In an official statement released today, MMC President and Global Chief Executive, Osamu Masuko confirmed the fact the successor of the Mitsubishi Evo will take a new direction. The production of the current generation, Mitsubishi Evolution X will continue as planned, but it's next generation however, will have a different architecture.
Mitsubishi is currently trying to take the lead in developing environmental initiatives and their goal is now to become a world leader in the reduction of CO2 emissions. The Mitsubishi Evo, in its current form, does not fit this product plan at all. This is the reason why the future generations will take a new direction. This means the future Mitsubishi Evolution will have a
different engine, transmission and drive system. Mitsubishi says that the engineering package and architecture of the next Evo will be dictated by regulations and market feedback.
Mitsubishi seems determined to end the 'road-legal rally car' legend. Fortunately, we'll still have the Impreza STI to play with.
MMC President Osamu Masuko's statement:
We recognise that automakers have a responsibility to take the lead in developing environmental initiatives... Our goal is to become a world leader in the reduction of CO2 emissions on a global scale
Production of the current Lancer Evolution X continues as planned. As for its successor, regulations and market feedback will dictate its engineering package and architecture. MMC has kept the Lancer Evolution sedan evolving as the brand’s highest performing model in the global market. However, as the markets needs and demands change, MMC is considering not advancing the
Lancer Evolution concept in the same way as before, but to find a different direction for the Lancer Evolution model to evolve. The new direction, the technologies involved, and corresponding products will be disclosed in due course.
