Italdesign to Debut Mitsubishi-badged Nessie SUV-Coupe Concept in Geneva

A Future Mitsubishi SUV in the Making?

Italian design studio Italdesign Giugiaro has just announced that it will be showing a Mitsubishi-branded prototype at

Italian design studio Italdesign Giugiaro will be showing a Mitsubishi-branded prototype at this year's Geneva Auto Salon. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

this year's Geneva Auto Salon. The vehicle, a unique crossover, creatively blends the sporty elements of a coupe with the practicality of a sport utility vehicle.

The ideas for the concept were put into motion by the need to reshape the direction of the brand's global image. Heavily flared fenders with faux bolts, short front and rear overhangs, plus large wheels inject a rugged flair into the low-slung SUV, while vertically stacked headlamps, a frameless windshield, a panoramic roof and V-shaped roof racks are exploratory design themes.

Despite the new styling direction, the Nessie is still recognizable as a contemporary Mitsubishi: the small-car proportions and the triangular-shaped split grille are just

The new concept carries a look quite similar to that of the Paris-Dakar winning short-wheelbase Pajero (Montero) Evolution rally car. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

two of its many key design traits. Overall, this new concept carries a look quite similar to that of the Paris-Dakar winning short-wheelbase Pajero (Montero) Evolution rally car.

The Nessie is powered by a Linde-sourced 2.5-litre V8. If you were expecting it to be fueled by gasoline, or even diesel you'd be wrong; as something that looks this futuristic could only run on hydrogen. With zero tailpipe emissions, this is one of the cleanest vehicles to be displayed at the Geneva show. The tiny powerplant is linked to an automatic transmission and an electronically controlled all-wheel drive system.