NAIAS Blog: Mitsubishi's Stunning Concept RA, Lancer Ralliart Announced

The glitz and glam of the Detroit auto show will slap you across the face even if you hide in a corner beneath a cappuccino machine. Case in point is the Mitsubishi stand, a small booth tucked in a small aisle between Hyundai and Kia, with the alley itself sandwiched between Ford's massive blue and white dreamland and GM's expansive field of metal. There, hidden away from the rampaging cattle and Toby Keith hip shaking, the Concept RA debuted as the unsung hero of Detroit day 1. The gorgeous little coupe is basically the result of cramming a small turbodiesel and all the Lancer Evolution's fancy mechanicals into a small coupe package. There was so little room left over, the engine cover makes up part of the hood. If this concept saw the production Eclipse in walking down the hall, it would steal all of its lunch money and give it the biggest wedgie ever witnessed. Please Mitsubishi, build it for us.

One car that Japan's cult brand will bring us is the Lancer Ralliart that will hit streets later this year as a 2009 model. Intended to fill the gap between Lancer and Lancer Evolution, the Ralliart finally gives Subaru's WRX some competition in the affordable sports sedan market. It packs a detuned version of the Evo's 2.0-liter turbo four putting down 235 hp through a twin-clutch SST transmission to all four wheels, just like the Evo. It even has the Evo's aluminum hood, while Recaro seats are optional. Now that the Evolution has moved higher in pricing, Mitsubishi saw a hole in the line-up. The Ralliart should fill it nicely.