Mitsubishi Creates Diesel, AWD Sports Car for Detroit

Concept-RA Photos

We've not seen a Mitsubishi this sleek in ages. Can you believe it'll be powered by a diesel? (Photo: Mitsubishi)

Much of the RA's drivetrain, including the SST twin-clutch gearbox and the S-AWC system, are borrowed from the Evo X. (Photo: Mitsubishi)

Clean diesel engine doesn't need any special treatments for emissions, other than filters and catalysts. (Photo: Mitsubishi)

Now that the production version of Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution X has been released and is on its way to dealers, the brand has been hard at work coming up with concepts and ideas for future production cars. Not two months ago, Mitsubishi showed off its Concept-ZT, a large-ish sedan with styling inspired by the current Lancer. This diesel-powered, all wheel drive sedan has been rumored to be more than just a show piece, but rather a hint at what the next Galant might be like. Tantalizing, no?

Things are going to heat up at this year’s Detroit auto show too, with the up and coming Concept-RA. Mitsubishi just announced some of the key features about the new car that will capture the heart of Eclipse enthusiasts who might’ve lost faith after its transformation from race/rally sport compact to junior grand tourer.

Sleek and sporty, the RA features an advanced new chassis that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen under a Mitsubishi. It features aluminum space frame construction, much like the Audi ASF system, but instead of clothing the panels in the lightweight and expensive metal, it uses resins and plastics, which are durable, light, and easily recyclable.

Instead of wedging in a 300-horsepower inline-four with afterburner-like turbo boost, the Concept-RA is powered by Mitsubishi’s up and coming turbodiesel engine, which should be good for a raised eyebrow or two. The 2.2-liter four-cylinder is the same common-rail diesel engine initially shown in the ZT, featuring dual overhead camshafts, a variable geometry turbocharger and MIVEC variable valve timing. This is all very impressive for a diesel engine.

Where the ZT was tuned more for touring (it had 150 hp), the RA has been boosted to make 200 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. What’s interesting is that the RA doesn’t need to have an exhaust treatment liquid like AdBlue to pass the US Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions; its special catalytic converter features an oxidation catalyst with a NOx trap, and a particulate filter to capture the impurities which have given so many other diesel engines trouble. In case you haven’t guessed, Mitsubishi has every intention of entering this engine into the North American marketplace.

And if this combination of styling and performance isn’t enough, the Concept-RA also features the same sort of all wheel drive system as found in the Lancer Evolution X. S-AWC, as it’s called, combines all wheel drive with yaw control and active dampers to provide perfectly neutral handling. It also borrows the SST dual-clutch gearbox from the Evolution X and the Concept-ZT.

Imagine this – an attractive sports car with one of the most innovative and advanced drivetrains on the market, but with the fuel efficiency of a diesel engine. It might sound too good to be true, but Mitsubishi’s on to something with this one.