Vilner has made a name for itself fitting some fancy
interiors to all manner of vehicles – not just high-end metal, but more
“accessible” wheels, too. Just look at this latest project.
Called the Mitsubishi Allroads Ronin, it’s based on
a 2011 Lancer Ralliart – hardly the most auspicious point of departure, but
it’s been upgraded inside to a standard that would make even a Lexus LS look
blue-collar by comparison.
Taking its name from the Japanese term for a samurai
knight with no master, the Ronin is done up in a material called Amaretta. It’s
similar to the Alcantara you’d find in many performance vehicles, but it’s said
to be of higher quality – and sourced from Japan.
The headrests look like the woodwork on a samurai’s
suit of armor, but are actually coated in heat- and pressure-treated velour.
Plastic trim has been replaced with metal, the steering wheel rimmed with Nappa
leather, the handbrake lever looks like a samurai-sword handle, the instruments
done up like a Ferrari’s, and the center mirror fitted without a frame.
The Lithuanian customizer also added some 77 pounds
of extra sound deadening to make the interior more than twice as quiet inside.
It also fitted an 11-inch touchscreen display with a rear view camera, but its
enhancements weren’t limited to the interior in which it specializes. Vilner
also jacked up the suspension by 0.78 inches, fitted a set of Yokohama
Geolandar all-terrain tires, and a set of 60-watt LED headlights.
The result is a complete transformation of the
work-a-day Lancer that will be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
We’re just not sure we want to know how much the conversion cost – or what else
you could get for the same money. Because we’re pretty sure it wouldn’t be a
Mitsubishi.
