Tuner Parts Program Premieres on New Yahoo! Autos Custom Web Site
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- 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, http://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.
SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America
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Related links:
http://autos.yahoo.com/custom
CONTACT:
Janis Little, Director, Product and Brand
Communications of Mitsubishi Motors North America,
+1-714-372-6429, jlittle@mmsa.com, or Mitsubishi News Bureau,
+1-888-560-MMSA (6672), newsbureau@mmsa.com
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