Cars.com Videos: 2008 Ford F-250, 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution, 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

2008 Ford F-250: Joe Wiesenfelder takes a look at a heavy-duty pickup truck that’s full of useful — not gimmicky — features.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Wiesenfelder take this opportunity to show us how the Evo proves that a four-door car can be fun.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser: In one video Kelsey Mays outlines the SUV’s substantial offroad skills, while a second is devoted to dissecting the Land Cruiser’s seating and cargo space.

First Drive: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

If you find the base Mitsubishi Lancer ($13,990) a little too poky and the Lancer Evolution ($32,990) too pricey, your ship has come in. Actually, two ships have come in: a Lancer GTS ($17,990) with a larger engine for 2009, and a turbocharged 2009 Lancer Ralliart (under $27,000, estimated ) to bridge the gap between the more pedestrian Lancer and the fire-breathing Evo. Mitsubishi characterizes the Ralliart as more of a tuned-up Lancer than a detuned Evolution.

That's a sensible description, because the Evolution has a wider track and different suspension components than the Ralliart — but then again, the drivetrain is very much a detuned version of the Evo's — basically the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a smaller, single-scroll turbocharger, smaller intercooler and smaller-diameter plumbing. The standard all-wheel drive, which isn't offered on lesser Lancers, is likewise nearly identical to the Evo's. I spent about an hour driving this Frankenstein's monster and found it to be a compelling compromise that should make any Subaru WRX shopper think twice.

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is a rare bird in the automotive world because it is an exception to the rule that reasonably priced cars have to look, well, reasonable. The exterior of the new Lancer blurs the lines between high-performance pedigree and under-$20K price tag. Between the headlights, the pinched nose and grille feel like an homage to an older generation of Italian racecars, while the rear end is ultimately urban street racer. Image aside, this car feels like it was designed for a video game, with every angle and line produced to create the feeling of forward motion. Even if you don’t run in the street-racing crowd, you have to credit Mitsubishi for sticking its neck out there and designing a car that attempts to break away from boring, mundane sedan design. At the very least, the Lancer is unique. Let me know what you think in the comments section. A full set of photos is below.

Video: 2008 Subaru STI vs. 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

It’s the most tired clichéd predictable storied matchup in recent automotive journalism history: All-wheel-drive Japanese sport compacts with 300-hp turbocharged engines battle it out for supremacy on the track. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder gets behind the wheel of both in this video and explains which is better for track days and every day.

Video: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS vs. 2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Last week we got to look at two models head-to-head that we hadn’t been able to get together before. The 2009 Lancer GTS has a new engine, and the Sentra SE-R Spec V is an under-the-radar model. Kelsey Mays takes both on the track and on the street to deliver his verdict in this video.

Frugal Compacts Add Up with Basic Options

The compact car segment is no new place to find low base prices and a good deal on a new car. After having three major players in our hands over the past few weeks, including the 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2008 Honda Civic and 2008 Ford Focus sedans, we were scraping together specs and options to evaluate the competition. When we started to compare the cars, something surprised us. Mostly optional features that we think are necessary for a comfortable and safe daily driver — automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, keyless entry, power locks, antilock brakes, side airbags and a CD player — have a funny way of changing each car’s relative value.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

• Competes with: Subaru WRX, Mazdaspeed3, Dodge Caliber SRT4
• Looks like: A Lancer GTS with an Evo’s hood
• Drivetrain: 235-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with twin-clutch transmission; four-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

Mitsubishi is filling the gap in its lineup between the 2009 Lancer GTS — which gets an improved 168-hp engine itself — and the top-of-the-line Lancer Evolution with the 2009 Ralliart that debuted here in Detroit. The Ralliart has a detuned version of the same turbocharged engine in the Evo, which puts out 235 hp. Amateur mechanics might have some fun trying to bump that number up.

It’s kind of hard to figure out which Lancer is the Ralliart in the Mitsubishi booth. It has the spoiler from the GTS trim and the hood from the Evo. If you’re really stuck, there’s a small Ralliart badge on the grille.

We’d guess prices will be very close to the Subaru WRX, which rings up at $24,850. Mitsubishi will offer Recaro front seats as an option, along with comfort features like a moonroof, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo and 30GB hard-drive navigation system. More photos below.

Lancer Evolution Priced Under Subaru STI

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR will go on sale at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $32,990. This brings it in under the Subaru WRX STI’s price tag of $35,000 even, but there are plenty of available options that come with varying price tags attached (read about them after the jump). The Lancer Evolution MR, equipped with a six-speed twin clutch transmission, will be priced later this spring. Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder recently drove both versions of the new Lancer Evo. You can read his impressions here.

First Drive: 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X

At 9:30 a.m., the sun began to punch holes through the rain clouds that have hung for days over the Sonoran Desert, thrilling the locals and filling my head with dread visions of standing water, driving rain and people in yellow rain slickers telling me to slow down. Instead, rolling up to Firebird International Raceway outside Phoenix, I was met with a glistening 1.6-mile track and a row of glistening 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions. It promised to be a very good day.

Last sold as a 2006, the Lancer Evolution has been completely reengineered and is now the Evolution X (that's 10, as in 10th generation, not X as in Racer). The new one won't hit dealers until February with the MR coming later this spring. As before, it's equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo four, but it's a new one that mates to a new five-speed manual or twin-clutch six-speed automatic with sequential paddle shifting capability. An automated manual rather than a conventional automatic transmission, the Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission weighs less, is more efficient and is designed to shift faster than any driver could.

Foregoing the autocross course, I first took to the streets for the important livability test, where the Evo X proved itself to be a different animal than the IX. Specifically, it's less of an animal in normal driving, and there's nothing wrong with that. Though it has improved over the years, the previous generations never let you forget that you were in a scrappy, rally-bred beast. This one is quieter and more refined, and the ride is reasonable over decent pavement.

Lancer Gets More Power; Outlander Gets Less

Mitsubishi made a small announcement today: Both the regular Lancer sedan and the Outlander SUV will get Mitsubishi's latest 2.4-liter engine. Mitsubishi calls the engine its next-generation four-cylinder; power is up to 168 hp, nominally more than last year's 2.4-liter.

In the Lancer, the engine will go in the GTS trim, while other versions retain a smaller, 152-hp engine. A manual or CVT automatic is available. The Outlander gets the 2.4-liter engine with a CVT in ES and SE trims, while LS and GTS trims have a V-6.

The extra power should help the Lancer, which is engaging to drive but could use a little more oomph. The Outlander, meanwhile, gets 3 mpg better in the city (20/25 mpg city/highway with either FWD or AWD) with the four-cylinder versus the V-6, but highway mileage stays about the same.

The figures stack up about even with the four-cylinder Saturn Vue (19/26 with FWD) but fall slightly short of the Honda CR-V (20/27 and 20/26 with FWD and AWD, respectively) and four-cylinder Toyota RAV4 (21/27 or 20/25).

A Mitsubishi product manager told us the four-cylinder Outlander is a 2008 model and will go on sale early next year, while the upgraded Lancer GTS is a 2009 model and will go on sale in the spring.

Related
More on the LA Auto Show
More Mitsubishi News