Mitsubishi Concept-RA

This is the Mitsubishi Concept-RA, a coupe design study unveiled this week in Detroit. When we saw it in sketch form back in November, we reckoned it might just end up being the best-looking car in the show.

And, in truth, the Concept-RA isn't bad - a muscular, swooping body running back from a pair of evil headlights and Mitsu's trademark trapezoidal grille. Not bad, but not quite good enough to justify our uncharacteristic pre-Christmas excitement. And that matte black engine hood is just wrong, even if it is made of lightweight plastic resin.

The details of the Concept-RA remain as we reported back in November - a 2.2-litre turbodiesel producing 310lb ft of torque and driving all four wheels through the Evo's Super All-Wheel Control system. It'll return over 40mpg, neatly sidestepping future emission regulations and making the RA a realistic production proposition.

Which means that Mitsubishi could finally be serious about bringing an Eclipse to Europe - by 2009, if show floor whispers are to be believed. It could point to a diesel Evo, too. We're fine with both, thanks.

© Source: topgear
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Mitsubishi Concept-RA

It's still six weeks until the Detroit motor show, but Mitsubishi has already unveiled an early contender for our coveted Best-Looking Car in Show award.

This is the Concept-RA, a sports car study that takes the new Evo's all-wheel-drive tech and transplants it into a handsome coupe body... with diesel power.

Yes, diesel power. Nestled between those fat front arches is a 2.2-litre four-pot turbodiesel that produces just 202bhp but a decent 310lb ft of torque. That's an unusually realistic engine for a concept, and indicates that Mitsubishi could be serious about bringing this one to production.

That turbodiesel drives all four wheels through the same dual-clutch 'box as found on the new Evo.

The Concept-RA also borrows the Evo's centre diff, yaw control, stability control and active braking, but adds active steering and damping controls. All of which creates a bewildering array of acronyms and, more importantly, a car that should be as good to drive as it is to look at.

So is the Concept-RA finally an Eclipse for Europe, or is it a hint that there could be a diesel Evo on the way? We'll do our best to find out in Detroit next January.

© Source: topgear
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