Mitsubishi Motors concepts are theprototype andconcept cars exhibited around the world byMitsubishi Motors. In common with otherautomakers, Mitsubishi has used concept cars as both show cars—stylistically adventurousmotor show exhibits with no production intentions behind them—or as precursors of future models destined formass production.[1]
The first Mitsubishi concept car was a two-seatconvertible version of theColt 600, which was introduced at the 9thTokyo Motor Show in 1962 byShin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries,[2] one of the companies which would combine to form Mitsubishi Motors in 1970. Although the company had no intention of marketing it, the convertible helped attract the public's attention to the more mundanesedan.[2]
Mitsubishi has presented its heritage in its motor show exhibits, using vehicles from its past displayed in parallel with new model introductions. The Colt 600 convertible was brought out from the Mitsubishi Museum in 2005, alongside the new cabriolet version of theMitsubishi Colt which debuted at the 75thGeneva Motor Show.[3][4] The following year they revisited the theme by promoting the newest version of theirMitsubishi Pajerosport utility vehicle alongside a 1934Mitsubishi PX33, a pre-World War IImilitary prototype which was the first Japanese sedan equipped withfour-wheel drive.[5] They took the same approach a third time in 2007, with the tenth iteration of therallying-derivedMitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It was exhibited at theNorth American International Auto Show in 2007 alongside theMitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR, which gained renown after winning theSafari Rally in 1974.[6]
_rear.jpg)
.jpg)
| Automobile | Debut | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PX33 | 1934–37 | Aprototype passenger car commissioned formilitary use by the Japanese government.[7][8] It was the first Japanese-built sedan to have full-timefour-wheel drive.[5] | |
| Colt 600 | 9thTokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1962 | A two-seatconvertibleshow car exhibited to attract attention to the newColt 600 sedan. Never intended for production.[2] |
| Pajero I | 20th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1973 | An off-road SUV concept based on theMitsubishi Jeep. |
| SSW | 23rd Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1979 | A prototypepeople carrier which became the Mitsubishi Chariot.[9] |
| Pajero II | 23rd Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1979 | An off-road SUV concept. A precursor to the production Mitsubishi Pajero. |
| MP-90X | 26th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1985 | A streamlinedsports car with an advancednavigation andtelecommunications system.[10] |
| HSR | 27th–32nd Tokyo Motor Shows (Tokyo, Japan) | 1987–97 | An abbreviation of Highly Sophisticated-transport Research,[11] the HSR was a series of concept sports cars exhibited at consecutive Tokyo Motor Shows from 1987 to 1997, typically showcasing the company's engineering technologies.[11] |
| X2S | Chicago Auto Show | 1988 | Two-seat sports car concept. |
| HSX | 28th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1989 | Based on the mechanicals of theHSR-II, the HSX was a near production-ready version of the 1990 Mitsubishi GTO.[12] |
| RVR | 28th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1989 | An off-road concept. |
| mR. 1000 | 29th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1991 | One of a pair of complementary "his-and-hers" urban commuter cars alongside the mS. 1000, weighing about 650 kilograms (1,430 lb) and powered by a one-litrealuminium engine. Although the two varied in styling and some technology, both followed the then-current Japanese fashion forretro design.[13][14] |
| mS. 1000 | 29th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1991 | One of a pair of complementary "his-and-hers" urban commuter cars alongside the mR. 1000, weighing about 650 kilograms (1,430 lb) and powered by a one-litrealuminium engine. Although the two varied in styling and some technology, both followed the then-current Japanese fashion forretro design.[13][14] |
| Libero EV | 1993–96 | One of Mitsubishi's first completealternative propulsion-based prototypes; 36wagons were manufactured and sold to power companies for evaluation during the 1990s.[15] | |
| ESR | 30th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1993 | An abbreviation of Ecological Science Research, the ESR was ahybrid electric vehicle concept.[16] |
