“We will start work on the project next year, and it will be ready within three,” said Masuko. “I have set the goal of developing a sporting car featuring electric power.”
That is that folks…
From Autocar:
The next Mitsubishi Evo will be powered by a hybrid powertrain and will go on sale within three years, company president Osamu Masuko has confirmed to Autocar. Although Masuko did not reveal the full technical details, it is understood that the Evo XI will switch to a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, saving it from tightening emissions regulations while preserving its trademark mid-range shove.
It is hoped that the mix of diesel torque and electric motor will deliver a 0-62mph time of under five seconds, yet cut CO2 emissions to less than 200g/km.
The Evo XI will feature a revised version of the S-AWC four-wheel drive system, which integrates braking, steering and traction control.
The future of the Evo has been the subject of much debate this year. Senior management initially claimed it would be axed in favour of investing in electric vehicles, but it reversed this decision following a backlash from fans.
Masuko is believed to have made the decision after being persuaded that a halo model such as the Evo could have a positive effect on the entire Mitsubishi range, which is set to become increasingly environmentally focused.
Some early tid-bits you may or may not have known about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
Jebat Interior
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL
NINE DESIGN DETAILS FOR LANCER EVOLUTION X ENHANCED PERFORMANCE ~
1. No Reverse Gear –To save weight, the 5-speed manual transmission has no dedicated reverse gear. Instead, it uses an arrangement in which first and third gears engage with an idler gear on a separate shaft to reverse the direction of rotation.
2. Spoilers In The Wheel Arch – The wheel houses have a miniscule spoiler lip around the curve of the wheel to prevent the wind from swirling in the wheel housing thus improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
3. Energy Saving Glass – Solar control glass uses an infrared absorbing material in its intermediate layer to reduce transmission of solar heat by 66-100%. The glass also cuts out transmission of ultra-violet light but transmits all visible light to keep the interior airy and light.
4. Stainless Steel Manifold – The exhaust system uses a stainless steel manifold,which is smoother than other alternatives to maximize airflow. An Inconel turbocharger is located downstream and optimization of the compressor wheel has improved response by 18% over the Lancer Evolution IX.
5. Your Car, The Way You Want It – Mitsubishi’s ETACs (Electronic Total Automobile Control) system allows you to personalize the set up of your car, just the way you want it. You can decide how long the interior light stays on after door closure, if at all. You decide when the wing mirrors fold in and out –at the touch of a button, or automatically when the door is closed and ignition switched on or off. You choose.
6. Acoustic Engineering – The latest in lightweight acoustic and vibration dampening materials, including foam filling for the pillars, have been strategically placed throughout the body of the Lancer Evolution X. This ensures noise and vibration performance that befits a new generation high performance saloon,while minimizing any weight increase.
7. Lights That Look Around Corners – The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) uses high intensity discharge (HID) headlights increase the driver’s field of vision to make night driving safer. The clever bit is that the car detects when the driver turns the steering wheel and automatically switches on an additional beam to light up the oncoming corner.
8. External Vents Improve Breathing – Two bonnet vents release engine heat, as with previous Evolutions, but a new feature is the central air intake to help the engine breath and increase power output. New vents have also been added behind the front wheel to let engine heat escape more efficiently.
9. F1 Floating Piston Technology – The all-new aluminum engine is not only 12KG lighter than the previous 2.0 straight four unit, but also uses full floating pistons made by Mahle, renowned for use in F1 cars. Made of a very hard and strong alloy the pistons are able to handle the higher power produced by this road-ready performance car.
Proton and Mitsubishi Motors to Pursue Broad Ranging Strategic Collaboration
Shah Alam / Tokyo, 15 September, 2011 – PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that they are in serious discussion for strategic collaboration to further strengthen the competitiveness of both PROTON and MMC in the global marketplace.
The collaborative items being considered between the two parties are set to cover areas and activities such as:
Joint production of engines in Malaysia
Consignment production of MMC-brand vehicles at PROTON facilities
Sharing of major parts and components between MMC’s “Global Small”, which is to be launched next March starting in Thailand, and PROTON’s upcoming “Global Small Car”
Provision of MMC’s future technologies such as electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicle technology
The two companies had jointly proceeded with feasibility studies since late 2010 and have identified these areas of collaboration that could be expected to provide both parties with the right synergy in the pursuit of global competitiveness.
Cooperation between PROTON and MMC, ever since PROTON’s inception as the country’s first car manufacturer and driver of the national automotive industry development has proven to be a long lasting business affiliation. The two companies had signed an agreement in December 2008 on the development and production of new vehicles at PROTON. Under a license agreement, PROTON currently produces ‘Inspira’, a four-door sedan model based on an MMC vehicle.
The latest discussion between the companies aims to provide yet another win-win relationship where MMC will be able to expand its presence in the ASEAN market while PROTON will be able to also expand its line-up and make effective use of its production facilities. A new strategic collaboration, supported by the growth of both companies since their first collaboration 26 years ago, is certainly a natural progression for both parties in taking their business relationship to a much more significant and impactful level in view of the ever competitive automotive landscape.
Mitsubishi keeps upping the ante on their marketing material but like most marketing efforts it may be high on drama, hype and technology it doesn’t necessarily translate into excitement about their performance. Sorry Mitsubishi, we miss you in motorsport. WRC > Road of Death.
Nevertheless, almost 200 people die on this stretch of wide trail from La Paz to Coroico, Bolivia every year. Mitsubishi documented their run with a 360 degree spherical camera that you can play with on their website.
Very cool but I have to compare it to Top Gear’s Bolivia run and I’m left wanting more… like James with a machete.
You’ve probably heard by now some conflicting reports about the future of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Does Mitsubishi hopes to jump back into the world market as a leader of eco-friendly electric and fuel-efficient automobiles by eschewing the Evo?
There was a day when, by American and Australian standards, a four-cylinder WAS eco-friendly and fuel-efficient. And surprise to those uninformed displacement jockeys: the little 4G63, for example, was turbocharged.
The 4B11 was born out of a global design with the collaboration of significant partners, based on a deep history of efficent power-to-displacement four cylinders proven in the WRC and Dakar rallies.
With Mitsubishi canning Ralliart and giving up on the WRC and Dakar it seems as though that history isn’t as valuable to the rest of the automotive market. They want cheap and efficient. Maybe throw in a iPod dock too.
Now Mitsubishi is going in a “different direction” on the Evo, possibly as an electric, maybe not as a Lancer (i-MiEV Evo anyone?). Mitsubishi stated that “market feedback will dictate its engineering package and architecture” and we know that after 7 generations without an Evo in the United States that the enthusiasts voice is muted.
The current generation Evolution X will continue to be sold through 2013
“MMC has kept the Lancer Evolution sedan evolving as the brand’s highest performing model in the global market,” Mitsubishi said. “However, as the market’s 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.”
