Filed under: Concept Cars, Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi gives up details on Prototype-S concept
click above for more high-res images of the Mitsubishi Prototype-S
Mitsubishi has given up the goods on what last week we referred to as the Lancer Sportback, but will go by the name of Prototype-S when it debuts this March at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The car itself is basically a production version of the Concept-Sportback that debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, and Mitsubishi hints in its press release that the 5-door hatchback Lancer is destined for the European market.
Some details revealed that we didn't know last week include that the Prototype-S is powered by the same 2.0L turbo four-cylinder MIVEC engine that debuted earlier this month in the Lancer Ralliart. It produces 235 horsepower and 253 ft-lbs. of torque, which is routed through Mitsubishi's Twin Clutch SST transmission and sent to all four wheels via a full-time 4WD system using the automaker's Active Center Differential. The Prototype-S, therefore, is basically a hatchback body wrapped around the mechanicals of the Lancer Ralliart, a car with which we're already smitten. Add the practically of a fifth door and more cargo capacity, and we'd be looking to tussle with a Mazdaspeed3 or Caliber SRT-4 on our way home from the grocery store. Sure, those higher horsepower cars might beat us in a straight line, but eventually the curves will come.
[Source: Mitsubishi]
Gallery: Mitsubishi Lancer Prototype S
PRESS RELEASE:
Mitsubishi Motors to show Prototype-S sports hatchback concept at 2008 Geneva Show
Tokyo, January 28, 2008 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is to give the Prototype-S concept for a sports hatchback 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.)
Deriving from MMC's sport sedan family, which includes the Lancer (named the Galant Fortis on the Japanese market) launched in 2007 and the Lancer Ralliart announced at the 2008 Detroit Motors Show and the Lancer Evolution (Lancer Evolution X in Japan) premiered at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, Prototype-S takes the form of a hatchback - a very popular body type in European markets.
Distinguished by the inverted-slant nose with trapezoidal grille front fascia that marks Mitsubishi Motors new design identity and with wide-and-low proportions that leave no doubt as to the concept underlying its design, Prototype-S uses exterior lines to craft a shape that is powerful and sporty even by European standards, echoing the acclaimed 2005 Concept-Sportback show car.
In its mechanical specification Prototype-S is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder DOHC MIVEC*1 intercooler / turbocharger engine [developing maxima of 177 kW (240 PS) and 343 Nm (35 kg-m)] mated to Mitsubishi Motors's high-efficiency Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission that marries fun-to-drive control with outstanding fuel efficiency. 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 split to different driving conditions and deliver the best balance between steering response and traction.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dino 10:36AM (1/28/2008)
Our testdummy bot posted this over at http://www.evoxforums.com
It basically looks like it's going to use the RalliArt drivetrain but in an even sexier package! I'm pumped.
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Seoultrain 10:36AM (1/28/2008)
dammit, bring this to the US!
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John R 10:55AM (1/28/2008)
"Sure, those higher horsepower cars might beat us in a straight line, but eventually the curves will come."
The WRX is able to get to 60 in the 5.9 seconds with 224hp which beats the MS3's 6.1 and the SRT's 6.2. I have a feeling the Ralliart would do just as well if not better than the WRX.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=122859
I'm not nitpicking, just sayin'...
Anyway, this news make me annoyed. Mitsu better get serious and bring that sportback over. I believe hatches are making a comeback.
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psarhjinian 10:57AM (1/28/2008)
Remember the Evo IX wagon? Pity we never got that, either.
John R 11:17AM (1/28/2008)
I read of an company built HKS Evo IX wagon in SportCompactCar. It was badass.
This isn't it: http://importracing.de/Wagon-big-2.jpg
I would have loved to see a US version, but I knew that was never going to happen.
JohnnyRyall 12:34PM (1/28/2008)
Where are you getting those numbers from?
5.9 Edmund's:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=116868
5.72 Autoweek:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070525/FREE/70518001/1532/FREE
5.4 Car and Driver:
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/download/0705_mazdaspeed3_comparo_ts.pdf
That said, it will be interesting to see what this car and do, and for what price.
