www.autoblog.com/2011/03/02/report-...e-is-dead/

According to Gayu Eusegi, head of global product development for Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution X will be the last Evo the Japanese automaker ever builds. Eusegi says the move is part of a shift in strategy to put the company's product focus and ethos on leadership in EV technology.

To that end, Autocar indicates that Mitsubishi will release eight fully-electric or hybrid-electric cars by the time 2015 rolls around, and make a grab for a big portion of the CO2-reduction market share. It goes without saying that the fun-yet-fuel-swilling Evo just doesn't fit that mindset, particularly since it apes a rally car that no longer exists.

Despite the Evo's huge popularity, Mitsubishi apparently isn't scared of the step and says it's confident that consumers will glom on to the idea and rally behind the brand. By killing the Evo, they're making their intentions plain to an increasingly environmentally-conscious car-buying public.

Eusegi killed dead any notion that the brand would roll out a performance-oriented hybrid as well. "Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market agian," he said.

This report of the Evo's death would seem to stand in contrast to multiple reports that an Evo XI is in the works with a hybrid drivetrain. We're taking this latest Autocar missive with a few grains of salt, as we can see how Eusegi may have simply meant that an Evo that relies exclusively on internal combustion is dead – a hybrid Evo would seem to offer a nice technological bridge to Mitsubishi's more electrically minded future.

 

well, there goes the only car i'd remotely consider buying from them.  suspected this was coming anyway...

Mitsubishi is gonna be dead. I had heard rumors of this....

Hopefully this guy is wrong, especially with all the hybrid Evo rumors Autoblog referenced. Why not make an Evo RWD with electric motors up front? Or FWD with elec motors in the back? That could be fuel effecient and fun at the same time.

Hopefully the demise of the Evo won't stop Subaru from selling the STI in the US. Didn't Subaru only bring the STI to counter the Evo?

Well it's certainly not the first report I've heard this, at any rate.

I looked into Evo Xs when I was shopping for a car. Sure, there's great aftermarket support, but let's talk about the stock vehicle for a second.

The Evo X is based on the same platform as the Dodge Avenger. My wife owns one of these. It's not a bad car, but it is NOT a performance vehicle. Furthermore, the Evo X's AWD drivetrain, while providing astounding grip and handling, makes the car overweight and fuel-inefficient. Add to this the fact that the motor only puts out 300 horsepower from the factory, and you have a vehicle that just isn't that fast stock. Additionally, the price is very high for what you are getting, and the vehicle is ludicrously expensive to insure.

Unfortunately, the Evo was the last "fun" car that Mitsubishi made, since the Eclipse stopped being fun back the '90s when they made it a bloated pig.

Unfortunately, this might be the only way for the company to survive in the long run. Most of their sales (globally) come from the i and from Kei cars nowadays, and they don't have a single car or SUV that's successful in more than one region. With the recent resurgance of turbo 4 cylinder sport compacts from other manufacturers, it's going to be tougher and tougher for Mitsubishi to sell Evos. It makes sense to reinvest those resources now and plan for the future.