2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback/Review

Pricing: $17,095 to $28,095 MSRP  /$16,373 to $26,909 Invoice Price

EPA Fuel Economy (MPG):    17 - 24 City/25 - 32 Highway

Hatchback style blends with sporty performance in the quick and sporty 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback.

The 2011 Lancer Sportback is the hatchback version of the Lancer sedan and now comes in three trims: ES, GTS, and Ralliart.  A more-powerful and race-inspired Lancer Evolution is available for die-hard drivers.  The ES uses a 148-horsepower (143 in California), 2.0-liter MIVEC engine that produces 145/143 pounds-feet of torque and is paired to a five-speed manual or an optional continuously variable automatic transmission.  The GTS features a 168-horsepower (161 in California), 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 167 pounds-feet of torque and a five speed manual or CVT.  The race-inspired Ralliart boasts a 237-horsepower turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that cranks out 253 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual.

For added handling, the 2011 Lancer Sportback Ralliart incorporates all-wheel drive and a sport-tuned suspension (also on the GTS) so that you can take corners with ease.  Fuel economy ratings range from 17-25 mpg in the city and 25-32 mpg on the highway depending on your choice of trim/engine.  Competition includes the Mazda3 and Subaru Impreza. 

The 2011 Lancer Sportback has the sedan’s menacing front air dam and bumper, but becomes its own with an angular rear fascia and rear spoiler.  Sixteen-inch wheels are standard, while 18-inch wheels are optional.  Fog lights, chrome exhaust tip, dual exhaust, large rear spoiler, sport-tuned suspension, and a Ralliart grille and bumper are all optional.

The Lance Sportback carries seating for five, and also adds cargo space (52.7 cubic feet) as well as a two-position height-adjustable cargo floor for more storage versatility.  The ES comes with a 140-watt audio system with four speakers and a urethane wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.  Options include a navigation system with a 30 GB hard drive, keyless entry, heated leather seats, six-way adjustable driver’s seats, sport front bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport fabric, and chrome instrument panel accents.  Mitsubishi’s new Fuse hands-free link system with USB port that manages your iPod and Bluetooth® hands-free calling is available.

The 2011 Lancer Sportback takes safety seriously, with its Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution unibody construction that features front and rear crumple zones.  Active Stability Control with traction control, antilock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system, and seven airbags, which include a driver’s knee airbag, are standard.

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Japan defence firm Mitsubishi Heavy in cyber attack

Japan's top weapons maker has confirmed it was the victim of a cyber attack reportedly targeting data on missiles, submarines and nuclear power plants.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) said viruses were found on more than 80 of its servers and computers last month.

The government said it was not aware of any leak of sensitive information.

But the defence ministry has demanded MHI carry out a full investigation. Officials were angered after learning of the breach from local media reports.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Japan's defence minister Yasuo Ichikawa said the cyber attackers had not succeeded in accessing any important information but MHI would be instructed "to undertake a review of their information control systems".

"The ministry will continue to monitor the problem and conduct investigations if necessary," Mr Ichikawa added.

All government contractors are obliged to inform ministers promptly of any breach of sensitive or classified information.

"It's up to the defence ministry to decide whether or not the information is important. That is not for Mitsubishi Heavy to decide. A report should have been made," a defence ministry spokesman was earlier quoted by Reuters as saying.

Better protection

The online attacks - which are believed to be the first of their kind against Japan's defence industry - originated outside the company's computer network, MHI said.

They have been described as spear phishing attacks - when hackers send highly customised and specifically targeted messages aimed at tricking people into visiting a fake webpage and giving away login details.

        Mitsubishi Heavy Industries makes everything

from surface-to-air missiles, to warships, and submarines

Neither the Japanese government nor MHI have said who may be responsible. A report in one Japanese newspaper said Chinese language script was detected in the attack against MHI.

But China rebuffed suggestions it could be behind the attacks.

"China is one of the main victims of hacking... Criticising China as being the source of hacking attacks not only is baseless, it is also not beneficial for promoting international co-operation for internet security," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

China has in the past been accused of carrying out online attacks on foreign government agencies and firms.

Beijing routinely denies that it is behind this kind of hacking but, says the BBC's Defence Correspondent Jonathan Marcus, the US military is more and more concerned about China's abilities in this field.

Fear of the "cyber-dragon" is driving forward a fundamental re-think of US policy which is coming more and more to regard computer hacking as a potential act of war, our correspondent adds.

MHI confirmed that 45 of its servers and 38 computers were infected by at least eight viruses.

The viruses targeted a shipyard in Nagasaki, where destroyers are built, and a facility in Kobe that manufactures submarines and parts for nuclear power stations, public broadcaster NHK reported.

A plant in Nagoya, where the company designs and builds guidance and propulsion systems for rockets and missiles, was also reportedly compromised.

MHI said it had consulted the Tokyo police department and was carrying out an investigation alongside security experts, which should be concluded by the end of the month.

Lockheed case

A second defence contractor, IHI, which supplies engine parts for military aircraft, said it had also been targeted.

IHI said it had been receiving emails containing viruses for months, but its security systems had prevented infection.

There are also reports that Japanese government websites, including the cabinet office and a video distribution service, have been hit by distributed denial-of-service attacks.

A typical DDoS attack involves hundreds or thousands of computers, under the control of hackers, bombarding an organisation's website with so many hits that it collapses.

Last month, a Japanese defence white paper urged better protection against cyber attacks after US defence contractors were hit by a spate of assaults.

One of the most high-profile cases involved Lockheed Martin - the world's biggest aerospace company, which makes F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets as well as warships.

Although the firm said none of its programmes were compromised in the attack in May, it prompted other defence contractors to assess their own security measures.

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