Mitsubishi Adds New AWD Lancer Version Expecting 100,000 Unit Sales

The Japanese manufacturer will add another all-wheel drive version of its legendary Mitsubishi Lancer sedan starting this fall as an attempt to rise its US figures back to 100,000 unit sales. The Mitsubishi Lancer SE is expected to be the least expensive all-wheel-drive vehicle in the lineup with a price tag of around $20,000 as explained by Yoichi Yakozawa CEO of Mitsubishi Motors America.

There are already all-wheel-drive versions offered by by the manufacturer like the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and the Evolution which are also turbocharged, the cheapest being the Ralliart which has a starting price tag of about $27,000. Furthermore, the lower priced and most accessible are considered to be the Mitsubishi Lancer DE, ES and GTS trim levels which have naturally aspirated engines.

The SE, which is also expected to feature a naturally aspired engine will go on sale this fall and will account for 15 to 20 percent of Mitusbishi Lancer sales. Yoichi Yakozawa expects to sell 73,000 vehicles the fiscal year ending next March and hopes to increase this figure to 100,000 units in the US soon, according to a report by Automotive News.

“We are quickly recovering from the bottom years of 2009 and 2010. We want to be getting back as quickly as possible to 100,000 units in a few years," Yoichi Yakozawa CEO of Mitsubishi Motors America was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source. The manufacturer saw an increase in sales of 62 percent from January through July last year meaning a total of 52,087 unit sold.