Mitsubishi Prototype X concept (2007): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

08 January 2007 08:08

Oh no. Not another Evo X concept?

Afraid so. Mitsubishi has really been rinsing this one out. Hot on the heels of the Concept X, this Prototype X is a very lightly disguised version of the Evo X production car that will finally be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show this autumn. The Prototype X looks production ready; those 20-inch alloys will probably shrink for production, and the LED indicator stalks on the mirrors may be toned down - but what you see here is what will roll into a showroom near you in a year's time. It's a more elegant incarnation of the Evo; it's still a focused, bespoilered brute, granted, but with slightly more style this time round, to our eyes at least. There's also a deeply sculpted rear diffuser for the first time.

The Prototype X is based on the new Lancer saloon, which in turn shares its oily bits with the new Outlander. So there's a four-wheel drive system and a high-output four-cylinder engine - continuing the stock Evo recipe. The 2.0-litre unit is turbocharged and, although Mitsubishi refuses to say how powerful it is, it says 'it will yield the highest power rating ever in an Evolution model'. Bet on at least 280bhp.

By Tim Pollard