Mitsubishi Coupe Concept news - An RA of talent - 2008

OK, so it didn't turn out quite as stunning as we'd hoped.

This is the Mitsubishi Concept-RA, a coupe design study unveiled this week in Detroit. When we saw it in sketch form back in November, we reckoned it might just end up being the best-looking car in the show. 

And, in truth, the Concept-RA isn't bad - a muscular, swooping body running back from a pair of evil headlights and Mitsu's trademark trapezoidal grille. Not bad, but not quite good enough to justify our uncharacteristic pre-Christmas excitement. And that matte black engine hood is just wrong, even if it is made of lightweight plastic resin. 

The details of the Concept-RA remain as we reported back in November - a 2.2-litre turbodiesel producing 310lb ft of torque and driving all four wheels through the Evo's Super All-Wheel Control system. It'll return over 40mpg, neatly sidestepping future emission regulations and making the RA a realistic production proposition. 

Which means that Mitsubishi could finally be serious about bringing an Eclipse to Europe - by 2009, if show floor whispers are to be believed. It could point to a diesel Evo, too. We're fine with both, thanks.