Earlier this week photos of Mitsubishi's Lancer Prototype S leaked onto the internet, but now we have the official press release for the concept.
The Prototype S is based on the Lancer sports sedan but with a new hatchback rear end. The car features a front-end that is very similar to the upcoming Lancer Ralliart with its inverted-slant nose with trapezoidal grille design. The Prototype S also features 19" 5-spoke alloy wheels. Under the hood the concept uses the same 235HP 2.0L MIVEC intercooled and turbocharged engine as the Lancer Ralliart. The engine is mated to Mitsubishi's new Twin Clutch (TC-SST) transmission. Full-time 4WD is standard.
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PRESS RELEASE:
Mitsubishi Motors lineup at 2008 Geneva International Motor Show
Tokyo, February 26, 2008 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is to give the Prototype-S sport hatchback concept its global debut at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show which runs from March 4 through March 16 at the Geneva Palexpo exhibition and conference complex (opening to the general public on March 6). Also included in Mitsubishi Motors’ 16-model stand (13 on Press Days) are: the i MiEV (dubbed the i-EV in Europe) and the Lancer Evolution (Lancer Evolution X on the Japanese market). The i MiEV is a new-generation electric vehicle under evaluation for export to international markets and currently undergoing fleet monitoring in Japan; Lancer Evolution is a new-generation high-performance 4WD sedan that allows all drivers to experience enjoy the highest levels of fun-to-drive performance safely and with confidence.
Making its global debut at the Geneva Show, the Prototype-S is derived from the Lancer sports sedan (Galant Fortis on the Japanese market) currently on sale in most Mitsubishi Motors markets worldwide.
Distinguished by the inverted-slant nose with trapezoidal grille front fascia that comprise the Mitsubishi Motors new design identity, and with purposeful, wide-and-low proportions; Prototype-S uses exterior lines to craft a shape that is powerful and sporty. The use of 215/45R19 tires on 19-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels adds to the tautly muscular and road-hugging image the styling projects.
Prototype-S uses a new 2.0-liter MIVEC*1 4-cylinder DOHC intercooled / turbocharged engine, developing maxima of 240 PS and 35 kg-m that will also power the Lancer Ralliart due to go on sale in North America in the summer of 2008. The power unit is mated to Mitsubishi Motors’s high-efficiency Twin Clutch SST*2 automated manual transmission that gives the driver simple control of and feel-good access to the car’s exhilaratingly sporty performance. The full-time 4WD driveline features Mitsubishi Motors’ Active Center Differential (ACD) that uses an electronically controlled multi-plate hydraulic clutch to optimally tailor front / rear drive torque vectoring to different driving conditions and deliver the best balance between steering response and traction.
Comments (7)
That's hotter than the STI "Wagon"
Posted by mayonaise | February 26, 2008 10:43 AM
Posted on February 26, 2008 10:43
This looks like it'll be a blast to drive.
Posted by Knight3058 | February 26, 2008 11:10 AM
Posted on February 26, 2008 11:10
I must say, I think the new lancer is going to save Misubishi North America.
This looks far better than the Subaru, and with 4wd vs. the Mazda 3, the hot turbo hatch wars are going to be interesting.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | February 26, 2008 1:01 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 13:01
I don't think that I like the look of this hatch. It just looks a little too long and wagon-y for me. Of course it will be a lot more usable as a car because of this, so it makes sense. I still can't wait for the Ralliart to come to Canada.
Posted by gm0n3y | February 26, 2008 2:52 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 14:52
I dont like the way the bumper sticks out a little too far in the rear, or the way, the front looks with the back. The front has a rather long overhang and the rear dosnt. Still overall I like the design it's much better looking than the plain WRX it's intended to compete with. I have to wonder how it would look with the Evo style wide body kit on it. After all the wide body kit made the WRX STi look a LOT better, still not good but you get the idea.
Please bring this to the US, This is exactly the car I want to buy as long as I can get it nicely optioned for around 27K in about a year I will buy this car.
Posted by Travis | February 26, 2008 4:54 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 16:54
Love the R34 looking snout, but cannot stand the Mazda looking rear.
Posted by Chris | February 26, 2008 4:55 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 16:55
You know some people say all things come full circle. I can't wait till this phase of craptastic hatches goes away. I love the technology, but I'd like a choice not to drive a mini wagon. The new STI now this? I actually saw the new STi on the road last week, and well from a distance I thought Subaru had come out with a smaller version of the Tribeca (which ranks on ugly with the Aztek), and that's when I saw the red STi badge.....well that just sent shivers up my spine. How could a design team turn something so basic, so raw, into this bubblicious piece that it is now. Subaru, if you want to find out what a good car looks like go back to your 1998 catalogs and take a look.
Posted by Brian | February 28, 2008 12:13 AM
Posted on February 28, 2008 00:13