Meet Mitsubishi’s Vision GT concept

This is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV concept, and it is an all-wheel-drive, turbocharged hybrid monster.

Well, at least we think it is. It's the latest in a formidable series of concept cars built by manufacturers especially for Gran Turismo 6. We've already seen that monster Mercedes Vision GT, BMW's VGT and the Golf GTI Roadster unveiled at Worthersee.

This one from Mitsubishi, then, will be available to update through your dial-up modem, and takes its cue from the XR-PHEV concept we saw late last year at the Tokyo Motor Show. That's the show where Mitsu made a very public display of affection for hybrid motors.

So for the development of this GT concept, Mitsubishi's crack team channeled the spirit of their motorsport division and applied it to the small SUV, essentially losing height and adding some motorsport girth to the front and rear wings, sills and of course, the rear. No self-respecting GT car would be complete without a monster wing.

The body is made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, there are 20-inch aluminium wheels, along with front and rear diffusers, while the grille is a glimpse at the next generation of Mitsubishi front-ends - fine by us - said to evoke ‘an athlete at crouching position on a starting line'.

We're not entirely sure if this athlete is an Usain Bolt or a high-school hopeful, however, because no word is made of the drivetrain, other than the fact it's a plug-in hybrid EV system.

The concept XR-PHEV at Tokyo used a 1.1-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, which might be a little underwhelming in this capacity. But another Tokyo concept - the GC-PHEV - used a 3.0-litre V6 and high-power electric motor, and we'd much rather imagine this to be the balls behind the brains of the GT concept.

We do know the GT concept uses an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox and four-wheel-drive. However, and it's worth keeping this to the very forefront of your thoughts, it's not actually real.

Still, tell us what you think below. About time Mitsu got its motorsport mojo back?