Mitsubishi Prototype-S

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What is it?
Mitsubishi Prototype-S

What's special about it?
If you're thinking the Mitsubishi Prototype-S looks like nothing more than a Lancer hatchback, you would be correct — though not entirely, as it will officially be called the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback when it goes on sale in Europe later this year.

There, Mitsubishi expects the new five-door to make up 70 percent of Lancer sales. No word yet whether the Sportback will make it to the U.S., but we would be surprised if it doesn't. It won't get anywhere near 70 percent of Lancer sales in the U.S., although the relative success so far of Subaru's WRX hatch suggests a five-door Lancer might make sense.

No technical details have yet been released about the Prototype-S, so it's safe to assume that all the specifications will mimic the Lancer sedan. In the U.S. this will mean a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for base models, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder for the Lancer GTS and a turbocharged 2.0-liter for the Ralliart edition.

Hard to tell if an Evolution Sportback is in the cards, but don't bet on it. There are hints of the Evolution in the Prototype-S, however, so at least Mitsubishi is considering the possibility. The hood of the Prototype-S has been lifted directly from the Evolution and the blacked-out grille with its chrome surround is similar to the Evo as well. The Prototype-S also features a set of 19-inch wheels and unique headlights, neither of which will make production.

What's Edmunds' take?
A hatchback is an obvious choice for Mitsubishi's European lineup, but this car's success in the U.S. would be limited at best. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line