| Field Guard | 30th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1993 | Anoff-road vehicle styling exercise based on the Pajero. |
| Lynx | 30th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1993 | An off-roadkei car. |
| MUM 500 | 30th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1993 | A two-seaterkei car. |
| Gaus | 31st Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1995 | A prototypesport utility vehicle.[17] |
| Maus | 31st Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1995 | A two-seatermicrocar concept. |
| Zaus | 31st Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1995 | An off-road concept based on the Pajero. |
| Technas | 57thFrankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt, Germany) | 1997 | ASport utility vehicle later exhibited as theTETRA.[18][19][20] |
| TETRA | 32nd Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1997 | ASport utility vehicle first exhibited as theTechnas.[18][19][20][21] |
| MAIA | 32nd Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 1997 | An abbreviation of Mini Advanced & Ideal Archetype, the MAIA is an evolution of the earlierMitsubishi Maus microcar concept.[11] |
| SST | North American International Auto Show (Detroit,Michigan, United States) | 1998 | The first concept vehicle exhibited by the company in the United States, the SSTsports car was the precursor of the third generationMitsubishi Eclipse.[22] |
| SSU | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 1999 | The precursor of theMitsubishi Endeavorsport utility vehicle.[23][24] |
| SUW | Frankfurt, Tokyo Motor Shows (Frankfurt, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan) | 1999 | A series of prototypes sharing certain common themes, specifically aGDI engine and increased interior space through the use of an unusually high roofline.[25][26][27] |
| FTO EV | 1999 | ABEV-powered version of the FTO sports car, which broke the world record for the most distance covered by an electric vehicle in 24 hours.[28] | |
| SSS | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2000 | The precursor of the ninth generation of theMitsubishi Galant.[29] |
| ASX | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2001 | One of a pair of complementary prototypecrossover SUVs, alongside theRPM 7000. The ASX presaged the firstAirtrek/Outlander, which was released in Japan later the same year,[30] while the more radical RPM 7000 was a styling exercise unconstrained by the demands of mass production.[31] |
| RPM 7000 | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2001 | One of a pair of complementary prototypecrossover SUVs, alongside theASX. The RPM 7000 was a styling exercise unconstrained by the demands of mass production,[31] while the less radical ASX presaged the firstAirtrek/Outlander which was released in Japan later the same year.[30] while the more radical |
| CZ2 | 35th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2001 | Prototype urban car which presaged the next generation ofMitsubishi Colt.[32] |
| CZ3 Tarmac | 35th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2001 | A larger version of the CZ2, sharing the same platform but with more interior space and a larger engine. It was also a possible replacement for theMitsubishi Lancer Evolution as the company's vehicle in theWorld Rally Championship.[32][33] |
| Space Liner | 35th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2001 | A conceptmulti-purpose vehicle which later became the Mitsubishi Grandis.[32] |
| SUP | 35th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2001 | ACompact SUV styling exercise, designed soon after the arrival of stylistOlivier Boulay to Mitsubishi, and which helped introduce his vision of the company's "corporate face" on their future vehicles.[32] |
| Eclipse EV | Shikoku EV Rally,Shikoku, Japan | 2001 | Part of Mitsubishi's research intoalternative propulsion, aMitsubishi Eclipse fitted withlithium ion batteries and a permanent magnetic synchronous motor.[34] |
| Pajero Evo 2+2 | 58th Frankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt, Germany) | 2001 | A prototype of the racing car developed forDakar Rally in 2003 following the introduction of newSuper Production rules.[35][36][37] |
| FCV | Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell (JHFC) Demonstration Project | 2003 | A Grandis-basedfuel cell vehicle to participate in the JHFC Project in 2003, developed in partnership withDaimlerChrysler, the then-controlling shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors.[38][39] |
| Tarmac Spyder | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2003 | Aconvertible version of theCZ3 Tarmac concept.[40][41] |
