Photo of the day: Mitsubishi heads to Dakar

Say hello to Mitsubishi’s entry into 2019’s Dakar Rally. The Eclipse Cross T1 Prototype will be driven by Spaniards Cristina Gutierrez and Pablo Huete in the gruelling 5,000km, 10-stage event that takes place next January. 

Gutierrez and Huete have raced (and finished) the Dakar before, but this is the Eclipse’s first outing. It uses a steel spaceframe chassis clad with carbon body panels, serious suspension with two Öhlins Racing dampers per corner and permanent all-wheel drive with locking centre, front and rear differentials. The brakes are AP Racing, and power comes from a 340bhp, 506lb ft turbodiesel running through a six-speed sequential gearbox. We think it's safe to say it has about as much to do with the normal Eclipse Cross as a thatched cottage.

Mitsubishi has won the Dakar Rally 12 times. Will 2019 bring lucky number 13?