Research and development teams at Mitsubishi have been working on building a car that can combine a green personality with a high performance demeanor. The Mitsubishi RA concept car is the result of such an endeavor. The RA was built to utilize clean diesel technology without sacrificing adrenaline producing performance. Like most concept cars, it’s extreme in it’s design and aspirations, but worth taking a look at.
Drive train wise the RA concept car is comparable to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It features Super-All-Wheel-Control (S-AWC), which helped make the Evolution a winning rally car capable of maneuvering over the roughest terrain. Included in this system is stability control which is capable of adjusting torque and braking to help maintain a straight line. When all components are working together it provides maximum traction, control, cornering, and vehicle stabilization.
Powering the RA concept car is a 2.2 liter 4 banger 16 valve turbo diesel engine. To achieve it’s high efficiency while maintaining performance attributes, the engine features Mitsubishi’s MIVEC that offers constant variable valve timing control. The small liter engine is capable of producing just over 200 horsepower, but an amazing 300 ft lb of torque. This high torque engine, coupled with the light weight design of the RA, makes for performance you can feel in the seat of your pants. Consider this, the RA’s engine produces more torque than the 4.6 liter V8 found in the 2010 Ford Mustang.
Exterior wise, the RA concept car reminds me of the legendary Eclipse. What sets this Mitsubishi apart is it’s diesel engine and full time all wheel drive. It’s like Mitsubishi took the best parts of the Lancer Evolution and mated it with the sexy body lines of the latest generation Eclipse. They even went so far as to add Lambo Doors, just like many after market car enthusiasts do to customize their rides.
No indication has been made that the RA Concept Car will actually be produced, but its a great platform to build upon. Any research and development done to further performance and efficiency deserves everyone’s attention.
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