First look: Lancer Evo X surfaces

NOT content with revealing its next-generation Lancer four-door at the Detroit motor show in January, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has issued a sketch of the Prototype-X concept that will also make its world premiere in Motown.

Thinly disguised as a preview of the all-new Lancer Evolution X sports sedan that's due on sale in Australia by early 2008, the Prototype-X will be revealed alongside its donor car - the redesigned Lancer sedan that goes on sale here around June next year.

Mitsubishi's new Lancer sedan was revealed in pictures last week ahead of its Detroit debut, while the new European-oriented hatch made its debut at the Paris motor show and arrives here around October 2008. It was previewed by the Concept Sportback in 2005.

The sketch shows a wildly aggressive bodykit attached to the new Lancer sedan body, which of course is nowhere near as chiselled looking in reality. It comprises a gaping new Audi-style front grille that extends down onto the deep front bumper, bulging front quarter panels, a complex bonnet scoop, large rear wing, beefier side skirts and, at rear, twin exhaust outlets and a venturi-style bumper/diffuser.

According to Mitsubishi Motors North America: "The Prototype-X concept car on show is an advance development model for the new Lancer Evolution due to be launched in the 2007 fiscal year."

Mitsubishi also confirmed the performance flasghip of its new small car range will be powered by a "new turbocharged MIVEC engine with an aluminum cylinder block", mated to a "high performance" six-speed manual transmission.

That's pretty much what the Lancer Evo IX sedan has offered since September 2005. However, the tenth-generation Evo is likely to deliver more power and torque than the current Euro IV emissions-compliant 2.0-litre MIVEC turbo engine, which produces 206kW and 355Nm.

While Australian model details are yet to be confirmed, alongside the Evo will be three specification grades of the garden-variety Lancer sedan, powered by anything from an 81kW 1.5-litre petrol engine to a Volkswagen-built 2.0-litre common-rail turbo-diesel.

Mitsubishi yesterday also said Prototype-X is fitted with its "Super All-Wheel Control" (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics system, which is expected to improve on the Evo IX's Super Active Yaw Control (S-AYC) AWD system.