| "i" Concept | 60th Frankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt, Germany) | 2003 | A prototypekei car which later became the Mitsubishi i.[42] |
| CZ2 cabriolet | 73rdGeneva Motor Show (Geneva, Switzerland) | 2003 | An open-topped version of the earlierCZ2 prototype.[43] |
| Se-Ro | 37th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2003 | Analuminium-bodied styling exercise based on the mechanical underpinnings of theMitsubishi i prior to its release. It followed a classical aeronautical theme, with its name alluding to theMitsubishi Zerofighter aircraft ofWorld War II,[44] and its bodywork resembling anairship.[45][46] |
| Eclipse Concept-E | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2004 | A concept car previewing the next generation of theMitsubishi Eclipse which was released in 2005.[47] |
| Sport Truck Concept | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2004 | A mid-size prototypepickup truck intended to promote the announcement of theMitsubishi Raider, although the concept truck shared no styling or mechanical components with the production vehicle.[47][48] |
| Goku Shin Ka ("The Ultimate Evolution") | Los Angeles Auto Show (Los Angeles, California, USA) | 2005 | A combinedsports car,convertible,pickup truck, andSUV.[49] The featured vehicle in acomic book created for the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show by staff atMitsubishi Motors North America'sCaliforniandesign studio.[50] |
| Nessie | 75th Geneva Motor Show (Geneva, Switzerland) | 2005 | Ahydrogen-poweredsport utility vehicle concept co-designed withItalianengineering firmItaldesign Giugiaro andGermanindustrial gases companyThe Linde Group.[51] |
| Concept-Sportback | 61st Frankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt, Germany) | 2005 | The precursor of thehatchback version of theMitsubishi Lancer, being introduced to the European market in 2008.[52] |
| Colt EV | 2005 | A concept car using the company'sMIEV in-wheel motor technology; the first car so equipped which was mooted for mass production and sale.[53] | |
| Concept D-5 | 39th Tokyo Motor Show Tokyo, Japan | 2005 | A pre-production version of the fifth generation of the Mitsubishi Delicamulti-purpose vehicle.[54] |
| Concept-X | 39th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2005 | A prototype of the tenth generation of theMitsubishi Lancer Evolution.[55] |
| Concept-CT MIEV | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2006 | Ahybrid electricprototype based on themid-engine, rear-wheel drive platform of theMitsubishi ikei car.[56] |
| Concept-EZ MIEV | 76th Geneva Motor Show (Geneva, Switzerland) | 2006 | A compact monobox design, created to demonstrate the benefits of the company'sMIEV in-wheel motor technology in giving greater interior space.[57][58] |
| Concept-cX | 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show (Frankfurt, Germany) | 2007 | A mini SUV designed to promote Mitsubishi's environmental credentials; the car used a clean-burningdiesel engine which passed strict futureemissions requirements, and featured an interior constructed largely from plant-basedresins.[59] |
| Evolander | SEMA Show (Las Vegas, Nevada) | 2007 | A high performance version of theMitsubishi Outlander.[60] |
| i MiEV Sport | 40th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2007 | Akei-classfastback using theMitsubishi i platform and the company'sMIEValternative propulsion system.[61] |
| Concept-ZT | 40th Tokyo Motor Show (Tokyo, Japan) | 2007 | A sedan developed as a potential next-generation model of theMitsubishi Galant[62][63][64] and the Galant-basedMitsubishi 380 in Australia.,[65] which were later canceled. |
| Concept-RA | North American International Auto Show (Detroit, Michigan, USA) | 2008 | A sports coupe developed as a potential next-generation model of theMitsubishi Eclipse, which was later canceled.[66][67][68] |
| Prototype-S | 78th Geneva Motor Show (Geneva, Switzerland) | 2008 | A development of theMitsubishi Concept-Sportback, the Prototype-S was the pre-production version of theRalliart version of the 2008Mitsubishi Lancer hatchback.[69] |
| Concept PX-MiEV | Tokyo Motor Show LA Auto Show (NA debut) | 2009 | A plug-in hybrid SUV. Previewed the styling of the third-generationMitsubishi Outlander. |
| Concept Global Small | Geneva Motor Show | 2011 | A next-gen B-segment hatchback. Previewed thesixth-generation Mitsubishi Mirage (previously known as the Colt). |
