Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is Dead… For Now
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is getting axed at the end of the year.
A single report from Japan’s Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun states that the Japanese automaker will cease production on its turbocharged sedan by the end of this year. Since the Lancer Evo debuted in 1992, it has sold 154,000 units worldwide and 92,000 in the U.S., though it didn’t arrive North American until the Evo VIII went on sale in 2003. While it may seem strange that Mitsubishi is cutting out its performance sedan, the automaker previously announced plans to focus on hybrids moving forward.
SEE ALSO: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Successor to be a Hybrid
Not all hope is lost however, as Mitsubishi has hinted that a performance flagship model is on the way with a hybrid powertrain. Given that exotics and supercars have turned to hybrid technology for additional performance in addition to fuel efficiency, the successor to the Evo might be better than ever. However, don’t expect to see a successor, even in concept form, for at least two years as Mitsubishi is focusing on crossovers and SUVs at the moment.
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[Source: njd.jp]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Mitsubishi will be dead in the U.S. market before the next Evo debuts... They need to be more careful than Jaguar does.
OK, so to recap - the Mitsu guys are axing the Evo because they're focusing on hybrids, but the upcoming hybrid performance car won't be showing up for a while because they're focusing on C/SUVs. Meanwhile, the company CEO has underscored the importance of the North American market to Mitsubishi's global market plan. Yet the Outlander P-HEV, the company's hybrid CUV, on sale in Japan since Jan. 2013 and in Europe for about six months now, won't be available in the U.S. until 2015 at the earliest. If I owned an American Mitsubishi dealership, I'd punch the next company rep I met in the face.