WHAT SALES SLUMP? Struggling Mitsubishi showcases concepts at SEMA for fifth straight year.(News)

Byline: BOB GRITZINGER

** Mitsubishi is fighting for its survival, battling a massive sales dive in America while also apologizing to the boo-birds back home for a huge recall coverup scam.

How to make things right? Well, with product of course. Mitsu isn't loaded with gems in all segments, but one bright spot is the Ralliart line, influenced by its motorsports arm of the same name.

Already for sale is the 2004 Lancer Ralliart, which slots between the all-looks-no-go, 120-hp Lancer OZ Rally Edition and the all-go-all-the-time rally-bred, 271-hp turboed Lancer Evolution. At about $20,000 (vs. the base Lancer's $14,600 and Evo's $30,000 ticket), the 162-hp Lancer Ralliart is a near-perfect balance between performance and price. With beefy brakes, a direct steering feel, stiff shocks and quick gear ratios, this might be the ideal package for Evo wannabes on a budget.

With near 4300 Lancer Ralliarts sold in the 2004 model year-almost 14 percent of U.S. Lancer sales-it's logical that if one Ralliart model is good and two is better, then why not three? We can think of one reason: Sport/utility vehicle and sports car are mutually exclusive. But that hasn't stopped Mitsubishi from rolling out Ralliart concept versions of its Galant sedan and platform-sibling Endeavor SUV at SEMA.

At the top of the Galant Ralliart's goody list is the same 3.8-liter 260-hp V6 engine in the new-for-2006 Eclipse coupe, as well as six-speed ...