2003 Mitsubishi Tarmac Spyder Concept - How a Four-Seat Motorcycle Might Look
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| Even more power than a Lancer EVO8 in a smaller, leaner and lighter roadster. What's there to think about Mitsubishi? Build it and buyers will come. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors) |
Have you figured out who Mitsubishi Motors is yet? They're the new, edgy Japanese car company with the red tri-diamond logo that hit town last September. If you haven't noticed a new dealership in your neighborhood it would have been harder still to have missed their cool TV commercials, you know the ads with the awesome tunes and stylish 20-something seat-dancers.
That's precisely the target market that would jump at the opportunity to own a Tarmac Spyder, if it were to be produced. Introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month, the Tarmac represents an entirely different direction for the builder of sporty sedans and SUVs. Sure they offer a very nice sports coupe and convertible, the Eclipse and Eclipse Sypder, but these are geared toward comfortable cruising rather than slalom domination.
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| The CZ-3 Tarmac sports hatch concept, shown here, is obviously where Mitsubishi designers found their inspiration for the new Spyder. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors) |
That said Mitsubishi definitely has the credentials to dive into this field. One of its sporty sedans is its world rally conquering Lancer Evolution, just updated to EVO 8 guise resulting in 271-hp and 273 lb-ft of torque driving all four wheels. While the EVO isn't coming to Canada yet - keep those letters to Mitsubishi coming - it does at least show us Canadians what the brand is capable of.
It also encompasses the perfect set of components for a smaller, lighter, sportier image car, the Tarmac. First of all, the Tarmac Spyder shouldn't be confused with the CZ-3 Tarmac sports hatch concept that didn't appeared on North America's auto show circuit in 2001 when it was launched. Of course it's obvious where the Spyder derived much of its design inspiration, but the CZ-3 is a slightly different approach to the same 'how much fun is possible behind the wheel of a car' premise.