Mitsubishi entered the
2005 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge with the
Goku shin ka shown here. The Japanese name translates as The Ultimate Evolution, though perhaps not in the WRC replica way we think of the Mitsubishi Evolution.
The concept was shown at the LA Show in the form of a sketch and story board. The idea was to create the perfect Los Angeles area car. Jon Hull, one of the car's designers explains: "Los Angeles is one of the few places where within a one hour drive you can go surfing at the beach, hiking in the desert, snowboarding in the mountains, and still make it out for a night on the town in the infamous LA club scene. So we decided to design a vehicle that can take advantage of all that LA has to offer."
Though only a paper exercise, the design team also envisaged an advanced hybrid powertrain utilising a highly efficient petrol engine coupled to clever hydraulic linear pump batteries and drive units.
Shane O' Donoghue - 10 Jan 2005