Though the Mitsubishi Evo as we know it will soon fade into history, the Evo nameplate will return in the form of an electrified crossover.
Mitsubishi boss Tetsuro Aikawa told Autocar that the future Evo would be linked to EV and PHEV technologies:
In the future, we would like to launch such a vehicle with Evo characteristics. In Japanese, when you pronounce ‘Oh’ [in Evo], it means ‘king’. So we would like to launch this type of car, featuring EV and PHEV technology, which is the ultimate of its kind. ‘EV’ for electric vehicle, ‘O’ for king – Evo.
As for what that Evo may resemble, speculation points to the next-gen ASX crossover, based upon the XR-PHEV II concept featured at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. The ASX Evo would follow in the footsteps of the previous Lancer-based icon, with power from its PHEV drivetrain funnelled to all corners instead of only the front pair as done on the standard ASX.
That said, the wait may likely be a long one. According to Aikawa, a significant number of base ASX models would have to be sold prior to bringing the ASX Evo to the assembly line, as those sales are what fund R&D for the higher-performance model.
[Photo credit: Mitsubishi]
Damn.
Mitsubishi is now 100% lame, through and through. Every single cool point expended.
+1 or is that -1,000,000 for Mitsubishi? And to think I owned an Eclipse turbo. This is from the company that once made the Starion. So, so sad.
People forget that Mitsubishi did the Pajero Evolution back in the 90s to mirror their Paris Dakar efforts. The ASX is their current Dakar Rally contender.
As WRC Rally are all subcompacts by spec now, the age of the Lancer as the base of the Evolution has no real motorsports connection.
In reality, in the spirit of the whole “evolution’ concept, the ASX is really the only contender unless you want to see a Mirage/Colt Evolution
Fools, Outlander is the model with any CUV name recognition in North America not “Evo”.
I think Towelie is running Mitsubishi Motors NA.
“I’m so high right now, I have no idea what’s going on.”
-Ryujiro Kobashi-
I thought there was a Towelie ban?
Here? Or just in general?
Throughout the civilized world.
Well aparently he’s running MMNA anyway.
I hear Curious George applied but the Man with the Yellow Hat dropped him off late and he missed the interview.
I do think that “Evo” could become a series of high-performance hybrids…but it needs to be just that, a series…not a single, overpriced crossover that no one will buy.
A series of overpriced crossovers that no one will buy?
I was thinking more like a compact sedan in spirit of the Lancer Evo, with maybe a gasoline engine powering the front two wheels and a set of motors working the rears…followed by a small crossover with the same running gear, and maybe even a coupe or hatchback if things go well.
“the wait may likely be a long one”
Too bad. Mitsubishi does actually know how to build an EV (although the i-MiEV is a joke). But this mythical EV will probably not materialize before they leave the US market.
Unless it’s forever it won’t be long enough. It was only a matter of time before we started getting high performance CUVs. People drive these things like slot cars. They look ridiculous doing it but the market wants what the market wants. Sigh.
Blame the marketing. Some ads have CUVs do everything save transform into Optimus Prime.
The worst offenders are the ones in the entry level crossovers, with Nissan Rogue drivers leading the pack as the major a-holes on the road (followed closely by full size pick up drivers in suburban sprawl areas). Whenever I see one in my rear view mirror, I reflexively cringe. Maybe it’s because they’re young, dumb, poor and stupid? I dunno. I’m not looking forward to graduating this demographic into Evo, Nismo and STi versions of these things but it’s only a matter of time before the automakers do just that.
DAFUQ?!
I wonder wat % of people crying about the death of the EVO bought one new.
I’ll wait…..
Wait. A person needs to have owned a product in order to lament the cessation of that product?
You can mourn the death of a nameplate without having owned it in much like you can mourn the passing of people you have never personally met.
Anyway, making the Evo into a crossover is like Ford turning the Mustang into a CUV: Not a good idea. Let the nameplate die but there is no need to dance on its grave.
Enough of these vehicles that look like katana slashes on a watermelon!
One of these days some designer is going to flat-out plagiarize a ’55 Chevy and it will sell a million units in its first six months.
Every era has its thing. The cars of the 50’s generally look like Flash Gordon’s rocket-powered cappuccino machine.
Not up to ’56. ’57 and onwards, yes, they melded with jukeboxes and river barges. But the ’55 Chevy was so handsomely restrained and classically proportioned.
From what I’ve heard the 56s had higher assembly quality than the 55s and the 57s had higher assembly quality than the 56s. This made them highly desirable on the used car market after the 1st owners were done with them and contributed to the building of the legend.
It would be interesting to know more about that. The ’55s were an evolutionary leap so maybe the succeeding two production years refined the processes for that platform.
All I know is that the handsomest Chevy of all came into the world just about the same time I did :-)
Agreed – but it quickly went off the rails after that. The ’57’s are classics today because of their cultural connotations, but if they were forgotten and rediscovered, they’d be regarded as just another tacky car with fake missiles and fins from a regrettable era.
I love the cars from the early late 50’s and early 50’s. There’s just a sense of presence and classiness to them that wouldn’t be seen again until the 60s (when they decided maybe cars SHOULDN’T look like rocket powered diners).
What’s the big deal? It’s only a little less sporty than the current WRX.
I’m eagerly awaiting the new Camaro, which will be a compact crossover with high seats for boomers who can’t get in low cars. It won’t have a manual transmission option, but it will have a rearview camera and a special subscription to “24/7 Steely Dan” on Sirius.
The SS model will add flappy-paddle shift to the CVT.
I was disgusted until the Steely Dan bit. Now I’m going to put this on my radar
I only laugh because I know what Steely Dan is slang term for…
Maybe slang now, but coined in Wm S. Burroughs, “Naked Lunch” which is a seminal book that approximately no one has actually read.
