Mitsubishi News: Rumorpile: Mitsubishi Goes Plug-In Hybrid For Next Lancer Evolution

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

December 14, 2013

A new report from Motor Trend says the next Lancer Evolution will be much different than the one we currently have.

The report says that Mitsubishi is working on a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain and platform that will consist of electric motors in the front and back for the all-wheel drive system, a battery pack mounted under the rear seats, and a gas engine. Sources close to project say engineers are considering a 1.1L inline-three turbocharged engine with 135 horsepower.

Because of this new platform, Mitsubishi is considering changing the name for the next Lancer Evolution.

Source: Motor Trend

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

View full article

[ocnblu]

A poor bet.

[Drew Dowdell]

Interesting. I wonder what arrangement hybrid this will be.

[dwightlooi]

evo buyers are not interested in extreme fuel economy nor do they care for zero emissions from a plug-in. Buyers of that sort of car -- the Tesla buyers -- are not interested in a Kamikaze AWD rally car for the streets. Trackday and/or real rally folks can't use a plug-in which runs out of juice or draws down its battery to limp mode a third of the way through the course -- that is if class rules even allow them to race it at all. Mitsu executives need to get their heads examined.

[FAPTurbo]

I'm assuming this is Mitsubishi's attempt to exit America with a bang, instead of a whimper like Suzuki. How else can anyone explain such a dumb idea?

The Evo is a balls-to-the-wall performance machine - its formula is almost sacred - and that got a lot of people my age into cars in the first place. The Evo is why Mitsubishi is even on the automotive map. It's a halo car. Why change it? I'm sure this plug-in car will be cool, but if it isn't, it'll likely kill the entire brand.

Edited December 15, 2013 by FAPTurbo

[Robert Hall]

'Devo' sounds like it would be a more fitting name, as is it devolving into a lesser form.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar