Mitsubishi Lancer Prototype-S Sportback

By George Skentzos | February 25th, 2008

Following leaked images of the Lancer Prototype-S surfacing on the web much to the dismay of Mitsubishi Japan, official images of the plump Evo have made their way onto the internet ahead of its official unveiling in Geneva.

Much like the Evo X which adhered almost exactly to its dramatic renderings which in turn became the production model, the Prototype-S Concept is picture perfect.

An obvious grasp at Subaru’s former market, the Ralliart equivalent will appeal to buyers left high and dry by Subaru’s dramatic shift with the new Impreza range.

The Prototype-S Sportback is equipped to Ralliart standards, featuring a detuned version of the Evolution’s 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC turbocharged engine delivering 177kW.

Combined with a Twin Clutch SST gearbox and full-time all-wheel drive with an Active Center Differential, the Sportback should be no less nimble than its sedan-based brothers.

Source: AutoBild.de

http://. Naughtyius Maximus

WHO DOES THIS SOUND LIKE….this car has more performance then a TRD Aurion and is about the same room. More torque, more torque, more talk (oops). Its roomier to and does not pretend to be an arm wrestle like the TRD Aurion and has more appeal. Plump ya hard earned cash on this baby as the other one is a pretender and this is a sweet contender!

OH WHAT A FEELING….
Bavarian Missile

hahaha…..NM your in good form this morning.

I saw this yesterday on Auto Blog and thought will be interesting to see what people think of this compared to the Subbie.

I like it actually,grill does look like it could swallow small children but the over all look is very appealing. Mirrors need a bit of work,looks like they pulled them out of the spare parts bin!
Nath

I like it! It is sorta XR5ish from the back, except for the tailights.
Frugal One

Whats with the HUGE sized intake opening out front?

Trying to take on AUDI in the ugly stakes?

Cheers

F-0
http://Mini Nick

That is one UGLY Mother-F’n car! Man, even uglier than the new Impreza.
Jamie

Sure hope they bring the sedan out here too. This looks alright, but not as nice as the Sedan version.

Hope that’s not how the fog lamps will look lol
Ross

Haha NM – you are too right with your opening comment!!
Kris

I don’t mind that at all, looks better than the WRX and will probably outsell it.
Mitch

i think parts of it look like a holden viva
Flying High

Front – Excellent – Subaru take note!
Side Profile – Mazda 323 Astina – You are joking right?
Back – Get out of here butt ugly

Impreza has nothing to worry about if this is the competition.
Lcat

what happened to the concept-sportback? that was way sleeker looking than this hybrid design – sorry mitsu.
Duck

I love it! The new impreza is doomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
http://www.importjap.com ImportJap

It’s ok, but I much preferred the sportback.
o

Ugly you neeed to change the rear windows subie there ugly and the rear needs some workother than that goodjob
TP

Front is no suprise, same as other Ralliart/Evo… rear does look XR5ish in that rear arch, looks good.

As for NM, no this car doesnt lack torque… in ralliart guise 170kw and 350Nm at only 1500kgish.
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Iam with Dingo on front as identity crisis as grille comes out past the vertical and too forward from lights. Whats the el cheapo Kia Rio rear tailight on front (driving lights).

TP…..yeah and only 30nm more then Mondeo XR5 and bet ya left nut this Lancer will be above Mondeo in cost (mula)!
TP

Nm I dont expect you to comprehend the great difference….30Nm AND 100kg less weight! This is a car that looks the goods and can live up to those sport looks, the Mondeo is a poser, looks nice but has no balls, an empty promise if you will.
TP

Oh and I guarrantee the only reason why the Mondeo only comes with manual is because the auto would be even sloooower… hard to believe given the manual is just as fast if not slower then an Aurion, a family car!
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

oooooooooooooooooooooh really…..looks good? Now I heard it all! Now ummm yes….are we comparing MULA v MULA for both here? Game over as answer is >>>>NO
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

TP………….get the MULA in your nogging as I think you have hassles getting your head bent around that clearly!
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Mondeo is classy. Lancer is not as hot.

LOL……….anti spam word TOYOTA
Oz.

I can’t agree NM, I’d say the Mondeo is classy and the Lancer is hot
jbot

I like the look, not a fan of the rear lights though, but I think that might just be this pic. NM, this Mitsu will be much faster and perform better than the Mondeo. The Mondeo is a less focussed performance vehicle, more about luxury too.
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Yeah agree the Lancer is hot….would you take Lancer over Mondeo OZ? If Mondeo was tear arse with 4WD Iam sure you would plump for it?

