Mitsubishi Galant Fortis Launched (JA)

Mitsubishi Galant Fortis (Japan) - Exceed trim

New style sedan

By Frank
August 23, 2007 2:18 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Mitsubishi

New style sedan

Mitsubishi has launched its new Galant Fortis sedan (also known as Lancer) today in Japan and released more details on the new global car. Mitsubishi will launch the European version at Frankfurt before it reaches showrooms in Europe late 2007. The Galant / Lancer will be followed by the top of the line Evolution before the range is completed with the Lancer Sportback, a coupe-like model which was first shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show in concept form.

The new Galant has been developed by the European design team to be "a global sporty sedan that delivers high and well-balanced levels of safety, comfort and environmental performance." The Galant Fortis is the first Mitsubishi to use the 'new face' front fascia and is powered by a new 2.0 liter DOHC MIVEC engine coupled to the INVECS-III 6 speed transmission.

Besides a striking exterior, Mitsubishi has spent considerable attention on the interior. They call it cocochi, which roughly translates as 'cozy' from Japanese. What that means in practice is optimized driver operability, visibility and viewability achieved through the detailing and bowed dashboard. Additionally you will find a deodorizing clean air filter and odor-eating head lining.

The Mitsubishi Galant Fortis comes in three trim packages, all with their own exterior and interior looks. The entry level Exceed is followed by the Super Exceed which adds chrome details, leather upholstery and 16 inch wheels. Top of the line is the Sport trim which comes with some additional features like 18 inch alloy wheels, sport suspension, HID lights, paddle shifters and cruise control.

Source: Mitsubishi Motor Corporation

Press Release (Click to expand)

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the market launch of the Galant Fortis*1, a new style sedan, at affiliated dealerships throughout Japan today. Powered by a 2.0-liter engine, two- and four-wheel drive Galant Fortis models carry a price tag ranging from 1,785,000 yen to 2,436,000 yen. (SUPER EXCEED and SUPER EXCEED NAVI PACKAGE trim levels are due to go on sale in late October.) Galant Fortis is the first new sedan introduced by the company in Japan in seven years.

Galant Fortis has been developed to a product concept that called for "a global sporty sedan that delivers high and well-balanced levels of safety, comfort and environmental performance." Development was aimed to create a new sedan distinguished by: a design that immediately identifies it as a Mitsubishi Motors sedan and gives expression to the feel, the purposefulness and the stable road stance associated with the sedan body style; and by a quality of handling and response and the particular flavor of ride that define the Mitsubishi Motors brand.

Principal product features are as follows:

Galant Fortis achieves a global standard in living space with a wider and taller body without any undue stretching of overall length. With its wider track the packaging reconciles the requirements of stable handling and response with its excellent maneuverability that stems from a minimum turning radius of 5.0 m.
The exterior design creates a body with vibrant looks and a strong road presence using proportions comprising a large cabin wrapped in sporty, wide-stance styling and by combining the Mitsubishi Motors sedan's hallmark inverted-slant nose with a trapezoidal grille. (Galant Fortis is the first model to employ the "new face" front visage that establishes the design identity of Mitsubishi Motors sedans to be introduced in future.)
The powertrain uses a new 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC aluminum block engine, which earns a 4-star rating for emission levels 75% below those required by Japan's 2005 Emissions Standards, mated to Mitsubishi's INVECS-III 6-speed Sport Mode CVT that delivers responsive power transmission while returning excellent fuel economy. A high-rigidity platform with excellent impact safety performance and a revamped suspension underpin and support high levels of handling and response and safety performance.

Features enhancing passive and impact safety include a 7-airbag SRS system (driver and front passenger airbags, driver knee airbag, side and curtain airbags); adaptive front lighting (AFS) that improves the driver's field of vision at night; and rain-sensitive auto wipers.

The Galant Fortis series is available with a Rockford Fosgate premium sound system giving superior sound reproduction as well as paddle shifters that allow the driver to shift gears without taking his hand off the steering wheel. Standard on all models is Mitsubishi Motors cocochi-interior*2 that includes a deodorizing clean air filter and odor-eating head lining.

Trim level lineup
The Galant Fortis series comes in three major trim levels distinguished by external appearance and interior trim: EXCEED, SUPER EXCEED and SPORT. The SUPER EXCEED and SPORT trim levels are also available in NAVI PACKAGE versions which come with HDD navigation, rearview camera and other advanced features.

EXCEED: Entry grade with full-functionality and comprehensive convenience and amenity specifications.
SUPER EXCEED - Uptown exterior and interior looks provided by: classy chrome parts (front under grille, headlight and trunk lid moldings); 16-inch alloy road wheels; leather/Granlux*3 seat upholstery; wood grain ornamentation panels; exclusive-design floor console; and high-contrast instrumentation.
SPORT - Sporty bias with following as standard: Front and side airdams, 18-inch alloy road wheels and HID lights and front fog lamps that tweak up its aggressive looks; Sport suspension; paddle shifters; adaptive front lighting (AFS); cruise control; and steering wheel remote audio controls.

*1: Lancer in some markets
*2: Cocochi is a pun on the Japanese word for "cozy"
*3: A suede-look artificial leather made by Seiren Co., Ltd.