Mitsubishi Shareholders Asked For The Lancer Evo To Return, But It's Not Happening (Yet)
A few weeks ago we had the surprise announcement that was Mitsubishi’s revival of the long-dormant Ralliart brand. Given that Ralliart was mothballed due to financial problems for the Japanese carmaker, it might have seemed odd for it to be brought back in the midst of yet more money problems, but it does make some sense.
Company bosses want to inject what they dub as “Mitsubishi-ness” into a less than inspiring product line-up. This won’t just be some token trim pieces, either - there are plans to reenter various motorsport series around the world. Naturally, you’re probably hoping all of this points to a revival of the Lancer Evolution, but sorry, that’s not happening.
According to Japanese publication Response, shareholders have asked for the car to return. However, Mitsubishi president Takao Kato poured cold water on the idea during the shareholder annual general meeting, citing current financial pressures and heavy investment in electrification. He seemed open to resurrecting cars like the Evo in the future, though.
“The company is still not strong enough,” he said (translated from Japanese), adding, “We had a big deficit in the previous fiscal year, so we first revived the company and then put out the cars that fans are waiting for. I want to go.”
By the time any future Evo arrives, if at all, the automotive landscape will be very different from how it was when the Evo X went out of production five years ago. A fire-breathing, purely internal combustion-powered beast seems unlikely.
See also - ‘Mitsubishi: The Tech Pioneer That Stopped Caring’
In any case, right now Mitsubishi is more focused on restructuring in the wake of the 312 billion yen (£2 billion) 2020 fiscal year loss it reported last month. The firm’s ‘Small but Beautiful’ three-year business plan involves scaling back its European operations, with only badge-engineered Nissans sold on the continent. Mitsubishi won’t be selling anything at all in the UK, pivoting to an aftersales business here.
Source: Response via Motor 1
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
There is hope for another Evo, someday.
But what i don’t understand is this.
“The company is still not strong enough” and “We had a big deficit in the previous fiscal year, so we first revived the company and then put out the cars that fans are waiting for”.
Why not put a better engine, that they already have in their other models, in the Mirage/Attrage and call it “RalliArt Edtiton” or something? To make people excited for a new pseudo-sport model, which is also a limited edition. The price could be a little higher than a regular Mirage/Attrage, but that’s the whole point, regaining budget for cooler models. The 1.5L MIVEC engine from the Eclipse Cross would be just fine. Like, the Mirage weights 913kg… It would be extremely fun to drive at 150-something HP. Or even call it “Mirage EVO” to hype up the brand name a little, to get people talking.
Agreed with your vision for a the Mirage/Attrage but, considering the market today, adding a different more powerful engine to the cheapest cars of the brand beats its purpose, if made, then it would be a trial, it could be the best thing happening to the brand in the year or it can be a total miss and would have the ‘basic’ cars with a higher price tag just gathering dust.
About calling it EVO, I would say no, why?, you just did there what they did with the Eclipse:
-Car enthusiast- ‘Oh my god Mitsubishi is resurrecting the Eclipse!’
-Mitsubishi- You’re right! And you can fit a family!
-CE- wait, what? Oh, its another crossover…
its sad that even if they did make a car that was even moderately interesting for the first time since the Evo was canned it won’t even reach the UK, its. a shame that Mitsubishi and Subaru just lost what made them the brands that we like and never seemed to understand why people were being turned off from them in the UK. its like when the head of Subaru UK said the the WRX and rally heritage was “detrimental” to their image and I just think what the hell are you on about? the reason people know what a Subaru is is because of rallying and the image they created.