Mitsubishi has provided a teaser image an “innovative premium vehicle” that it will reveal at March’s Geneva motor show – marking the first time the tri-diamond brand is unveiling an all-new global car at the Swiss expo.
All the company is saying for now is: “The Geneva motor show will see the world premiere of a strategic and innovative premium vehicle, to be retailed sequentially during 2012 – a car of substance that will reflect a gradual transformation in Mitsubishi’s design language.
“This unveiling will confirm the start of an all-new generation of global products for Mitsubishi Motors, consistent with the ambitions set in MMC’s ‘Jump 2013’ business plan for a greener and more global Mitsubishi. Fittingly, this complete family of cars/crossovers/SUVs will see a gradual transition to a re-focused design language.”
Mitsubishi hasn’t given us any tech details or any other meaty info for now, so all we have to go on is this shadowy image of the front end, which shows the new face of the marque. First impressions are that there’s more than a little similarity to Volkswagen’s design language (especially the headlights).
It’s possible the concept could be an evolution of the PX-MiEV II concept that was rolled out at last December’s Tokyo motor show and, if this were the case, it would likely signal the end of the line for the Outlander.
That said, the most obvious shortcoming in Mitsubishi’s current line-up seems to be its lack of a competitive medium-large sedan, with the 380 having been axed here in 2008, and its overseas counterpart (the Galant) getting long in the tooth and selling in modest volumes in the US, Middle East and other markets.
Whatever the case, the Geneva debutant provides further proof of Mitsubishi’s belated drive to revamp its product line-up, following in the wheeltracks of the new Mirage compact recently unveiled at the Tokyo motor show, with the latter going on sale in emerging markets from March onwards.
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