Tuesday 12th December 2006

Mitsu previews new Lancer

Could this be the face of the next Evo?

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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Motors revealed today what its all-new Lancer sports saloon will look like. It's also a possible preview of the next-gen Lancer Evolution -- though Mitsu didn't say so. The car will be on show at the Detroit motor show next month.

According to Mitsu, the Lancer "will bring the dynamic lines of the show-stopping Mitsubishi Concept-X and Concept-Sportback to the showroom. Both unveiled in 2005, they hinted not only at the next generation Mitsubishi compact sports sedans, but also at the next evolution of its design language."

Split into two separate elements, chrome-ringed for the upper part, this Lancer grille goes one step further, with what the company calls its Concept-X and Concept-Sportback’s "trademark shark nose and deep-set eyes."

Now the slightly more interesting bit: split into four powertrain levels (entry, mid-range, upper-range and supercar), the car will house five different engines, including the VAG-supplied 130bhp 2.0 litre diesel already fitted to Grandis Di-D and Outlander Di-D.

Mitsu didn't, sadly, say what engine the so-called supercar would include. However, while exact timing of the car's UK launch has yet to be decided, it's likely to coincide with launch of Lancer Evolution X in Q1 2008.

The car is based on Mitsu's Project Global platform, a new flexible architecture that also forms the foundation of the new Outlander. With what Mitsubishi called "its sharp handling and 35 year Lancer sporting credentials", the car arrives in Europe late next year. It's aimed at being an alternative for "customers of desirable, heritage-proud, non-mainstream brands in the C-segment: not premium, but different and legitimate."

We think Mitsu means Mondeo territory...

[cathalm]

Well that looks bugger all like the evo x concept, bugger.

[Dunk76]

A-Pillars backwards has more than a touch of Octavia vRS about it.

The nose, is, erm, a muddle of styles.

[SN]

cathalm said:

Well that looks bugger all like the evo x concept, bugger.

Yeah sod it, I thought the evo X concept looked like the best thing I've ever seen, and I can see it under this lancer, but its swamped by a lot of watered down crap.

[sato]

Dunk76 said:

A-Pillars backwards has more than a touch of Octavia vRS about it.

The nose, is, erm, a muddle of styles.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[tony*t3]

Yes, Octavia from the A pillars back, Vovlo S40 ish front end.....

Still, the Evo will look good. After all, the current and past Evos haven't looked a soft as the cars they were based on, have they.....?

[Dr S]

Ugly again - but who cares if it performs true Evo style...

[Mr Whippy]

Niiiceeeeee!

[festernath]

Is it really that hard to call it Mitsubishi, not just Mitsu?

[zektor]

Jeez, that looks sh!te!

EVO's and Subaru's are such capable cars... why do they have to make them looks like this?

Again, it just looks like a "hopped" up saloon car. Rubbish!

[amare32]

Looks pish. Terrible shame really, the best looking Evo is still the 6.

[VladD]

If you squint it looks like an Astra.

[Lord-Flasheart]

Concept X looked cool and intresting, but to be honest that looks a tad boring.

[bigjimmy]

Looks like a Mazda 6 to me.

[Lord-Flasheart]

bigjimmy said:

Looks like a Mazda 6 to me.

Yea more like a Mazda 6 thats been Chavved up.

[flashygee]

The Rear is Alfa Romeo like.

[604]

I dont mind it... but then again, Im not gonna by buying one either

[scoobiewrx]

How bland and boring is that. At least the current generation Evo has got the asbo "mess with me and you're dead" look which is better than this piece of hyundai looking sh1te!!

[Epiphany]

Well compared to the current Lancer's its 10 times better. Their the most boring looking cars on the road.

And i think it's just a tad early to be writing off the Evo X based on this Lancer.

[dern]

zektor said:

EVO's and Subaru's are such capable cars... why do they have to make them looks like this?

The performance versions are based on normal cars which have to be relatively bland looking in order to appeal to the widest range of people. It strikes me that the meaning of appeal in this context it that it doesn't look weird enough to put a load of people off. BMW can get away with their cars looking zany and weird because they have such a following of people who will buy the brand even if the car looks 'different'. This isn't the case with most cars hence the bland looks.

Also there are limits to what you can do with the basic 4 door layout which you aren't restricted to when you only have 4 doors and I suspect that if you get really creative with your 4 door layout like alfa have, for example, then you'll perversely sell fewer cars because you trigger more people taste reaction. You can argue that saab make more of an effort as possibly you could with ford but ultimately they're all pretty much of a muchness.

Finally those who know what good cars these are (in my case admittedly only after years of despising imprezas) will happily put up with a bit of blandness for the returns you get. Having had mine for a few months now I'd even go so far as to suggest I'd buy one of the later (even) more visually challenged versions when I've killed this one.

[mr fix it]

Pity it looks nothing like the concept car, which looked great, this one looks pants!