2008 Geneva Motor Show: Mitsubishi Prototype-S

Looks like: A four-door hatchback version of the Lancer

Defining characteristics: Massive trapezoidal grille, forward-swept liftgate, turbocharged four-cylinder, twin-clutch transmission

Ridiculous features: Giant rear spoiler

Chance of being mass-produced: Europe will get a production version later this year; we can only hope the U.S. is in line for it, too

Mitsubishi says the Prototype-S concept car you see here foreshadows what the next Lancer Sportback will look like. The design is a far cry from the last Lancer Sportback offered in the U.S. a few years ago, which was decidedly more wagon-like than this racy hatchback.

Like its exterior, the powertrain in the Prototype-S seems like it has a reasonable shot at making it to production. That's because it's very similar to what's under the hood of the new 2009 Lancer Ralliart. Specifically, the concept features a 237-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that teams with Mitsubishi's six-speed twin-clutch transmission. The transmission has both manual and automatic modes, and engine power is routed to all four wheels through an all-wheel-drive system that includes an electronically controlled center differential.

Mitsubishi says the production Lancer Sportback goes on sale in Europe later this year, and with the resurgence of hatchbacks in the U.S. it seems like a perfect time to bring the model back to the States — especially when it looks as good as this.

Comments

[Stephen]

No sir, I don't like it.

The sedan is sharp as nails, but this is just... not right. the front and side views are great, but the rear looks like garbage.

[Mart]

I kind of agree, but it still looks better than the WRX, although not the STi.

I hope they bring it over as personally I'd always buy a hatch over a sedan purely for practicality's purposes, and the more that are on sale here, the better.

[LM]

It's like a tacked on hatch from the 80s, with no design-thought put into it. Send it back to the drawing board.

[J]

This ugle grille plus the ugly hatch design? Sometimes I wondered if the Europeans' taste are that much different from ours.

[Ken L.]

The front and back of this car just does not go together. The front is square-ish and angular, providing a menacing look, while the back is curvy, Lexus RX like.

[Pierre]

I dont really like hatchbacks. I dont see any purpose to them, nor do people in north america see them as the car to have. Subaru screwed up the new STi by turning it into a hatchback, and I hope Mitsubishi doesn't follow that road. The new EVO is nice and so is the ralliart, but please no hatchbacks!!! 4-door sedans are much better. If they want to sell the prototype-s in europe and overseas, do that, but not in north america.

[smith]

Put more than 1.5 minutes of thought into it, and you realize this car is perfect: fun to drive and more practical than just about anything.

Mitsubishi: PLEASE SELL THIS IN THE UNITED STATES. I WILL BUY ONE.

[Charis]

I prefer the New Lancer Ralliart !

Much better looking than this one...

I hope they bring ralliart in Cyprus, i heard they will bring sportback though .... !

[Mart]

Pierre,

I'm interested to learn about your dislike for Hatchbacks. As a non-natice US resident I'm continually perplexed by the aversion to hatches here. To me, sedans are impractical and usually uglier than the hatch equivilent (although I will concede you on this one!). FOr examples of the ugly stick hitting sedans over their hatch cousins, look at the Yaris, Jetta and Civic.

So tell me, why the hatred?