Lancer is 4WD (correct me if wrong) and Mondeo is not.
Andrew M

Jbot and NM,
that is a good enough summary.

im sure the ralliart lancer and mondeo wouldnt compete for sales.
as said……..ralliart is “Hot” mondeo is “Classy”
Andrew M

NM,
i reckon give the mondoe to FPV, give it 4 paws to grip the road and then concentrate on a bit more whiplashing power and then we could compare them. also then the asking price would be similar.
i also think there is a vacancy for ford to fill with such an idea.
they tried it with the cougar some time ago but didnt quite hit the spot
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Agree Andrew M….I like the Mondeo and looks sweet as and would have some tarmac tearing traits in much the same way as the Mazda 6 if they make the turbo. Ford would have to add more aggression to front as too classy and smooth as – has no raw emotion of this Lancer. If you get my point?
No Name

Its a Focondeo A4.
Fresh material always looks good but the novelty will wear off.
You Aussies seem to love the Japanese material judging by the number of comments.
Andrew M

NM,
but i dont reckon the mondeo would be too far off being able to drop the “classy” look in turn for some aggression.

just picture it with the chrome coloured in and a slightly squarer jaw.
the actual body lines arent too far off what aston martin offers
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Gee yes agree there Andrew M. The slightly squarer jaw would help. I was lucky to see a few Mondeos and they are jawdropping in the metal.
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

Iam still out on the Lancer – that angled forward grille all the way down is tad out there. But hey….gotta change the current look and be bold I guess as same same no good!
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

The front lights look ancient – look at Mazda 6 and projector setup and how they are and compare to this.

Then look at the techno trash mosh pit weirdo driving lights on front. Like who designed that…..a 3yr old? LOL As for me I loved the Subby WRX when had the big round old driving lights with vent slots beside them – bold and strong and not weirdo like this out there thing!
Duck

Mondeo XR5 is crap! It’s car that its not supposed to be! Only made for aussie market!
Andrew M

yes duck I’d rather the mondeos competitor the “Epica” too.
(sarcasm)

i mean are you for real???
do you realise the mondeo actually isnt designed for just the aussie market?
did you know it is an import?
Phill

What’s the piece missing from the front look like?AWD is a plus but Mondeo looks better just needs an extra 20kws.
http://. Naughtyius Maximus

LOL………….DUCK gee are you the PM’s advisor? IF YOU WANT TO AGREE WITH DUCK>>>>>>YOUR OUT OF LUCK! Like mate really, do you travel around in a tardis aka Dr Who style as your comment is out there mate! A long dam way out!
Joober

Looks good, its got that focus back shape though,
For the spirit of things i’ll take the ralliart over a Mondeo, A mondeo you can say its a Mondeo, to me it calls out hairdresser with a bit of grunt.
Andrew M

NM,
even if he travelled via the tardis he would have landed in the UK to be able to see such a vehicle in the Mondeo on the world stage.
perhaps the “Darlics” should exterminate such ill educated comments that have come out of the toilet duck. just stick to the china bus Duck
jamison

I dunno what some of you guys see in this… well Im sure its a good car.

but some people who dissed the WRX Sti… well..

This is far less of a looker than the WRX, which is a good looking car if you look close enough.

They should just stick to the Sedan (10 cm from RR window to the end of the luggage section… its an exagerration but you see where Im getting at)..

Looks wrong… very aggressive front… then a wagon-nesque profile and rear… not even “hatch” looking.
Peter

LOL @ all the Mondeo XR5 comparisons…. you have to compare the Ralliart to the FOCUS XR5.

The Ralliart is just a ‘small’ car with go fast bits designed to make it a hot hatch. The Focus XR5 is much the same. The Mondeo XR5 is a mid-sized family car slightly modified to make it a more sporting drive; but is definitely not a hot hatch.

The Mondeo has comfort and luxuries in mind. Whereas the Lancer and Focus are performance oriented.

Overall, I like the design. It stays true to the Concept Sportback in some ways. The sedan would probably still be my pick though.
Duck

No! Im just saying the rest of the mondeo range has been in europe for a while now (tell me how long?)! But there is no XR5 Mondeo in Europe it was just made, just only for the Aussie market! The European market have a luxury version instead!