Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Prototype-S.
Mitsubishi's revised strategy for the U.S. market was outlined last month in its "Step Up 2010" business plan that seeks to renew the automaker's focus on competing with the major players in North America. The one bit of information that caught out eye in Mitsu's press release was a plan to offer a hatchback Lancer into its range. While the Prototype-S whet our appetite, there was no definitive confirmation that the Ralliart drivetrain in the concept would be fitted to the five-door when it makes its production debut, likely sometime next year. According to a Mitsubishi spokesperson we talked to here in New York, the wagon is coming, and when asked if it would be equipped with the 235-hp turbocharged four and all-wheel-drive system, his response was, "Probably Ralliart. But you can only speculate on that." Good enough for us, but from what we've heard ourselves, a U.S.-market Sportback is past the speculation stage already..
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PJ @ Mar 20th 2008 1:10PM
Well, then, I can "speculate" on giving Mitsubishi my business again.
C'mon Mitsu! Get some buzz going!
dcwf @ Mar 20th 2008 1:55PM
Do I see an A3, big mouth and all?
Daniel @ Mar 20th 2008 1:57PM
Now that's a slick looking front end. Put it into production.
JMC 3 @ Mar 20th 2008 2:01PM
They need to do a 2 door coupe to compete with BMW's 1 series.
fixfixitstop @ Mar 20th 2008 4:52PM
No, they don't. Small 2-door with trunks are a dead market. BMW can get away with it because nobody with a sense of the practical buys a BMW. Mitsubishi can't.
Mattias @ Mar 20th 2008 2:05PM
I hope they don't slap one of the noisy Volkswagen diesels in this thing and take a Peugeot unit instead. I'd be perfectly happy with the DW10 (136hp) although the DW12 (155hp or 170hp) also does not sound bad by numbers.
Shayne @ Mar 20th 2008 2:45PM
Half related...
When at the Edmonton car show I was checking out the EvoX and fell in love instantly. It, however, is a bit beyond my price range and the upcoming Ralliart looks to be a winner.
I did however notice one massive issue:
In the EvoX they didn't have room in the front for the battery and washerfluid so they put in the back directly behind the rear seats thus removing the ability to fold them down ALSO shrinking the trunk space significantly.
Can nyone who knows or seen the Ralliart version can tell me if it has the same issue?
Hacksaw @ Mar 20th 2008 2:59PM
Look at pic #20. It has a 60/40 split on the back seat.
Shayne @ Mar 20th 2008 3:03PM
I suppose I should have clarified, the Sedan, not this newer sportback. All the pictures that I can find of the Sedan don't show the trunk open.
EquinsuOcha @ Mar 20th 2008 7:40PM
The Evo has never had folding back seats because there is a re-enforcement bar that goes across the back to keep the frame rigid. The RalliArt will not have that problem because it is not designed for the track.
RockStoneSteel @ Mar 21st 2008 12:03PM
Give me a Lancer sportback in a 2 door version and I'll take it. And by the way, it doesn't even need to be a Ralliart, have a turbo, or any kind of performance package. I just want a vehicle with 2 large practical doors (not 4 dainty doors) and a hatch.
Masaman @ May 13th 2008 6:05PM
I think in the 2nd to last picture it shows that the car is equipped with tc-sst (just by looking at the shifter area). Maybe ralliart 5 door?? I hope so.