Mitsubishi Motors revealed today what its all-new Lancer sports saloon will look like. It's also a possible preview of the next-gen Lancer Evolution -- though Mitsu didn't say so. The car will be on show at the Detroit motor show next month.
According to Mitsu, the Lancer "will bring the dynamic lines of the show-stopping Mitsubishi Concept-X and Concept-Sportback to the showroom. Both unveiled in 2005, they hinted not only at the next generation Mitsubishi compact sports sedans, but also at the next evolution of its design language."
Split into two separate elements, chrome-ringed for the upper part, this Lancer grille goes one step further, with what the company calls its Concept-X and Concept-Sportback’s "trademark shark nose and deep-set eyes."
Now the slightly more interesting bit: split into four powertrain levels (entry, mid-range, upper-range and supercar), the car will house five different engines, including the VAG-supplied 130bhp 2.0 litre diesel already fitted to Grandis Di-D and Outlander Di-D.
Mitsu didn't, sadly, say what engine the so-called supercar would include. However, while exact timing of the car's UK launch has yet to be decided, it's likely to coincide with launch of Lancer Evolution X in Q1 2008.
The car is based on Mitsu's Project Global platform, a new flexible architecture that also forms the foundation of the new Outlander. With what Mitsubishi called "its sharp handling and 35 year Lancer sporting credentials", the car arrives in Europe late next year. It's aimed at being an alternative for "customers of desirable, heritage-proud, non-mainstream brands in the C-segment: not premium, but different and legitimate."
We think Mitsu means Mondeo territory...