Friday 9th December 2011

The end of the Mitsubishi Evo

Enjoy that Mitsubishi Evo while you can, because the next one will be very different

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Bad news for Evo buyers: the last of the X shape will be sold in March next year. When Mitsubishi UK dropped that bombshell on PistonHeads at the Tokyo motor show last week, we had to find out if the car would be replaced.

Turns out the answer is yes, probably, but it's definitely the end of the line for the three-box, turbocharged four-cylinder template started by the Lancer EX2000 Turbo in 1981 (the first to use the 4G63 engine).

"We must make another fun-to-drive car, but we can't just make another Evo," Gayu Uesugi, Executive VP of Mitsubishi Motors, told PistonHeads.

Okay, so will it be based on the new Lancer replacement due in 2014? "We can't say." Does it have to be a saloon? "I don't think so." What powertrain will it use? "We must include new demand, especially for environmentally friendly aspects. One possibly is in-wheel electric motors," Uesugi told us, repeating earlier statements reported here on PH about a future green Evo.

This isn't really a surprise. Mitsubishi is shifting its focus to more frugal cars, aiming for 20 per cent of its sales to be electric or hybrid by 2020.

"Up until now Mitsubishi has focused on driveablility, sports mobility and SUV development," general design manager, Hiroaki Ohtsuka, told us last week in Tokyo. "That showed in our design, but now we are shifting focus to a more environmental aspect," he said, confirming the 'jet-fighter' grille that debuted in 2008 on the Evo X (and expanded range-wide) is now dead.

So, Ohtsuka-san, what do you think the new Evo should look like?
"If a new generation Evo will come, as a designer, I would like to focus on the aerodynamics because it doesn't have a good aerodynamics at the moment."

That might be something to do with the whopping great spoiler. So will you get rid of that? "If that reduces the drag, then yes, the spoiler will have to go. I want to make it look more sophisticated," he told us.

Don't despair though. Mitsubishi can't possibly forget how to make fun handling cars. Take away this scrap of comfort. The twin-electric engine tech in the forthcoming plug-in hybrid Outlander allows for a much faster, more responsive version of S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control). There's hope yet for Evo, even if it lives on in name and handling ability only.

[E38Ross]

shame this. so when people moan at other manufacturers for being all soft for dropping certain engine styles....it's not just them dropping bombshells at least.

the evo was never my sort of car but i had massive respect for it. what a shame. sadly, the times we live in.

[paranoid airbag]

when was the last time mitsubishi had a properly strong line up? I suppose the colt's ok, and the now-defunct evo obviously, but I'm struggling to think of the last time I noticed one of their cars. So I'm not sure I care what they think/do.

[WCZ]

RIP to one of the best cars ever.

[UltimaCH]

Electric engines in the wheels? Great idea, but what about unsprung weight..., surely this would have a serious effect on road holding and suspension reaction?

[RobCrezz]

Maybe this will make the older Evos stop depreciating?

[infernal]

I'd love an evo x and would have bought one if it was just a tax band lower - silly reason, but that's how i roll

very sad news

[RobCrezz]

infernal said:

I'd love an evo x and would have bought one if it was just a tax band lower - silly reason, but that's how i roll

very sad news

Get a VI, dont worry about this co2 tax band

[fizz47]

WCZ said:

RIP to one of the best cars ever.

Totally agree


A lot of people turn their noses up at the Evo ( including quite a few on here) becasue of the image it protrayed. I bet the majority of those have not even driven one.

For those who have driven one I'm sure will agree that its one of the most exilirating cars to drive. This car gives more of a 'OMG I just pissed all over myself' than 99.5 % of cars out there including many new supercars.

[Krikkit]

infernal said:

I'd love an evo x and would have bought one if it was just a tax band lower - silly reason, but that's how i roll

very sad news

You big girl's blouse! Thinking of buying an Evo and one tax band makes you stop?

Sad news that the end of an era is coming... I'll just leave this:

[Andrew[MG]]

Mitsubishi, a car company that has really lost it's way (or maybe never found it) and is turning into the new Honda. They should be following Subaru and Toyota in creating some interesting cars to bring a halo effect to the stboxes they otherwise churn out. Lots of eco cars + a few fun ones seems like a good formula for success at the moment.

[E38Ross]

infernal said:

I'd love an evo x and would have bought one if it was just a tax band lower - silly reason, but that's how i roll

very sad news

you're kidding me? is it a company car or personal? if person, then you're not buying a car as it costs you 1-2 tanks of fuel extra per year.

that's absurd!

[thewheelman]

I wouldn't be surprised if a good spec Evo, such as the Tommi Makinen edition, could well go up in value in the way Integrales have over the years....


That would be my choice of the bunch.

< pic found on google images, if it's a ph'ers, you lucky man >

[Buzzkill]

So to the evo crowd, inline with the article, what evo would be the choice to buy over the next year or two if you were only going to sample one, had a tight budget and were going to use the car as a daily or at least on a regular basis?

[RobCrezz]

Buzzkill said:

So to the evo crowd, inline with the article, what evo would be the choice to buy over the next year or two if you were only going to sample one, had a tight budget and were going to use the car as a daily or at least on a regular basis?

On a daily basis, I would go for a 8 MR, a 9 or a 9 MR.

If less frequently I would go for a VI (lighter, and more raw driving experience). Not because they are more fragile (they arent) but because the 8/9 have nicer interiors and more creature comforts.

[mrmr96]

RobCrezz said:

Maybe this will make the older Evos stop depreciating?

Indeed, I'll have to try not to crash mine!!!

[GTEYE]

Driving to work today, I saw a recent Impreza, the cooking version. Pretty awful I have to say. What struck me was what a rare sight either Evos or Imprezas both were these days - only a few years back they were a fairly common sight, but as others have said time (and running costs) have sadly caught up with them, and also rallying's major loss of the plot which sold many of them I'm sure

But I defo think the better ones such as the Evo VI Makinen and similar Imprezas will start to gain in value as classics in the future.

RIP Evo, hopefully this is not the end.

[fizz47]

Buzzkill said:

So to the evo crowd, inline with the article, what evo would be the choice to buy over the next year or two if you were only going to sample one, had a tight budget and were going to use the car as a daily or at least on a regular basis?

For me it would be the Evo 9 FQ360 ( not sure it fits in with the tight budget though)

0 - 62mph - 3.9 seconds
366BHP
363lb ft @ 3200rpm

[Dan_1981]

mrmr96 said:

RobCrezz said:

Maybe this will make the older Evos stop depreciating?

Indeed, I'll have to try not to crash mine!!!

If a 6 woudl drop just alittle bit more i'll buy one and look after it.

Promise.

Dream car.

[EDLT]

The exchange rate has really killed sales of the Evo X (and the Impreza). They were a bargain when you could get M3 level performance for half the price, now the top models are £50k+

[Spanna]

My parents are selling their VI come spring time. It's the only Evo I've had the pleasure of driving. Completely standard when I drove it. Monstrous turbo boost and grips like nothing I've experienced.

Had a rather past passenger ride in a (bright yellow ) VIII FQ-330. I agree about it having more comfort and a bit more sophistication for the daily grind, but it still unleashes the beast inside if you want it to.

I think the Makkinen Special will be a future classic.