Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart Concept: A Disappointing First Look
At the tail end of December, an image shared by Mitsubishi showing a Ralliart concept caused quite a stir. Most particularly, it raised hopes among fans for whom the Ralliart name has strong and fond associations, and who bemoaned the fact that since the departure of models bearing the name, there hasn’t been much in the way of performance models from the Japanese automaker.
The presentation of the concept is scheduled for this week, but we were given a full view of the model’s exterior ahead of all the details. Unfortunately, it turns out that what we’re getting is not exactly what many fans were hoping for. We may be headed for a wet firecracker of an unveiling.
You could argue the company doused water on that firecracker all by itself. By announcing a vehicle with the Ralliart name, Mitsubishi got fans excited with a clear message that it was going to give a nod to its past.
Instead, the concept is an SUV, based on an existing model: the Outlander. Mitsubishi says that the Vision Ralliart Concept embodies its vision of a new vocation for the word Ralliart and brings together the company's engineering and its passion for technical craftsmanship (Monozukuri).
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