It appears Mitsubishi’s hardcore Evolution nameplate will live on, even though its current iteration as a Lancer-based rally-bred turbo sedan appears to be nearing its end. According to an Autocar UK report, there are plans afoot for an Evo version of the next-generation Mitsubishi ASX – previewed by Geneva’s XR-PHEV II concept – complete with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
This echoes the statement made by the company’s product boss Kanenori Okamoto last year, who said that the Lancer Evolution “will be replaced in spirit by an SUV with high performance.”
If produced, the high-performance SUV could draw from the lessons learnt from Mitsubishi’s MiEV Evolution electric Pikes Peak racer, and will feature four-wheel drive (as befits the Evo lineage) rather than the front-wheel drive layout of the concept. “It has to be light and fast – something performance-oriented,” said Mitsubishi Motors president Tetsuro Aikawa. “That’s what we want.”
Such a vehicle, however, is only expected to enter production “far in the future,” after the launch of the new ASX slated for next year. “To develop these kind of vehicles, we have to sell a lot of the base models, so we can cover the research and development costs,” said Aikawa.
The motoring weekly noted that a high-performance plug-in hybrid Evo would be an ideal halo car to promote sales of Mitsubishi’s regular, more efficient models such as the Outlander PHEV.
Mitsubishi has, in fact, produced an Evo SUV, if only in the virtual realm – the Concept XR-PHEV Evolution was introduced for the Gran Turismo 6 racing game, mating a plug-in hybrid powertrain to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) four-wheel drive system.
Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution
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O. M. G !!! Mitsubishi still in their PlayStation dream.
You won’t go wrong with sushi cars.
if the base model so boring…can generate enuf sell to reason a performance version?
proton surely cannot make design good like this because malaysia mess up system control by DUMNO
very interesting point of view…
Do have some point.
Perdana facelift.
Gen-2 (it has inspired a few carmakers in their later vehicle designs)
Hang Tuah.
Iriz.
Emas.
APX.
These are all decent designs.
halo….Proton is better than BMW ok…according to DUmno
MP1: Do we have international-standard safety features on local cars, like Proton?
MP2: Some of the highest spec, newest models of Proton have adapted a number of safety technologies similar to ones used in reputable international brands, like BMW.
Media: UMNO MP SAYS PROTON BETTER THAN BMW!!
Performance means 6 or below.
Sports means ‘looks wide’ 1888mm width at least.
Mitsubishi is wasting their time, let’s move over to Subaru instead.
I am not sure what these MMC guys in Japan are smoking but this is an insult to Mitsubishi Evolution owners.
I have owned a string of Evo’s,2 EVO 3’s,1 EVO 5,2 EVO 6’s..one was a standard but later modified Evo 6 and i still own my favourite Evo of them all,the absolute last production batch UK Spec EVO 6 Tommi Makkinen Edition.I will never ever part with my Makkinen.
Look at it this,the Evolution series was created was for the core objective of MMC to complete in the then WRC.Same thing Subaru did with their Subaru Impreza WRX GC8.Homologation rules meant that production models had to be produced hence these rallying giant killers.
I have owned may cars in my lifetime,almost all of them were tuned professionally by myself because i am an automobile engineer.All my standard Evolutions were tuned to produce a super reliable and almost ridiculous 512 bhp between the 2 4WD at the wheels.I never had a single problem with them at all despite this state of tune.
How the EVO continues to amaze me till this day is i have never owned another performance car that i can tune to achieve such power outputs very easily,drive them really hard when i do,perform the scheduled replacement parts and repeat the same process for almost 10 years and always pisses all over the Ferrari’s,Porches and Lambos at a traffic light drag.What a fantastic automobile.MMC got it spot on with the Evolution.
Their current direction to replace the EVO nameplate with an SUV is simply beyond me.Backwater retards at their best.Idiots.
Cheers
I am not sure what these MMC guys in Japan are smoking but this is an insult to Mitsubishi Evolution owners.
I have owned a string of Evo’s,2 EVO 3’s,1 EVO 5,2 EVO 6’s..one was a standard but later modified Evo 6 and i still own my favourite Evo of them all,the absolute last production batch UK Spec EVO 6 Tommi Makkinen Edition.I will never ever part with my Makkinen.
Look at it this,the Evolution series was created was for the core objective of MMC to complete in the then WRC.Same thing Subaru did with their Subaru Impreza WRX GC8.Homologation rules meant that production models had to be produced hence these rallying giant killers.
I have owned may cars in my lifetime,almost all of them were tuned professionally by myself because i am an automobile engineer.All my standard Evolutions were tuned to produce a super reliable and almost ridiculous 512 bhp between the 2 4WD at the wheels.I never had a single problem with them at all despite this state of tune.
How the EVO continues to amaze me till this day is i have never owned another performance car that i can tune to achieve such power outputs very easily,drive them really hard when i do,perform the scheduled replacement parts and repeat the same process for almost 10 years and always pisses all over the Ferrari’s,Porches and Lambos at a traffic light drag.What a fantastic automobile.MMC got it spot on with the Evolution.
Their current direction to replace the EVO nameplate with an SUV is simply beyond me.Backwater retards at their best.Idiots.
Cheers
Nowadays so many pariah sports cars on the road like plotong inspirated evoclone jawaja aswara satayria wira celoplancer ijora saga sona prebe suprima irisz with rim 16 ahbeng also pariah spoiler.their cars look suck.people know the different lh
Be original not inspiraTed.Race rally recycled.only pariah get it.want to be evo or lancer ori but unfortunately people know the difference cuz its look suck rubbish &discussing hehehe