Geneva Autoshow: Mitsubishi to kill off EVOLUTION

[*Shinzon*]

So since we have a bunch of car guys on the forums who are always recommending Evo's and WRX/STI's to people who come asking for new car advice, I figured this would interest quite a few people who maybe don't frequent automotive blog/news websites:

Via Autoblog

According to Gayu Eusegi, head of global product development for Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution X will be the last Evo the Japanese automaker ever builds. Eusegi says the move is part of a shift in strategy to put the company's product focus and ethos on leadership in EV technology.

To that end, Autocar indicates that Mitsubishi will release eight fully-electric or hybrid-electric cars by the time 2015 rolls around, and make a grab for a big portion of the CO2-reduction market share. It goes without saying that the fun-yet-fuel-swilling Evo just doesn't fit that mindset, particularly since it apes a rally car that no longer exists.

Despite the Evo's huge popularity, Mitsubishi apparently isn't scared of the step and says it's confident that consumers will glom on to the idea and rally behind the brand. By killing the Evo, they're making their intentions plain to an increasingly environmentally-conscious car-buying public.

Eusegi killed dead any notion that the brand would roll out a performance-oriented hybrid as well. "Maybe the world can change, and maybe someday we can do a motor race by electric vehicles. Maybe then we can enter the market agian," he said.

This report of the Evo's death would seem to stand in contrast to multiple reports that an Evo XI is in the works with a hybrid drivetrain. We're taking this latest Autocar missive with a few grains of salt, as we can see how Eusegi may have simply meant that an Evo that relies exclusively on internal combustion is dead – a hybrid Evo would seem to offer a nice technological bridge to Mitsubishi's more electrically minded future.

Electric cars are going to make our lives so boring.

[Talint]

...but I don't have an Evo yet!! D:

[Pikarya]

They should stick to high-definition displays anyways.

[archibaldcrane]

Electric cars are going to make our lives so boring.

http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def.../sideblur1.jpg

[archibaldcrane]

Also, Darwinism.

[*Shinzon*]

http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def.../sideblur1.jpg

I don't have 90K to spend on a PoS Tesla. Plus if I had that much money to spend on a car gas prices wouldn't bother me anyway. :/

[Pikarya]

You wanna ride like a boss, you pay like one.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2i9idkl.jpg

[Surealistic]

god im bored already

[*Shinzon*]

Ariel Atom with an electric motor, not really impressive. Also not practical or something the average person would have access to like the evo considering the MSRP of over 80k :/. Let them pull that off in a 4 door, fun, and practical car that wont leave you stranded because the charge only lasts a few hours and I'll change my mind.

[archibaldcrane]

Ariel Atom with an electric motor, not really impressive. Also not practical or something the average person would have access to like the evo considering the MSRP of over 80k :/. Let them pull that off in a 4 door, fun, and practical car that wont leave you stranded because the charge only lasts a few hours and I'll change my mind.

Are you seriously arguing that the specs you just gave won't exist in the next 15 years? Lol.

It's almost as if cars are













evolving

[Surealistic]

you do realize that everything has to start somewhere, first gas power cars werent exactly bugatti veyrons

[Ragnell]

FUCK. YOU. MITSUBISHI

[Pikarya]

There's this thing called Diesel. It's been working great for over a century now & and still dominates 90% of shit on the road. Best part? Its cost effective for the average citizen and most modern-era diesel's run cleaner than gas.

Spoiler: show

inb4 Diesel costs more than Gasoline.

[*Shinzon*]

Naw, I'm not saying the tech wont exist, but electric cars are most certainly not the long term solution. Our country's automotive infrastructure first off couldn't handle a change to all electric vehicles for several reasons. To start is the fact that batteries simply take time to charge, and even at the best charging stations refueling takes hours as oppose to just minutes. The country would also have to completely rebuild our electricity grids on top of that handle all the extra usage and it make it 100% reliable which just isn't going to happen.

Hydrogen on the other hand can be pumped at a fuel station just like gas, and some scientists have even developed a way to suspend pure hydrogen beads in a liquid making it combustible and that can be used in our current internal combustion engines preventing us from buying all new cars with money we don't have, and rebuilding our nation's power grid with money we also don't have. Also that hydrogen liquid produces no emissions other than water.

you do realize that everything has to start somewhere, first gas power cars werent exactly bugatti veyrons

The problem is we'll run out gas before the electric tech becomes viable, when we already have working and realistic hydrogen solutions.

[archibaldcrane]

Just helped my girlfriend buy a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDI Auto. 41 mpg highway - only 120 horsepower, but if you put the pedal down on a green light it squeals the tires. Diesel torque om nom nom.

[*Shinzon*]

Just helped my girlfriend buy a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDI Auto. 41 mpg highway - only 120 horsepower, but if you put the pedal down on a green light it squeals the tires. Diesel torque om nom nom.

Also Diesel is badass. 220 Lbs of torque yum.

[Surealistic]

im all for alternative energy for cars, so either hydrogen or electric, which ever wins out ill be happy, problem is that its not up to us the consumers (at least here in america) big oil is too set in their ways and refuses to put forth the effort find something better than oil, and since the auto makers are all reliant on big oil, unfortunately we will all be driving cars with good ol gas until there is none left and we are left out in the cold with no cars

i realize it most likely will never come to that, but the state of things right now have me very worried

[Pikarya]

Just helped my girlfriend buy a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDI Auto. 41 mpg highway - only 120 horsepower, but if you put the pedal down on a green light it squeals the tires. Diesel torque om nom nom.

Buddy down the street has a 2003 Jetta TDI that gets 800 miles on a tank. Only thing he's done to it is chip/lighter wheels & new tires/carbon fiber hood iirc. He bought it for 2k last year. I've heard horror stories of some people hitting near 1,000-1,500+ on one tank.

[Ragnell]

A half scale dragster can sequel tires too and they have less than half that HP

[archibaldcrane]

The problem is we'll run out gas before the electric tech becomes viable

lolno

The Leaf and Volt are already rolling off assembly lines. Once we get up to 150-mile+ ranges, electric cars are going to be suitable for 98% of a driver's needs (just plug in when you're at home - wouldn't require this massive "rebuilding of the nation's power grid" you are suggesting, especially since nighttime electricity usage when most people will have their cars plugged in is significantly less than daytime electricity usage.)