Sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Mitsubishi has released sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA that the car manufacturer will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The Concept-RA is a small, lightweight, eco-friendly, four-wheel drive sports coupe concept that will set Mitsubishi fans’ pulses racing because the sketches show a resemblance to the original Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Concept-RA is a technological marvel.

Mitsubishi has thrown all sorts of acronyms at it: S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), ACD (Active Center Differential), AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sport ABS (Antilock Brake System), ASC (Active Stability Control), and of course MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control)! In plain English, that means the concept car features Mitsubishi’s all-wheel-drive system and the twin clutch automated manual transmission from the Lancer Evolution X.

The Concept-RA, however, is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency clean diesel 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with MIVEC continuously variable valve timing control. The engine features piezoelectric injector common-rail direct fuel injection, and a Variable Diffuser / Variable Geometry (VD/VG) turbocharger. Maximum power output is rated at 201 hp while maximum torque is 310 lb-ft.

The Concept-RA also features an aluminum space frame made from extruded aluminum sections and die-cast aluminum members, as well as an engine hood, fenders and other body panels made from impact-resistant, recyclable plastic resin. These provide the Concept-RA with crashworthiness while reducing vehicles weight.