1995 Mitsubishi HSR-V

The Mitsubishi HSR, meaning Highly Sophisticated-transport Research, was a group of concept cars designed and created by Mitsubishi Motors during the late 1980s and 1990s. In total, there were six itereations, each being released biannually to coincide with the Tokyo Motor Show. The first was the HSR, introduced in 1987. It showcased Mitsubishi's integrated electronic system which offered automatic control of the drive train, steering, driving position, and brakes accodring to the weather and driving conditions. The car was powered by a turbocharged 2-liter engine that produced nearly 300 horsepower. Top speed was reported in the neighborhood of 300 km/h.

Two years later, the HSR-II appeared. Some say that the design of the vehicles were inspired by dolphins. The HSR-II focused on active aerodynamics, and had movable fins and spoilers to react with changes in speed and driving conditions. The result was a reduction in drag, that varied from .2 to .40 depending on the setup. The results of this design study were used in the production version of the GTO Sports Car.

The Tokyo Motor Show in 1991 saw the introduction of the HSR-III, the third iteration in the line of HSR vehicles. Power for this vehicle was from a 1.6-liter V6 6A10 engine. This engine was used in their small and medium sized vehicles through the 1990s. It was given the title as being the smallest modern production V6.

In 1995, Mitsubishi introduced their HSR-V concept, the fifth generation of HSR concept cars. The car featured a targa top with a folding hardtop roof. The car also introduced Mitsubishi's gasoline direct injection (GDI) technology. The Mitsubhsi HSR-VI, introduced in 1997, also had a version of this engine. It measured 2.4-liters in displacement and was the final iteration of the HSR concepts. The car featured four wheel steering, active yaw control, traction control and an automated driving system.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007