| MiEV Evolution MiEV Evolution II MiEV Evolution III | 2012 2013 2014 | A series of electric race cars made for thePikes Peak International Hill Climb. | |
| Concept G4 | Bangkok Motor Show | 2013 | A small sedan which previewed theMitsubishi Mirage G4 (aka Mitsubishi Attrage). |
| Concept GC-PHEV | Tokyo Motor Show Chicago Auto Show (NA debut, 2015) | 2013 | A full-size plug-in hybrid SUV. Some styling cues were later seen in the third generationMontero Sport/Pajero Sport. |
| Concept XR-PHEV | Tokyo Motor Show LA Auto Show (NA debut, 2014) | 2013 | A compact crossover SUV with sporty styling. A precursor to theMitsubishi Eclipse Cross. |
| Concept GR-HEV | Geneva Motor Show Bangkok Motor Show | 2013 | A diesel-hybrid sport-utility truck. Previewed the styling of the fifth-generation, four-doorMitsubishi Triton andFiat Fullback. |
| Concept CA-MiEV | Geneva Motor Show | 2013 | An electric car concept made as a larger, potential successor to the i-MiEV. |
| Concept AR | Tokyo Motor Show | 2013 | A next-generationcompact MPV. |
| Concept XR-PHEV Evolution | 2014 | A two-door rally racer made for theVision Gran Turismo series ofGran Turismo 6. | |
| Concept XR-PHEV II | Geneva Motor Show | 2015 | Successor to the 2013 Concept XR-PHEV, closer to the production Eclipse Cross and now dubbed an "urban crossover". |
| eX Concept | Tokyo Motor Show LA Auto Show (NA debut, 2016) | 2015 | An electric compact SUV. The front end previewed the styling of theMitsubishi Eclipse Cross. |
| GT-PHEV Concept | Paris Motor Show | 2016 | A plug-in hybrid "grand tourer" crossover SUV. First preview of the fourth-generationMitsubishi Outlander. |
| XM Concept | GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show | 2016 | A small crossover MPV with SUV-like features. Previewed the productionMitsubishi Xpander. |
| e-Evolution Concept | Tokyo Motor Show LA Auto Show (NA debut, 2018) | 2017 | An electric high-performance SUV. |
| Re-Model A | Los Angeles Auto Show | 2017 | A 100th anniversary tribute to theMitsubishi Model A built byWest Coast Customs. The body is built on the chassis of the Outlander PHEV. |
| Engelberg Tourer | Geneva Motor Show | 2019 | A plug-in hybrid SUV. Second preview of the fourth-generationMitsubishi Outlander. |
| MI-Tech Concept | Tokyo Motor Show | 2019 | A doorless, roofless buggy-type electric SUV. |
| Super Height K-Wagon Concept | Tokyo Motor Show | 2019 | A tallKei-class wagon. |
| Triton Absolute | Bangkok International Motor Show | 2019 | Mitsubishi first unveiled the Absolute Concept at the Bangkok Motor Show in March 2019, before taking the hardcore Triton on a tour of Australia to gauge consumer and dealer feedback to the truck. |
| Shogun Sport / Pajero Sport SVP Concept | The Commercial Vehicle Show | 2019 | The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SVP concept has been revealed in the UK overnight with Mitsubishi UK announcing the SVP Pack that will be available towards the end of the year. |
| Delica D:5 Tough×Tough | Tokyo Auto Salon | 2022 | The Delica D:5 Tough x Tough is equipped with various aftermarket parts and Ralliart accessories to further emphasize the tough, off-road styling. |
| K-EV concept X Style | Tokyo Auto Salon | 2022 | It's meant to preview a new generation of electric kei cars in Japan. Mitsubishi is light on details, but it does specify that this particular kei car is meant to be SUV-like in feel. It features a raised ride height, X-shaped logos all about and a copper roof meant to remind of the motor winding of an EV. |
| Vision Ralliart Concept | Tokyo Auto Salon | 2022 | Mitsubishi is using the Outlander PHEV as the basis of this concept, but it appears as though nothing has been done to the powertrain to make it any more potent than the standard car. |
| Minicab MiEV B-Leisure Style | Tokyo Auto Salon | 2022 | The Minicab-MiEV B-Leisure Style is a kei-car class electric commercial vehicle that offers convenience from private to business use by serving as a source of power supply. |
| XFC | Vietnam Motor Show | 2022 | The XFC is a concept crossover SUV first showcased in Vietnam in October 2022. |
| XRT | Bangkok International Motor Show | 2023 | The XRT is a concept and Prototype of mid-size prototype pickup truck first showcased in Thailand in March 2023. |
| D:X | Japan Mobility Show | 2023 | The D:X is a concept MPV first showcased in Japan in October 2023. |
| DST | Philippine International Motor Show | 2024 | The DXT is a 7-passenger concept crossover SUV first showcased in pilipinas in October 2024. |
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help){{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)