John R 12:46PM (1/28/2008)
"Although the Subaru's 5.9-second 0-60 time is two ticks better than the Mazda's 6.1-second clocking..."
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121942
John R 12:53PM (1/28/2008)
C/D WRX 5.9 seconds.
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/13510/full-test-2008-subaru-impreza-wrx-the-verdict-page4.html
JohnnyRyall 1:02PM (1/28/2008)
Man, that's just bad driving on their part. I guess if you left all the nannies on, and gave a half-hearted effort you could screw it up that bad. Seriously though, you can't post one test and say it's fact, especially when the same people have achieved and recorded better times. However, I will go with the mean time of 5.78 0-60for the MS3 tests. Don't get me wrong, I liked the WRX, but I didn't like it $5K more. (the difference between what I got the MS3 for and what they wanted for a WRX, depending on your dealer relationship, your pricing could be different.)
John R 2:03PM (1/28/2008)
Hey, I just picked the WRX vs MS3 test because it was the most relevant to the article. The author compared the Ralliart to MS3 and SRT.
judd 11:07AM (1/28/2008)
Perfect time to replace our A3 with. Too bad GM is not giving us the VXR. I would actually consider that car too.
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geo.stewart 12:53PM (1/28/2008)
you will be sadly disappointed if you trade the A3 for the Mitsu. fit and finish are like the difference between the hamptons and the projects.
EquinsuOcha 11:23AM (1/28/2008)
All I want is a diesel option and for them to bring it here. Then I'm sold. I didn't need that kidney anyway.
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brennok 12:03PM (1/28/2008)
Great looking car and concept. Now if only they would bring it to the States.
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Spankee 12:17PM (1/28/2008)
So, I'm in the minority in wishing this was more of a proper wagon? I mean, I'm not crazy about the look of the back, but it's growing on me. I just wish the door was a little more upright for more storage. This reminds me of the old IS sportback, which I had the same feelings on.
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mk 5:19PM (1/28/2008)
Sounds like you want the Lancer Wagon Evo-ified. the previous generation was like that, but I think only a few wagons, in the Japanese market were built that way.
With the demise of many US market wagons, Legacy GT, Magnum, and G8 being still-born, and Volvo canning their R-model sport-tuned cars...
I just don't thin a wagon is going to happen.
But a 5-door hatch, in the A3/WRX STI/Mazdaspeed 3 mode, I think this is probably the BEST looking outwardly.
Besides, Mitsu wants to sell SUV/CUVs if you want more cargo room. It is sad, I agree, but that is the way everyone in the market seems to be going.
Personally, I love fastback hatch cars, three or five doors, with that sort of rear glass rake. I don't like the hump-back impreza, or more vertical tailgate of the A3 and MS3 bodystyles as much. I do like 5-door sedans, as well, like the Mazda 6's option.
Even with the rakish rear treatment, with the rear seats folded down, I'll bet it doesn't do too bad for an economy-car body in terms of cargo room, and the turbo AWD powertrain doesn't do too bad for performance, either.
Interior and Chassis are the two things where the econo-box roots might really show, short of the all-out STI/EVO halo cars.
Spankee 8:58AM (1/29/2008)
Yeah, I always hoped that they'd EVO-ify the Lancer wagon, or even give me a WRX wagon fighter. I don't want an SUV, even a fake one (my wife has one and I kind of hold my nose whenever I have to drive it). I want a proper car, with a proper car center of gravity that I can put my mountain bike or a couple of (smallish) guitar amplifiers into. While hatches may be the way to fool people into not thinking they're getting a station wagon I'm sad that wagons didn't catch back on and those of us who like them have to accept one compromise ("crossovers") or another (hatches)
judd 3:14PM (1/28/2008)
I would expect the Mitsu interior to be a little on the inferior side since it will be about $8K less than the Audi. Too bad it's the only option I have with the type of transmission I am looking for since the wife will also drive it. The EVO X is just way too pricey for me and the WRX is just not as original to me as my 2003 WRX. Sooo sad.
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RT 5:34PM (1/28/2008)
I wonder if the concept being introduced in Geneva means that this car may not come here; it could be a Europe-exclusive model, which would be disappointing.
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