Launched in Japan in February 1973, this Mitsubishi compact passenger car took its name from a cavalry lancer, reinforcing an image of speed and agility. The first-generation model quickly established the nameplate’s character, and the sportier 1600GSR joined the lineup later that year, helping the car earn an early reputation through rally competition. That motorsport link became a defining part of the nameplate’s identity and later gave rise to the long-running Lancer Evolution performance series.
The nameplate continued through several generations and body-style shifts. In June 1988, Mitsubishi introduced a 5-door hatchback successor to the Lancer EX and Lancer Fiore in Japan, showing how the badge adapted to changing market tastes while staying in the compact-car class. After the Lancer Cedia era, the Lancer name returned again in February 2003 on a redesigned sedan and wagon line that shared the brand’s refreshed styling direction.
Outside Japan, the Lancer also became a widely recognized global Mitsubishi name, especially in markets where it served as the company’s mainstream compact sedan. Production for export at Mitsubishi’s Mizushima plant was scheduled to end in December 2017, marking the close of the nameplate’s final continuous production run.