The Mitsubishi Lancer began its journey in 1973 as the A73 or 1600GSR, winning races in Australia and rallies in Africa.  It was an eye-catcher and was popular with younger drivers.  It was a subcompact then, and now, as a compact, the ninth-generation Lancer is still wowing them on the street and at the track, with an emphasis on youth.

The 2008 Lancer shares some platform architecture with the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass, but it is all Japanese – built and manufactured in Japan with 100 percent Japanese parts.

Larger than ever, this sporty car for the young at heart is 2.3 inches wider, 4 inches higher and has a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase than its predecessor, to provide 94.8 cubic feet of passenger space and a road-hugging, athletic stance.

Following a full redesign, the Lancer is imbued with style, lines and sportiness. As for power, Mitsubishi is saving that for the Lancer Evolution X, which will sport a 320-hp engine.  The Lancer GTS, at 3015 lbs., doesn’t need a huge engine, but its aluminum-block 2-liter in-line 4 MIVEC only whines out 152hp and 146 lb-ft of torque in a sluggish manner. My five-speed manual, front-wheel-drive Lancer test vehicle did manage to go from zero to 60 in 8.3 seconds en route to a 16.3 sec quarter-mile, but the car looks so sporty and quick that the performance seemed disappointing.

The power plant is EPA rated at 21/29 under the new 2008 standards, and that may translate to about 25mpg/city and 33mpg/highway under the old protocols. During my eight days of testing, I averaged 33 on the highway toward a 25.5mpg overall average.

It might not be a pocket rocket, but speed isn’t the determining factor to those young drivers who believe this is one hot car.  High schoolers, college-age drivers and young thrill-seekers love the look of this import, and will gladly take it as is, though it is ripe to be customized, tricked out, pimped, flipped or dubbed.

Race car styling includes a rear spoiler wing, high back end, short front end, wide posture and 10-spoke 18-inch wheels covered by 215/45 R18 Dunlop SP Sport 5000M tires.

A solid autocross ride that handles highway and country road curves with stability, the Lancer GTS comes with rack-and-pinion power steering, sport-tuned suspension, front MacPherson struts, rear multi-link suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake force distribution and front and rear stabilizer bars.  A bit too much torque steer hampers front-drive handling, but in its small-car and low-price niche, the Lancer entrenches itself favorably with the street-cruising crowd.

Mitsubishi attends to safety well and has included advanced front air bags, front seat-mounted side air bags, side curtain airbags, driver’s side knee airbag

rise body construction, front crumple zones, 5 mph front bumper, active front headrests, child safety locks and LATCH system for children, tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lights, engine immobilizer and anti-theft alarm system.

The Lancer GTS is factory-tricked out with special bodywork, foglights, sport seats, a front strut-tower brace and an aggressive suspension calibration to accentuate its sport tires. It's a street machine that can succeed on the track – a driver’s car all the way, but with trendy and hip style. Exterior features include auto-off halogen headlights, rear wing spoiler, front bumper extension and 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, though most young drivers will probably customize with chrome and might dub them to 20-inchers.

My Apex Silver test ride came with a black interior.  Comfort and convenience cabin amenities include “Fast Key" remote keyless entry and starting system, air conditioning with micron filter, automatic climate control, steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise and audio switches, multi-information display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, optional 9-speaker 650-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system with a 10-inch subwoofer – though most high-schoolers would upgrade that to a 20-inch sub, Sirius Satellite Radio, six-CD/MP3 in-dash head unit, an aux-input jack, moonroof, front map lights, 6-way manually adjustable driver seat, power door locks, power windows and side view mirrors and Bluetooth hands-free system. Its massive and powerful 30GB hard-drive can accommodate the latest digital downloads and the analogy gauges combine with the 7-inch info screen and 21st century electronics to provide a cool and comfortable environment.

The 2008 Lancer GTS has a base price of $17,490, and my vehicle as tested, came in at $19,615. The only upgrade on my test version was a $1500 add-on for the premium sound system, satellite radio (free for the first six months) and moonroof.

Popular in part to its international rally history, the 2008 version wins raves from its young admirers as one of the most stylish and most tech-equipped cars in the price range. Touch-screen navigation is an additional option, but even without it, the interior tech of the Lancer is unmistakably comprehensive.

Mitsubishi has its Lancer down well, and its ninth generation should add to its stellar reputation among the young.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004.  He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

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