08 Jan 07
Mitsubishi's concept version of the Evo X has been around for more than a year and is still a year away from going on sale in the UK, but its protracted birth is no reason to doubt it will be a fantastic car when we eventually get to drive it.
The latest version of the concept, the Prototype-X, was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show alongside the regular Lancer on which it's based. In true rally-bred Evo tradition it has four-wheel drive with an active centre differential. It uses the same basic aluminium four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine as the new Lancer, but with a high-pressure turbocharger. Its six-speed automated manual gearbox has both a gear lever and paddles.
The four-door Evo has a prominent diffuser under the rear bumper, Brembo brakes, two tail pipes, forged alloy wheels from BBS, a big rear wing, bulging wheel arches and a much bigger, bolder front grille than the Lancer.
It will doubtless go like the clappers, but it's also the most civilised Evo to date, with automatic climate control and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The new Recaro seats are intended to be both supportive and comfortable.
The basic Lancer, which reaches Britain later this year, looks like a well managed merger of an Alfa 156 and a Volvo S40. Takashi Nishioka, chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, said the rear body structure was more rigid than the high-performance Evo IX's. A CVT transmission with paddleshift gearchange will join the range next year.
Nishioka added: 'We are working on a new four-cylinder diesel engine family that will begin to appear in C-segment (ie Lancer-size) product by 2010.'
