Mitsubishi has revealed the first image of its new Global Small car prior to its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The concept was first teased in two sketches earlier this month and the city car recreates the features of the sketches accurately.
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This includes sculpted flanks featuring a cut-out line rising towards the rear headlamps, but the flared wheel arches have been toned down in the concept version.
However, Mitsubishi has hinted the car will be aimed at emerging markets and has not confirmed if it will be sold in Europe.
Mitsubishi says the car will seat five and will focus on the key concepts of ‘compact’, ‘affordability’ and ‘high fuel efficiency’.
The latter should result in mid-90g/km CO2 emissions for the compact car, the first combustion-powered model in Mitsubishi’s range to offer sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.
This is all down to the 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre engines set to appear in the Global Small. All models will be fitted with a regenerative braking system to recover energy when the brakes are used and reduced running resistance tyres will also help to improve fuel economy.
Mitsubishi has also hinted at the use of Start\Stop technology, a feature designed to switch the engine off when the car is stationary in traffic to save fuel.
As expected with a city car, Mitsubishi says a production model will include ‘manoeuvrability and easy operation’ when it goes on sale in Japan in 2012.
Production will start at the Thailand plant in 2012, and as the name suggests, Mitsubishi will sell the Global Small in a range of markets across the world.