Why Did Mitsubishi Stop Making Sports Cars

Mitsubishi discontinued the Lancer and Lancer Evolution for what reasons? Mitsubishi made the decision to concentrate their efforts on crossover vehicles or hybrid automobiles in order to meet customer demand as efficiency and adaptability became more essential to consumers.

Why does Mitsubishi no longer produce sports cars?

The Mustang’s continued existence and instances like Mitsubishi’s Japanese rival Toyota, which recently revived the Supra, show that the seemingly unexplained trend towards large, high-riding automobiles still seems to leave little room for sports cars. Then there’s Honda, which brought back the Civic Type R and the NSX after years of neglecting fast cars. Mitsubishi can definitely pull off the same feat, right? Sadly, the answer is no.

In a global sense, the company, which sells 1.2 million automobiles annually, is not that large. It would be challenging to be financially viable if you tried to be in all the different market groups and follow fads, such sports vehicles, says Lindley.

Will Mitsubishi ever again produce sports cars?

The Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Alliance released their fresh strategy and Alliance 2022 business plan in May 2020. The new approach had a “Mitsubishi Motors is expected to be the first of the three automakers to introduce a new vehicle, following the Leader pattern. The only issue is that neither Mitsubishi Motors Corp (MMC) nor the carmaker have released any information regarding any impending models. Since the unveiling of the previously unseen Mitsubishi Starion 4WD concept art, there has been a lot of discussion online about this new Mitsubishi vehicle being a sports car and potentially the return of the Lancer Evolution. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi Motors broke their silence at last, and no Lancer is in sight. Electric cars are still the way of the future (EVs).

Many attendees at the Mitsubishi Motors shareholders meeting at the end of June 2021 inquired about the Lancer Evo or a new sports vehicle, particularly in light of the company’s decision to restart its highly successful Ralliart team. The Lancer Evolution, which was developed by the same crew as the original Mitsubishi Lancer and lasted for several generations before its demise, was a potent rally car. Does this sound familiar to you? Ralliart will function as an after-market seller of equipment that consumers can employ to improve the performance of various future models, unlike the Dodge/SRT team, who will take a more prominent role.

“The cost of development for electrification is high, and our company’s strength is still insufficient. Due to a significant deficit in the last fiscal year, we first want to revitalize the company before releasing the small vehicle that fans have been anticipating. Google Translate translation of a Japanese article Japanese Nostalgic Car’s Reaction

Isn’t that just salt in the wound? Not that we want to force the point home. Stings also for us.

But we were aware of this beforehand. After the digital news release in May, when the Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Alliance was being discussed, it was clear that electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) would soon take the lead. Nissan introduced a new EV platform for usage across all three brands, Nissan and Renault have been exploring new EV platforms and powertrains known as ePTs, Mitsubishi has developed a number of concepts over the years. Along with inquiries about the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi Motors also frequently receives inquiries about its plans for the Outlander PHEV.

Within the next five years, the Outlander PHEV might be replaced. As the years pass quickly, the plug-in hybrid SUV has enjoyed some success and time in the limelight, but the Outlander PHEV is lagging behind due to new technologies being used in contemporary automobiles. Previously uncommon, plug-in hybrid SUVs are now seeing increased competition. In 2019, Mitsubishi unveiled the Engelberg Tourer concept and the Mi-Tech concept, respectively, at the Geneva International Motor Show and the Tokyo Motor Show. The Mi-Tech was a fresh take on plug-in hybrid technology, whereas the Engelberg Tourer was more of a sportier version of the Outlander PHEV. However, neither vehicle has been the subject of recent news. What is Mitsubishi Motors doing these days? What other EV may Mitsubishi be developing if the Lancer EVO isn’t making a comeback? Follow Miami Lakes Automall Mitsubishi on social media to stay up to speed on all Mitsubishi Motors-related news.

How did the Mitsubishi Evos fare?

One of the many stunning vehicles in Mitsubishi’s collection of classic vehicles is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The iconic moniker played a major role in establishing the Mitsubishi brand in the thoughts and hearts of everyone who followed the company’s rallying efforts or owned a copy of Gran Turismo for their Sony Playstation. Although the Mitsubishi rally racer’s first version made its debut in 1992, the US only saw it from 2003 to 2016. Even though the Lancer Evolution is no longer produced, its supporters and the company’s shareholders don’t seem to have forgotten.

