On the 2nd March 2011, at the Geneva Motor Show, Gayu Eusegi, Mitsubishi's global product director, announced the shocking news that there will be no Evo coming out after the current Evo X.
Due to emissions and fuels regulations pushing for cleaner and more fuel efficient vehicles, Mitsubishi is now concentrating on hybrid electric vehicles, which leaves little or no room for the high-performance Evo.
As claimed by Eusegi, the mixed message that would be given by Lancer Evolution's high-performance image in contrast to the message of high-efficiency that the Japanese maker is now adopting would confuse consumers.
In addition to that, Eusegi also added "Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market again", which clearly indicated that there are clearly no plans for an Evo X successor.
Then again, following the wave of indignation that arose in answer to this message, Mitsubishi released the following statement on its facebook page:
"Further to some comments published in the press recently, production of the current Lancer Evolution continues as planned. As for its successor, regulations and market feedback will dictate its engineering package & architecture. Stay tuned."
In the full statement from Tokyo, the message continues as such:
"MMC has kept the Lancer Evolution evolving itself as the most performing model in the global market. However, as the needs and demands change, MMC is considering not to keep the Lancer Evolution evolve in the way as before, but to find the different direction to evolve. The new direction and corresponding products will be disclosed in due course."
I guess the successor to the Evo X will be a hybrid, as for the future of Mitsubishi in the WRC, I'm not sure an eco-friendly hybrid will be able to cut it...
Photos Copyright 2010 Cycle & Carriage
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