Mitsubishi axed the Evo

TongMan · 03-02-2011, 05:29 PM

Pretty heartening news for car enthusiasts everywhere.

Quote:

When you think of Mitsubishi, what do you think of? Chances are, one of the first things that runs through your mind when Mitsubishi gets a mention, is the turbocharged, AWD, rally-car-for-the-road Lancer Evolution series. For decades now, the Evo has provided Mitsu with some desperately-needed sense of identity, although it never really reflected a brand philosophy the way Subaru’s WRX/STI series did for its AWD lineup. And now, it seems, Mitsubishi is done trying to build a brand on a rally replica. Autocar‘s Matt Prior recently sat down with Motsu’s global product director Gayu Eusegi, and he heard some rather jarring news:

The Lancer Evolution X, Eusegi told me, will be the last Evo. “There is still a demand [for the car],” he said, “but we must stop.” Eyebrow up.

“Our influence now is EV technology,” Eusegi said, adding that the decision was a “policy change”.

It seems Mitsubishi, which is going to introduce eight full electric or hybrid cars by 2015, has decided its image is about lowering CO2, not making lurid replicas of rally cars that don’t go top-level rallying any more.

Eusegi said that customers would find it “easier to understand” what Mitsubishi was about if it was no longer in this motorsport-inspired market.

Eusegi goes on to apparently confirm that the Evo X will be the last of the line, until such time as rally racing goes electric. Which means that if you’ve always wanted to buy a new Evo, you might want to think about picking one up soon. After all, an EV-heavy strategy may not be the silver bullet for Mitsubishi, but the Lancer Evolution has had its chance at playing halo. Change can be painful, but it is the only constant… and Mitsu has to evolve or die. Even if that means the Evolution dies first.

Source: Mitsubishi: Evo Out, EVs In | The Truth About Cars

GZ3 · 03-02-2011, 05:36 PM

wow that sux big sweaty hair salty balls...i loved the evo....geez whats next the Z?!

Eusegi>mitsubishi?!?! wtf

bigaudiofanat · 03-02-2011, 09:19 PM

I am hurting a bit, I wanted one of those.....

Red370 · 03-02-2011, 09:23 PM

as an avid DSM lover, i'd love to see a rebirth of the turbo Eclipse.

Gunzero · 03-02-2011, 09:27 PM

Fck

crash1369 · 03-02-2011, 11:20 PM

I would rather see something along the lines of the 3000 gt again, their new found dedication to electric cars could even be an option.

In theory an electric car could out perform an internal combustion powered one, but obviously they've all been designed as gutless economy cars to date though and I don't see that changing

m4a1mustang · 03-02-2011, 11:23 PM

Well that stinks.

Waiz · 03-02-2011, 11:38 PM

Electric powered Evo, sign me up!

Brazilbro · 03-02-2011, 11:53 PM

I miss my Evo 8 a lot. I'm always looking to pick up one for cheap but haven't found the right one yet.. I need to pick up a Evo 9 RS. sounds like it will pull a pretty penny in the future.

Jordo! · 03-03-2011, 06:31 AM

Huh. So Mitsu is going Toyota and Toyota is going Nissan.

Well there ya go -- Toyota needs to offer a turbo model of the FT-86 next year. Whole new potential consumer base just opened up.

Cell · 03-03-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Huh. So Mitsu is going Toyota and Toyota is going Nissan.

Well there ya go -- Toyota needs to offer a turbo model of the FT-86 next year. Whole new potential consumer base just opened up.

LOL... and Nissan is going Porsche

280z/300zx · 03-03-2011, 11:56 AM

Here is another link

Mitsubishi to ditch the Evo for EVs - Confidential

Word on some of the suby boards is that the STI may not make it past 2014-2015. With all manufactures going to hybrid or electronic tech it makes you wonder how much longer sports cars in general will be around.

Red370 · 03-03-2011, 02:40 PM

Am I the only one hopeful of an Eclipse revival? I remember lusting after the GSX as a kid, I'd love to see another awd turbo sport coupe from Mitsu.

i mean, c'mon the car was hot, and it was WAAAY ahead of its time.

xdeslitx · 03-03-2011, 03:00 PM

Wow can't believe the evo will be no more...lol i don't get all this environmentally friendly crap

Jordo! · 03-03-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

LOL... and Nissan is going Porsche

I was thinking that too, but didn't know if anyone was aware of the "green" Porsches

03-02-2011, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
GZ3 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 3,296 Drives: Z Rep Power: 21	wow that sux big sweaty hair salty balls...i loved the evo....geez whats next the Z?! Eusegi>mitsubishi?!?! wtf __________________ 09 GT-R 12' 370Z 7AT HANDED DOWN 12'+13' 5.0 SOLD

03-02-2011, 09:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I am hurting a bit, I wanted one of those..... __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

03-02-2011, 09:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	as an avid DSM lover, i'd love to see a rebirth of the turbo Eclipse. __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

03-02-2011, 09:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gunzero Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 889 Drives: Nissan 370z Rep Power: 259	Fck __________________

03-02-2011, 11:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
crash1369 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tobyharlem Age: 42 Posts: 474 Drives: C300 - 6spd Rep Power: 729	I would rather see something along the lines of the 3000 gt again, their new found dedication to electric cars could even be an option. In theory an electric car could out perform an internal combustion powered one, but obviously they've all been designed as gutless economy cars to date though and I don't see that changing __________________ "At no point during your rambling, incoherent response did you ever come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul."

03-02-2011, 11:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Well that stinks. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

03-02-2011, 11:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	Electric powered Evo, sign me up!

03-02-2011, 11:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 848	I miss my Evo 8 a lot. I'm always looking to pick up one for cheap but haven't found the right one yet.. I need to pick up a Evo 9 RS. sounds like it will pull a pretty penny in the future. __________________ Juke AWD/240Z SR20 08 Evo 10(Stage 2) SOLD Fastest Sport 6spd 370Z 11.8 @126.5SOLD

03-03-2011, 06:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Huh. So Mitsu is going Toyota and Toyota is going Nissan. Well there ya go -- Toyota needs to offer a turbo model of the FT-86 next year. Whole new potential consumer base just opened up. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

03-03-2011, 11:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
280z/300zx Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nevada Posts: 689 Drives: 280z, 300zx, Vette Rep Power: 272	Here is another link Mitsubishi to ditch the Evo for EVs - Confidential Word on some of the suby boards is that the STI may not make it past 2014-2015. With all manufactures going to hybrid or electronic tech it makes you wonder how much longer sports cars in general will be around.

03-03-2011, 02:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	Am I the only one hopeful of an Eclipse revival? I remember lusting after the GSX as a kid, I'd love to see another awd turbo sport coupe from Mitsu. i mean, c'mon the car was hot, and it was WAAAY ahead of its time. __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs Last edited by Red370; 03-03-2011 at 02:43 PM.

03-03-2011, 03:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
xdeslitx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tu-jungle, CA Posts: 13,045 Drives: Yaris Rep Power: 63	Wow can't believe the evo will be no more...lol i don't get all this environmentally friendly crap

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