That should be a Wikipedia entry… “List of Highly Regarded Books that No One has Actually Read”
The Great Gatsby
Naked Lunch
War and Peace
(etc.)
I’ve read *two* of those! :D BTW, Ernest Lockridge has a fascinating take on The Great Gatsby – an essay called, “An Optical Illusion Called The Great Gatsby”. IF the “standard” way of reading, teaching Gatsby left you unsatisfied, check it out.
I preferred “Junky” to “Naked Lunch.” (Yes, I read them both.)
I got to see Steely Dan in concert last summer. The f****** Boomer crowd were more interested in yelling at each other and getting hammered than watching the show. Of course, they all stood up and sort of sang along to one chorus of “Peg”, many of them recorded parts of “Peg” with smart phones and tablets(!), but *none* of them had the attention span or discipline to even record the entire song.
Nostalgic Boomers = garbage. I can’t wait ’til they’re all gone.
Meanwhile, you’ve got a small number of people my age who genuinely appreciate music from the 70s!
I’ve got Aja on vinyl now (along with a David Bowie album and The Cars’ self-titled debut), but my LP stereo setup has a bad link somewhere and I can’t figure it out. :(
At least once each day I have to play Rikki for Baxter’s solo.
I’m about to go work out with my MP3 player loaded with with Ohio Players, Rufus, Dr. John, Zepplin, Stones, Family Stone, Bad Company et al.
Count me in that number. If Jimmy Page considers the guitar solo from Reelin’ in the Years to be the best ever who I am to argue? Hope you get your stereo fixed soon, pick up some Dire Straits when you do.
Me me! I do.
Please take me along as you slide on down…
Hey nineteen!
I was discussing with my boss how to categorize Steely Dan music, and we both had a hard time. It’s such a fusion of styles. Of course the jazz element is my favorite.
“I was discussing with my boss how to categorize Steely Dan music”
Rubbish
I am biased though. My freshman roomate played Steely Dan ALL. THE. TIME. I enlisted in the Army because I thought that was my only way to get away from it. Turns out, the even play “Peg” and “Hey Nineteen” in Columbia….
Are you saying rubbish like that didn’t happen, or are you saying Steely Dan is rubbish!?!
Oh, edit:
I was never exposed to it until I wanted to be, during college at some point. I discovered it on my own. My roommate (soph year) listened to some nonsense head bang crap in his headphones…
While he walked around the room cutting his fingernails over the carpet.
I’m saying my own personal hell is a Steely Dan concert with extended songs and lengthend jams. A Grateful Dead concert would probably be worse.
Edit: re: your roomate clipping his nails: EWWWWWWWWWW
I dunno any Grateful Dead. I prefer me some Yacht Rock.
Or Fleetwood Mac, or something.
Yes he was doing that when I came back from class one day. I opened the door and dropped my bag on the floor, and glared at him. I said “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?” He said, “Eh I’m just cuttin my fingernails.” I replied “…Yes, over the damn carpet.”
“Well I didn’t think it was a big deal…”
“Yeah, well that’s what the garbage can is for, and it’s right there. Use it.”
We didn’t have that issue any more, but others persisted.
I had Pantera’s “Cowboys from Hell” on from my hotel the office in Cleveland today, so that’s what kind of music I’m feeling this week.
Just for that lame comment I’m going to suck Medicare/SS dry.
Be honest that was always your plan.
LOL
I’m spending ALL THIS MONEY. And I’m never gonna see any of it.
The faq, you old people are screwing me over royally. I didn’t get to smoke and drink at work, I didn’t get to be high and mighty with a college education because everybody has one, and I didn’t get to enjoy the lovely 90’s and its prosperity.
I GOT GYPPED.
You’re not allowed to say “Gypped” anymore. It perpetuates unfair stereotypes about the Roma People, a.k.a. Gypsies.
Don’t worry – your kids will be jealous that you lived in the last great age of horsepower.
I figured I’d be alright, Gypsies aren’t on the internet – they’re in field encampments figuring out how to rip off insurance companies via identity fraud!
:)
They are also inside Assassins Creed during the Byzantine Empire. I throw coins at them.
Something you can buy used for 50% depreciation in 5 years that will out run 90% of pure sports cars on the road with your golden-retriever in the back.
Alex I will go with:
Mitsu Outlander Sport Evoloution I
In all seriousness I do actually hope they build this since there current crop of SUV’s aren’t that bad (well other then the interiors) and the EVO is awesome, and so are there high end AWD systems.
Plus I’m being a little selfish as I have limited parking at my house and need any car I have to be multifunctional. Three kids two dogs and three parking spaces make a sports car a hard sell.
So, this is going to be like the iMEV-that-no-one-bought-and-can’t-even-pull-$6500-for-a-2012-with-15k-miles-at-the-auction II?
Busy today? I didn’t see you opine in the new or used best bang for your buck article.
Too busy. So many sadz. But I did move out a HUMMER and a boat. So a few gladz. Tomorrow’s another day to bloviate.
It’s always a great day when you sell a boat. Glorious day even.
CALPURNIA: When cars are sold, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the sale of a boat.
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar/julius_caesar.2.2.html
To the old boat joke: There is shared rapture and joy for the buyer and seller alike; of a fiberglass tub that leaks money, as if pierced with a spike.
:-)
This made me check my watch and make sure it wasn’t April 1st.
I think Mitsubishi is stealing a page from Jeep’s playbook here: slap a storied name on frumpy crossover and watch the dollars stack up. As long as the crossover segment remains hot this seems to be a completely viable, if distasteful, strategy.
Another sign that Mitsubishi has no idea what to do with themselves and with the American market. Imagine a strategy meeting between Aikawa and the board members. The 大 (oh) need not belong in Mitsubishi- yet…