Detroit diesel coupe star

MITSUBISHI has released sketches of a sleek sportscar that will star at the Detroit motor show next month.

The menacing coupe is called the Concept-RA and could well point to the next generation Eclipse coupe that has been core vehicle in Mitsubishi’s US stable.

Don’t go looking for a petrol powerplant under the sculpted bonnet, the Concept-RA uses a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine.

Despite low-demand for diesels in the US, Mitsubishi chose to highlight its intent to push forward with diesel technology with the show car.

Its common-rail four-cylinder uses piezoelectric injection, a variable geometry turbo and runs diesel oxidation and a NOx trap catalyst along with a diesel particulate filter.

Power output is a healthy 150kW, while the torque total is a stump-pulling 420Nm.

The Concept-RA also promises to put the power down properly, using the S-AWC all-wheel-drive system.

It is linked to Mitsubishi’s SST dual-clutch automatic transmission that will be available on the new Evo Lancer next year after a slight delay due to a manufacturing glitch.

The Concept-RA uses an aluminium space frame made up of extruded aluminium sections and die cast aluminium members. Plastic resin is used for the most exterior panels to keep the weight as low as possible.