Wednesday 19th October 2011

Diesel-Electric Evo XI Confirmed

Mitsubishi boss heralds the age of the 200g/km hybrid 'halo' saloon

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Fings ain't what they used to be!

In spite of the rumours that have been circulating for a year or so, we still can't quite believe this. It's another item of interest for sporting saloon drivers from today's Autocar magazine - namely confirmation from Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko that the new Evo XI really will feature (gasp!) diesel electric power.

According to the Autocar report, the Evo's future has been on-and-off this year as Mitsubishi management mulled a future for the company that centred on a new range of electric vehicles.

Apparently the backlash from fans outraged by the model's proposed demise has inspired a rethink at Mitsubishi HQ - hence the reported decision to spend three years bringing the previously mooted new diesel-electric hybrid 4x4 uber-saloon to market. (Although when we first heard about it, we thought it was going to be a petrol hybrid.) We're told it will retain a sub-5sec 0-60 time, but reduce CO2 emissions to 200g/km and the car is being built around a modified version of the S-AWC four wheel drive system.

Progress this may be, but the news doesn't half set PH Towers hankering for a bit of pukka Evo action.

Happy days... an FQ360

You may recall that we ran an FQ360 as a fleet car back in 2009, and it was such a riot that we couldn't resist a quick browse through the PH classifieds to see what's out there now.

We found this minty FQ360 just like our old one, that has dropped from nearly £40k when new in 2008 to a tempting £18,750 today with just 24,000 miles on the clock. Or you could have this rare 2001 Tommi Makinen edition for a less than half the money.

Diesel? Nope, still not convinced...

[The Danimal]

Dark days indeed. Pulling up to the Derv pump in an evo would be very strange...

[thewheelman]

A sad day indeed.

[DazBock]

So much want for the TM Edition Evo!

[mnkiboy]

I think it's quite promising that companies are still puting effort in to creating fun to drive cars that are also economical and clean.

It may of course be a pile of ste, but at least someone's thinking about it.

[Bradderz352]

This really depresses me

[RobCrezz]

Big sad face

Why cant they just have done a petrol-electric...

[scubadude]

Hmmm, Diesel+Electric = Torquefest, sounds ideal for a road-rally type car where ultimate speed isn't the goal but handling and acceleration are.

With a 535d stylee remap on the oil burning half it'll be untouchable.

[BoyRacerChaser]

They should have stopped making these with the TME 6. It all went down hill from there.

[m1980k]

What's the point of making it a hybrid with the extra weight and cost? If a BMW 330d can get 241bhp with 152g/km CO2, then surely Mitsubishi can hit 200g/km and get a bit more power from a standalone diesel. In fact, a BMW 335i produces 300bhp with less than 200g/km... if they wanted to get 100g/km I could understand it, but this just seems daft.

[RobCrezz]

BoyRacerChaser said:

They should have stopped making these with the TME 6. It all went down hill from there.

Dont agree with that. Although softer, some of the later cars are fantastic! the 7 RS Sprint, the 8MR models, the 9 MR FQ 360, the 9 GT....

But the best was the 6 obviously...

[StottyZr]

Seems a bit silly. Or is it going to be like recent Evo's, no power until 3000rpm. This could be interesting with a diesel nothing nothing nothing 600hp change gear

[pwrc]

Used to have a TM ed in the village. Rumbled past daily, a thing to behold indeed. I'd take one over a scooby any day.

[Welshbeef]

m1980k said:

What's the point of making it a hybrid with the extra weight and cost? If a BMW 330d can get 241bhp with 152g/km CO2, then surely Mitsubishi can hit 200g/km and get a bit more power from a standalone diesel. In fact, a BMW 335i produces 300bhp with less than 200g/km... if they wanted to get 100g/km I could understand it, but this just seems daft.

Yea baby.

[Motorrad]

Interesting certainly but such a shame that modern regulations and economic realities have led to this state of affairs.

Funny how we in Europe have to suck up high fuel prices and taxes, drive crappy diesel cars because we cannot generally afford to drive high powered petrol vehicles and yet other countries seem to manage just fine with low taxes all round..........makes me sick.

[Chris71]

Interesting. I wouldn't write it off until it emerges, though.

I'd take a diesel 335D (mapped obviously) over some wheezing petrol 318 any day and although the Evo will no doubt be very different with a derv it doesn't mean it has to be worse.

I suspect there's a good reason why they've gone for diesel electric, whether it's engineering based or regulatory. Somebody who knows more about building cars than you or I has decreed it to be a good idea, so hopefully they're on to something.

[Cotic]

Chris71 said:

Interesting. I wouldn't write it off until it emerges, though.

I'd take a diesel 335D (mapped obviously) over some wheezing petrol 318 any day and although the Evo will no doubt be very different with a derv it doesn't mean it has to be worse.

Yeah, so would I, but then a 318i is £12k less than a 335d. I'd have a 335i over a 335d, though, and use the 2k I'd saved to supply it with fuel for a couple of years...

[collateral]

Might be interesting, but good luck making 200hp/l

Has any other manufacturer made a diesel hybrid yet?

[Liquid Knight]

Will "Evo" magazine have to follow suit?

"Diesel Hybrid Magazine" or "DHM" may not fly off the shelves as much. Still considering the average I.Q of an "FHM" reader quite a few will probably be sold by mistake.

[Frimley111R]

Sales-disaster-tastic.

Can management really be so utterley clueless?

[Crow555]

Might be worth asking, does anyone know of any Evo VI - IX buying guides? I wouldn't mind reading up on these cars. Always admired the VI but never thought about owning one til now.