Mitsubishi’s Xpander is one of the most popular small MPVs in its segment. For our latest render, I was given the challenge of turning the humble family hauler into a high-performance Evolution variant. While this concept might not make much sense for some people, we do have to remember that: a) there is currently no Lancer to base an Evo on, and b) the Xpander is already used for motorsports—to be more specific, the AP4 rally class.
The Xpander AP4 gave us a preview of how a widebody version of this small MPV would look like; the next step was to refine its design and make it look like a production vehicle. Up front, it features a bigger grille opening for improved cooling. The central intake needed for the intercooler is positioned lower, while the opening by the right foglight is for the oil cooler. Like on past Evolution models, the hood has heat extractors. At the bottom is a standard front splitter.
Moving to the sides, our Xpander Evolution features widened front fenders and rear quarter panels required to contain the greater tracks and the wide 245/40 R18 tires. At the rear, it has a diffuser with cutouts for the twin polished exhaust tips. At the top of the liftgate is an Evo-style rear wing. The Dynamic Shield elements, window trim, and side-mirror caps are finished in gloss-black. Inside, it gets fabric and alcantara front sports seats.
Powering our Xpander Evolution is an updated version of Mitsubishi’s 2.0-liter 4B11T turbocharged MIVEC gasoline engine, tuned to produce 308hp and 425Nm of torque. This is mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). Like the last Lancer Evo, it comes standard with a Super All-Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system. With a curb weight similar to its Evo X sedan predecessor, the high-performance MPV should be able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in under 5sec.
To reduce weight, aluminum is used for the hood and the fenders; extra bracing stiffens up the body structure. The wide-track sports-tuned suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear. All four corners get ventilated disc brakes with red Brembo calipers on all corners. A track package with tweaked suspension and a third-row seat-delete option will also be available. This would give customers who don’t need the extra seating the option of a lighter, sharper-handling vehicle.
If Mitsubishi decided to build this high-performance Xpander Evolution, would you consider it? Let us know in the comments.
