Lancer Evo discontinued: ironic?

Does anyone else find it mildly ironic that the Lancer EVOLUTION was discontinued. I mean the whole point of evolution is to ensure survival, right? So I guess the Evo failed to evolve? What do you think Mitsubishi's next move will be? I mean, I would imagine they would introduce some kind of other performance-oriented model eventually, because though it be small, there is definitely still a market for it.

Did Mitsubishi ever make a RWD car? I dunno, pretty interesting things going, Subaru loses a competitor, but potentially gains another with the dawn of the RS soon upon us. It'll be interesting to see how things play out

Mitsubishi made many RWD cars.

I guess the Starion is RWD, but thats about the only one I can think of...

Lancer was RWD until 1987. Colt wasn't FWD until 1978.

Axing the only performance car your company makes seems like a bold move.
Actually, a move away from boldness.

I also find it ironic that Mitsibishi EVOLVED from a performance brand to one on the fringes of selling vehicles in the U.S. market. I don't hear about the magazines testing any of their cars or SUVs. I think they're leaving the U.S. market, no one wants to buy their SUVs, at least in the last 8 or so years.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: I also find it ironic that Mitsibishi EVOLVED from a performance brand to one on the fringes of selling vehicles in the U.S. market. I don't hear about the magazines testing any of their cars or SUVs. I think they're leaving the U.S. market, no one wants to buy their SUVs, at least in the last 8 or so years.

??

Other than the EVO, what Mitsu's are considered performance cars?

I see more of the super cheap, econo cars that have that brand more than any other kind of car they make.

In reply to alfadriver:

The 3000GT was considered a performance car, but it was a "group effort" car, so I guess you might not be able to credit Mitsubishi entirely...

In reply to alfadriver:

Well it used to have the 3000, Starion and turbo Eclipse.

C&D tested the latest Mirage and pronounced it dreadful. Nonetheless, I see quite a few of them on the road, mostly because they're cheap (the Yugo syndrome).

jstein77 wrote: C&D tested the latest Mirage and pronounced it dreadful. Nonetheless, I see quite a few of them on the road, mostly because they're cheap (the Yugo syndrome).

I tested the latest Mirage and pronounced it horrifying.

The discontinuation of the Evo has been on the works for years - basically it doesn't fit Mitsubishis newfound greenness. It's a pity (I liked mine, I just didn't fit it well).

There are occasional rumours about a new nutso hybrid diesel Evo, but I file those right next to the immediate reveal of the Mazda 16X engine...

The EVO was the only car they made in the last 15 years worth buying - or driving.

They are isuzu Jr.

Desmond wrote: In reply to alfadriver: The 3000GT was considered a performance car, but it was a "group effort" car, so I guess you might not be able to credit Mitsubishi entirely...

Oh no, the Starquest & 3000GT/Stealth was all Mitsu, the Eclipse/Talon/Laser(DSM) was the collaboration car with Chrysler interference.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: They are isuzu Jr.

And Suzuki Lite....

I find it ironic that this car was called Evolution. It was, in reality, refined, concentrated, carefully applied intelligent creation.

Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT.

But in the last 15 years, what?

And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)?

Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

alfadriver wrote: Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT. But in the last 15 years, what? And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)? Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

Have they really, though? In the last 15 years, there was the.... MR-S. And the Celica.

And....

Yep. That's it.

We should probably strive for a higher proportion of informed opinion in this thread.

So we're to be comfortable criticizing the way Mitsubishi is run without knowing even the most basic things about their product line over the last few years?

I am VERY glad the current Mirage exists and is sold here (yes i have driven one and checked it out on a lift). The Outlander Sport is doing very well in spite of the fact that it's below par for its segment in numerous ways. I don't understand the design direction they've taken with the 'big' Outlander this time around, and it doesn't seem to be working in the market. The Lancer is horribly outdated. The Evolution was too niche to have any real impact other than on the opinions of people who don't know a damn thing else about Mitsubishi and weren't buying a new Evo anyway.

The current problems go back a long way but it seems to me that the main problem right now is that they havent put money into keeping the Lancer competitive/relevant and they have no cohesive brand image/persona that their US product jives with.

I think the evo's main problem is that it's a trim level on a car that's embarassingly old to be putting on a new car lot for new car money. The fact that there's no new evo is a side effect of the fact that there's no new Lancer to put it on.

Swank Force One wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT. But in the last 15 years, what? And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)? Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

Have they really, though? In the last 15 years, there was the.... MR-S. And the Celica. And.... Yep. That's it.

Celica went FWD with the 1986 model year, which was 29 years ago. However, if you count Lexus, there was the IS series.

jstein77 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT. But in the last 15 years, what? And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)? Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

Have they really, though? In the last 15 years, there was the.... MR-S. And the Celica. And.... Yep. That's it.

Celica went FWD with the 1986 model year, which was 29 years ago. However, if you count Lexus, there was the IS series.

He was talking about performance/sporty cars.

Swank Force One wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT. But in the last 15 years, what? And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)? Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

Have they really, though? In the last 15 years, there was the.... MR-S. And the Celica. And.... Yep. That's it.

Yes, if you don't count the Supra- sure. Or the current FRS. exactly. Especially ignoring all the TRD trucks, they did nothing.

My point is that Mitsu isn't exactly Mazda, which is (theoretically) a performance brand.

alfadriver wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Ok, the Starion, Eclipse, and 3000GT. But in the last 15 years, what? And 4 cars in the last 30 (considering the EVO line as one)? Toyota has done more than that, and they are not considered a performance marque.

Have they really, though? In the last 15 years, there was the.... MR-S. And the Celica. And.... Yep. That's it.

Yes, if you don't count the Supra- sure. Or the current FRS. exactly. My point is that Mitsu isn't exactly Mazda, which is (theoretically) a performance brand.

I didn't count the Supra because it hasn't been sold in the US within the last 15 years.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Reading comprehension PWNZORED him....