjustableheight steering wheel of

the EX Lancer the driver has a very good view of the road and the neat instrument panel. Standard equipment includes a tripmeter and warning lights for such things as low fuel level, door ajar and handbrake on. There is a clock, but this cannot be seen by the front-seat passenger, which is a pity. The heater is average for the class, but the sidewindow demisters — another new feature on Lancer — could have been better designed, as hot air is deflected. on. to the driver’s face, which can be nauseating.

The cloth-trimmed front seats have admirable lumbar support and the

rear-seat passengers have quite good head and leg-room — the two outside passengers have inertia-reel seat-belts.

Clever sliding hinges and a change in sparewheel position have dramatically improved bootspace in the new. Lancer — and it would have to, as the old Lancer's boot had limited usable space.

The EX Lancer should take . car-park scrapes in its stride, as wide rubbing strips protect its sides while thick impact-absorb-ve.nt bumpers do the work both front and rear — these two features could save an owner many dollars in repairs. Todd Motors will have

to take great care fitting the interior door mouldings on the new Lancers. The ones on ray test Lancer were slightly illfitting, and gave the impression at times that the doors were not properly shut.

Economy on. the new Lancer does not appear to have suffered with the dramatic increase in weight — on a trip between Christchurch to Timaru I got 6.6 litres per 100 km (42.5 m.p.g.). The EX has a big brother, the EX-GSL, which is powered by the Galant Sigma's “silent-shaft” 1597 cu cm motor. I had a quick drive in one and found that the extra cubic centimetres and standard

five-speed gearbox would appeal to those who want to go places a little faster.

Over-all. the new Lancer impressed as a car that has been greatly tidied up and should revive the marque’s popularity with New Zealanders. The EX sells for $8895 and the largerengined EX-GSL for $9995 (five-speed) and $10,495 (automatic). (Test car from Todd Motors, through Cooper Hendersons).