After using its Pajero to compete in one of the world’s most grueling rallies, Mitsubishi is ready to switch nameplates and use its Eclipse Cross for the 2019 edition.

Backed up by Mitsubishi Motors Spain, a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross T1 Prototype will be driven by Cristina Gutierrez and co-driven by Pablo Huete.

Despite styling that looks like Mitsubishi’s new crossover, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross T1 Prototype is a purpose-built racer with a steel spaceframe chassis and carbon fiber body. It also employs double wishbone suspension with two fully-adjustable Öhlins Racing dampers on each wheel.

In the tradition of the best Mitsubishi performance vehicles, the full-time four-wheel drive system uses a mechanical center differential and limited slip differentials front and rear, helping transmit the turbo-diesel engine’s 340 horsepower and 686 Nm of torque to ground via a six-speed sequential transmission. Stopping power comes courtesy of four-piston AP Racing brakes on each wheel.

The 2019 Dakar rally takes place in Peru in 2019 with drivers and riders facing 5,000 kilometers of timed competition over ten stages, 70 percent of which on sand, between January 6 and January 17, 2019.