When did they cease production of evos?

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, sometimes known as “Evo,” is a sports sedan and rally car that Mitsubishi Motors of Japan produced from 1992 to 2016. It is based on the Lancer. Up to this point, there have been ten official versions, and each one is often identified by a Roman numeral. All-wheel drive systems and two-liter intercooled turbo inline four-cylinder engines are used across all generations.

The Evolution series was initially primarily meant for the Japanese market, but due to demand on the “grey import” market, it began to be sold through Ralliart dealer networks in the UK and other European countries from around 1998. In 2003, Mitsubishi made the decision to sell the eighth-generation Evolution to the US after seeing how well-received Subaru’s longtime rival, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, did there.

Until the launching of the Evo IX in 2005, the Japanese-spec versions of all Evos were constrained to advertise no more than 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp). However, according to reports, Mitsubishi was already building vehicles with more power while understating their stated outputs in order to comply with the contract. Every following iteration has therefore unofficially increased in power over the advertised values, with the Japanese-spec Evolution IX purportedly achieving an output of roughly 321 PS (236 kW; 317 hp). Several models with official power outputs up to 446 PS are available in different regions, mainly the UK (328 kW; 440 hp).

What year did they cease producing evos?

From 1992 through 2016, the Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors produced the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, sometimes known as “Evo,” a sports sedan and rally car based on the Lancer. There have been ten official versions to date, and each model is typically identified by a Roman numeral. All generations feature two-liter, intercooled, inline, turbocharged engines with all-wheel drive.

Originally only designed for the Japanese market, the Evolution series was made available through Ralliart dealer networks in the UK and other European countries from around 1998 due to demand on the “grey import” market. After seeing Subaru’s success in that market with their longtime adversary, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Mitsubishi made the decision to export the eighth generation Evolution there in 2003.

A gentleman’s agreement prohibited the Japanese-spec versions of all Evos from advertising more than 280 PS until the 2005 debut of the Evo IX (206 kW; 276 hp). Nevertheless, according to insiders, Mitsubishi was already building vehicles with greater outputs while understating them to comply with the contract. Thus, each consecutive iteration has unofficially evolved above the stated power ratings, with the Japanese-spec Evolution IX purportedly attaining an output of about 321 PS (236 kW; 317 hp). Different models, particularly those sold in the UK, have official power outputs of up to 446 PS (328 kW; 440 hp).

Will there ever be another Evo?

Despite investor pressure to bring back the venerable vehicle, which was retired in 2016, Lancer Evolution just doesn’t make any financial sense, according to Takao Kato, CEO and President of Mitsubishi Motors.

The “Evo” will stay in the past, at least temporarily, despite the brand’s intended return to motorsports and the revival of Mitsubishi’s Ralliart Racing Division. This is especially regrettable given that the Evolution’s former opponent is still in the works, with the release of its most recent version scheduled for 2022.

What was the Mitsubishi Evo’s successor?

All may not be bad. The Mitsubishi e-Evolution, which is the next car to use the Evolution nameplate after the Lancer Evolution, is also known as the Lancer Crossover in the image above.

Do Mitsubishi sports cars exist?

Today, if you look at the complete model portfolio of Mitsubishi from top to bottom, you’ll immediately notice one thing: they are all crossovers and SUVs. Despite the Mirage’s continued presence in the lineup, it is still only there as a service to buyers of cheap city cars. Crossovers and SUVs are currently Mitsubishi’s primary market segments. It no longer sells sedans, but more significantly, it no longer sells sports vehicles.

Why isn’t Mitsubishi more well-known?

Fewer than some luxury automakers, 46,021 automobiles were produced in the United States. That’s partly because Mitsubishi can’t advertise its products as broadly because it doesn’t have the same big coffers as many of its rivals. It also results from Mitsubishi’s constrained product selection, which mostly consists of crossovers and tiny cars with little variety. Additionally, the fact that the Mitsubishi dealer network is so much smaller and more dispersed than that of other marques doesn’t help the situation. To make matters worse, Mitsubishi models