First look: Mitsubishi's foxy show cars

MITSUBISHI has revealed two new world-first vehicles at the Detroit auto show in January – the 2007 Eclipse Spyder 2+2 cabriolet and the Concept-CT.

The latter is an ultra-compact four-door hatchback showcases the Japanese manufacturer’s latest design work in this market segment and also includes a hybrid powertrain combining a 50kW 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with the company’s in-wheel motor (20kW x 4) electronic vehicle (MIEV) technology first shown at the Tokyo motor show in October.

Other interesting features on the CT include "suicide" rear doors, a horizontally split tailgate (with upper glass hatch and lower tailgate) and a rear-midship layout which places the engine behind the rear passengers but ahead of the rear axle line.

Mitsubishi claims this allows for optimum weight distribution, a lower centre of gravity and a small yaw-inertia moment (quick steering response), as well as large frontal crush zone for reduced engine intrusion into the cabin in the event of a collision.