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Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Posted on: Saturday, July 26th, 2008 at 9:12 pm by: Elias.D.Kolsun
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I remember the first time I laid eyes on my buddy Steve’s 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. I loved that car; it looked, purposeful, like it was blazing down the highway even when it was standing still. Since then the Eclipse’s styling has taken a nose dive, and the current incarnations of the Mitsubishi’s performance flag ship have fallen short of the design benchmark, but all that is about to change.

Almost a decade later I’m again feeling all warm inside about a Mitsubishi.

The beautiful Concept-RA shows proves that passion still burns over at Mitsubishi’s design headquarters and that thrilling performance, styling, and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive concepts.

The Concept-RA blends a “supped-up” version of the Lancer Evolution X’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics driveline — which includes Active Center Differential, Active Yaw Control and Active Stability Control — with Active Steering and Active Damping Control for the suspension. The Concept-RA also has the Lancer Evolution X’s creative new Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission, which allows drivers to control the vehicle through a flappy paddle gear box (the one thing I’m not thrilled about) or a fully automatic mode.

Power, and environmental consciousness, comes from a new low-emission 2.2 liter 16-vale turbodiesel 4-cylinder. This engine features direct injection and MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve lift and timing Electronic Control) variable valve timing as well as a Variable Diffuser/Variable Geometry turbocharger, which pumps out a respectable 204 bhp and a pavement tearing 310 lb.-ft. of torque.
The green theme continues as the Concept-RA utilizes an aluminum space frame to save weight while improving performance, handling, and fuel economy, while the hood, fenders, and a myriad of other body parts are made from impact-resistant (not to mention recyclable) plastic resin.

The Concept-RA. What’s not to love?