The Mitsubishi That Could Be, but Almost Certainly Won't

You may have spotted a crop of recent headlines and briefly thought that Mitsubishi has designs on returning to the sports car market.

Sorry to burst that particular bubble.

However, if, like me, you spent at least a portion of the 1990s daydreaming about the 3000GT, a report from Motor1 suggests that you might have reason to dream. Well, only if the automaker listens to outsiders who have talent and enthusiasm but not an employee ID.

A rendering has shown a possible future for Mitsubishi high-end sports cars – the 4000GT.

Renderings don’t mean much, especially when they come from a third party and not the automaker itself, but if one is inclined to hope, the 4000GT has the spirit of the old one while also sporting a modernized look.

The lines are sharper, and the overhangs are no longer equal – the front overhang is long and the rear is short. There’s a giant wing out back that would make a Subaru STi green with envy. One feature from the past pops up – pop-up headlights. Pun intended, and I’m not sorry.

Daytime running lights and the rear lights both run the car’s full width.

Since it’s just a drawing, there are no specs, but if it were me running Mitsubishi, I’d find a twin-turbo six, a manual trans, and an all-wheel-drive system.

Of course, if it were me running Mitsubishi, the Eclipse Cross would have a different name, the vehicles would be better in terms of build quality, an Eclipse sport coupe would still exist, and this car would be built.

But I run this blog (at least up to a point…I have corporate masters to answer to), not a car company. I can make up a fantasy lineup without being beholden to bean-counters and business realities.

And the business reality for Mitsubishi isn’t good, which makes me think this car won’t ever come to fruition. Alas, it exists as merely a design exercise, in all likelihood.

Too bad, because Toyota’s new Supra needs more competition.

[Image: Mitsubishi]