The new recent Mitsubishi Lancers and Evolutions have looked like separate species, despite sharing a common ancestor, making it difficult to sell the former using the latter's performance reputation.

So Mitsubishi gave its Prototype X Detroit show car which the automaker claims is 95 percent production-ready a strong Lancer resemblance, but an aggressive redesign of body panels and minimal sharing between the two cars will ensure no one will confuse the base model with the upcoming beast.

Mitsubishi's production Lancer GTS is also making its Detroit debut, in addition to Prototype X. The production Lancer Evolution will wait until the 2007 Tokyo motor show to get its day in the sun. Both vehicles are based on the Mitsu's new C-segment platform.By a long hoodline and acutely angled windshield and offset by the abbreviated tail and trademark rear wing, prototype X's windswept look is exaggerated. On the Concept X, after experimenting with rounded flares, the designers opted for more traditional box fenders that are softer and more sculpted than the all-business edges of the Evo IX.