Mitsubishi Lifts the Wraps on New Global Small Concept before Geneva Salon Debut

It all started with a teaser sketch in early December '10, but today, Mitsubishi released the first real life photo of its Concept Global Small vehicle. The design study previews an upcoming subcompact model that is planned for production in March of 2012 at the Japanese firm's new third factory in Thailand, which will have an initial capacity for around 150,000 units per year.

Mitsubishi has not yet confirmed the markets for launch or detailed specifications on the production version of the new entry-level model. However, the company did note that the Global Small concept car will feature a fuel efficient 1.0-liter / 1.2-liter engine equipped with a regenerative braking system and start-stop technology, as well as a new-generation CVT and low rolling resistance tires.

We'll have more details on Mitsubishi's new sub-compact model after its debut at the Geneva motorshow, which opens in the beginning of March.

Mitsubishi GalEA Four-Door Sportcoupé Design Concept by Gábor Farkas

In the beginning of the year, we showed you a very production-like concept study for a new generation of the Colt sub-compact called the Concept CS, which was created by Gábor Farkas. The independent designer has now sent us yet another Mitsubishi study, this time for a replacement to the Galant sedan.

The concept is named GalEA and is said to draw its inspiration from the previous, sharper-looking eighth generation Galant of the late 1990s, while sharing similar design cues with the smaller Concept CS. In a 180 degree turn, the designer re-imagined the Galant as a more distinct and aggressive looking four-door coupe model with a long hood, sloping roof, pillarless doors and a stumpy rear end.

Follow the jump to read Gábor's description of the project and to get a closer look at the sporty Mitsubishi saloon in our high-res gallery and CGI videos.

MITSUBISHI GALEA [From Gábor Farkas]

Mitsubishi GalEA is a design study that uses styling elements of the recent Mitsubishi 'jet-fighter' design language. It was born to revive the 1997 Galant EA as a four-door coupé. The EA inspired the 'jet-fighter' design language and now it returns as a four-door sportcoupé.

This time, the design of the car was teased via the Mitsubishi GalEA Facebook page and the final result has been refined at some point according to user-reactions.

At the front you can recognize some details that were borrowed from the Mitsubishi Concept RA but the other parts of the body have an individual new styling with waving lines which have already been introduced on the Mitsubishi Concept CS.

The wheelbase and the proportions of the body also hint at a front engine with rear wheel drive layout. In the inside you can see premium materials and four individual seats. The dashboard has clear and elegant styling.

About the name: it refers to the Galant EA but also has another meaning. A galea was a Roman soldier's helmet. Some gladiators also wore a bronze galea with a face mask and a decoration, often a fish on its crest.

Main dimensions

length: 4745 mm (186.8 in)
width: 1948 mm (79.7 in)
height: 1343 mm (52.9 in)

front track: 1722 mm (67.8 in)
rear track: 1706 mm (67.2 in)
wheelbase: 3070 mm (120.9 in)
length/wheelbase ration: 1.55
wheels: 205/40 R 18

Proton Shows Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X Lookalike Concept of Inspira with 240HP Turbo Engine

The 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show at the Putra World Trade Centre in Malaysia saw local automaker and owner of Lotus, Proton, revealing a host of concept models including a sport prototype of the recently launched Inspira called the Jebat. Needless to say, it's clearly inspired from the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

As you may remember, the Inspira is a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer sedan and is the result of an OEM collaboration between the Malaysian automaker and Mitsubishi Japan. However, we're not so sure if Mitsubishi had this in mind when it was signing the agreement with Proton.

In any case, the Jebat study, which could very well lead to a similar production model, features a wide body kit with blistered wheel arches and splashes of matte black paint all around the car. Power is provided by a turbocharged 4-cylinder MiVEC engine producing 237HP (177kW) at 6,000 rpm and 343Nm of peak torque at 3,000 rpm.

No word if the pseudo-EVO (that does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) comes with the real EVOs four-wheel drive system, but Proton has announced that the Jebat completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.6 seconds and tops out at 232 km/h or 144 mph.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Geneva Show: Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air Concept

Based on the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive electric version of the i MiEV tiny city car, Mitsubishi's Sport Air Concept is a further development of the homonymous 2007 Tokyo Auto Salon show car. The i MiEV Sport Air uses a more powerful version of Mitsubishi's permanent magnet synchronous electric motor generating 60 kW or 80HP of power (vs. the i MiEV's 47 kW or 63HP) and 230 Nm of torque (180 Nm.)

Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV Concept Previews Euro-Spec Electric Mini

This is a drawing of Mitsubishi's Prototype i MiEV concept car that we'll see making its debut next to the i MiEV SPORT 'AIR' concept at the Geneva Show which runs from March 3 through March 15. The Prototype i MiEV is in essence a study on a potential European-spec version of the Japanese firm's all-electric mini car that introduces left-hand-drive to the equation.

The latest iteration of the i MiEV also features wider tracks and longer overhangs compared to the right-hand-drive Japanese model that is set be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009.

Even though Mitsubishi has yet to make a final decision as to whether or when the all-electric mini car will be launched in the European market, the company said that it is currently conducting a feasibility test on this concept in the 'Old Continent'.