"This project marks another milestone in DaimlerChrysler's alliance strategy," stated Eric Ridenour, Executive Vice President - Product Development of the Chrysler Group. "Ultimately, this will allow us both to reduce development, production times and costs while adding to our respective portfolios with distinctly different, high-quality products."
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| With the Sport Truck concept shown at the Detroit auto show, Mitsubishi looks to be targeting the younger import-oriented crowd. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America) |
Distinctly different is right. If Mitsubishi's Sport Truck concept shown at the Detroit auto show is actually a developmental prototype of the future pickup it will attract a much more import-oriented crowd, or at least that is what I guess Mitsubishi Motors' Design Studio in Cypress, California was thinking when they penned it.
While less technically sophisticated than its hybrid gas-electric powered Concept E cousin, the new Sport Truck retains an exciting concept car look and feel. Its low cabin line gives it a chopped, custom hotrod appeal while sleek, wraparound windows are more sedan-like than the usual for this genre. Mitsubishi wraps the window surrounds and bed trim with what looks to be brushed aluminum trim, giving the truck an upscale appearance.
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| The grille of the concept truck looks like something right out of a sci-fi action movie. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America) |
Its grille is tough like Rambo, but more in a Robocop meets Judge Dread kind of way. A bold aluminum-look strikethrough bisects the gaping air intake, joined just above a pair of massive projector-style fog lamps at each corner. Below these its lower fascia hides a second bumper specifically designed to line up with the bumpers of smaller passenger cars, safer in an accident.
A sleek set of integrated ellipsoid projector headlamp clusters featuring neon turn lamps in floating bezels, round out the front of the swollen front fenders, the latter of which match the truck's sculpted hood. These last two design cues might pay greater homage to the previous Dakota than Dodge's recently unveiled 2005 version, but the similarity ends there.