Mitsubishi Motors launches Ralliart performance parts and accessories program for North American market

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today announced the much-anticipated rollout of the Ralliart performance parts and accessories program for the North American market in conjunction with the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The parts program premieres on Yahoo!, through Yahoo! Autos Custom (http://autos.yahoo.com/custom) - a new site created specifically for automotive performance enthusiasts. The debut features a sweepstakes where the winner receives a one-of-a-kind 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with Ralliart parts, and culminates with the Yahoo! Autos Custom Challenge, a unique head-to-head competition, sanctioned by NOPI Motorsports, between two customized Lancer Evolutions on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Ralliart is the motorsports arm of Mitsubishi and will provide additional performance and appearance features, such as more powerful engines, suspensions and special exterior enhancements on Ralliart vehicles. "Ralliart allows us to apply the knowledge we've gained from our renowned racing heritage to street vehicles," said Wayne Killen, vice president, marketing for MMNA. "For years, enthusiasts have been trekking the globe for genuine Ralliart performance parts to customize Mitsubishi vehicles. True factory Mitsubishi Ralliart parts will now be available right here in North America."

As part of the Yahoo! Autos sponsorship, Mitsubishi decked out a 2006 Lancer Evolution customized with Ralliart performance parts for the promotion. This vehicle will be given away in a special sweepstakes in conjunction with SEMA (details can be found on the Yahoo! Autos Custom site). This unique Lancer Evolution was customized with Ralliart parts as a collaboration between the Mitsubishi Performance Parts team with support from the Mitsubishi Motors' design center in Cypress, Calif.

The Yahoo! Autos Custom Challenge, sanctioned by NOPI Motorsports, features a competition between two highly modified Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Two of NOPI Drag Racing Association's top drivers, Paul Efantis and Chris Rado, battle in a three-day contest to create the fastest, hottest-looking Evo in existence. The event concludes on Nov. 4, at 2 a.m. in a head-to-head challenge on a 1/8-mile section of the Las Vegas Strip for this first-of-its-kind, late-night spectacle.

"The tuner culture has been gaining immense popularity in recent years," said Dan Sims, general manager for Mitsubishi Motors' Cypress design center. "By generating excitement through Yahoo! Autos Custom, Mitsubishi can inspire the creative vehicle individuality that today's customizing consumers crave."

"The phased rollout will begin with Ralliart parts and components offered for the Lancer Evolution and the new U.S.-built 2006 Eclipse, the perfect sports platforms for serious tuning," stated Don Swearingen, vice president, parts for MMNA. "In time, more Mitsubishi vehicles can be customized through the Ralliart performance parts and accessories program. While the Mitsubishi performance parts group will use some existing global Ralliart parts, we are seeking partners in North America for official production agreements to start producing all-new Ralliart parts as early as spring of 2006."

The Ralliart performance parts and accessories program will fall into three categories: limited full warranty (similar to current Genuine Mitsubishi Parts and Accessories); limited warranty; and parts subject to no warranty. Exclusive vendors selected to work with Mitsubishi to develop parts and accessories will have racing heritage and are required to have in-house engineering and testing capabilities. Interested vendors can email Mitsubishi at Ralliart@mmsa.com.

A new Mitsubishi Web site, www.ralliartusa.com, will feature various racing videos, a Lancer Evolution photo history gallery and photos of Ralliart parts in development. Features will be added to the Web site as the program develops. The Web site goes live Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States. Mitsubishi Motors currently sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, trucks and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 570 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit http://media.mitsubishicars.com.