Auto Channel

Mitsubishi Motors has announced today the global debut of a new sports car concept, the Mitsubishi Concept-RA, at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show in January. Just coming off of the buzz from this recent North American release of the Lancer EVO X at Los Angeles weeks ago, Mitsu cracks us over the head with this sleek aggressive sports coupe version of the EVO X featuring Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) and the Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission which uncoincidentally are both used in Lancer Evo X (JDM version). For maximum sdriving control and dynamics active steering and active suspension are dropped into the pot for good measure. With no shame in diesels these days powering sports cars, the Concept-RA gets a new low-emissions 2.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel featuring variable vane geometry while producing 150 kW (204 PS) and maximum torque of 420 Nm (42.8 kg-m). To save weight and increase crash worthiness, the body is an aluminum space frame along with the hood while the fenders and other outer panels such as door skins are made from recyclable plastic resin.