Insofar as rumors go, this is a good one. Autocar, who you'll remember started this whole kerfuffle, has some new information from Mitsubishi on the exaggerated death of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
First, the reasonable: Mitsubishi President and CEO, Osamu Masuko, has said that "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." Which has been the company line all along.
He concludes, “The new direction, the technologies involved, and corresponding products will be disclosed in due course.”
And then Autocar goes all crazy...
"Autocar understands that the next Evo will switch to a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain."
Well, that would solve the efficiency problem. And the torque problem. And the not-billowing-clouds-of-thick-smoke-with-minor-mods problem. It's also an incredibly different, but still turbocharged, concept that could bring new people into the Evo fold.
Right now there are Evo guys and then there's everyone else. a diesel-electric sport hybrid would certainly alienate the current Evo / 4B/G fans, but they've already bought a car.
This solution seems unlikely, but Peugeot (who Mitsu is already in an EV partnership with), Volvo and Land Rover all have this technology, someone has to make it sporty. Right?
( Autocar )
greenpony says:
12:39 PM, 03/21/11
The thing about rumors is... they're just rumors. Why not just kick back and wait until the official Mitsubishi announcement?
throwback says:
12:52 PM, 03/21/11
"Autocar understands that the next Evo will switch to a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain."
Talk about hedging, autocar is very good at making wild claims. How many pan out?
Mike Magrath replied to comment from greenpony
12:53 PM, 03/21/11
Why pick a bracket for March Madness? Why watch the whole game when you can catch the scores?
Following the breadcrumbs and piecing together things from spy shots and patents and leaks is fun. It's fun in advance and it's fun 3-years down the road when we get to look back and see what we knew and how much of it was right.
-mm
stovt001 says:
01:00 PM, 03/21/11
+1 to Mike. Cleaning out old magazines this weekend I ran across a Motortrend that tried to predict what the 5th Gen Camaro would be like after the concept was revealed. Speculation can be fun if you don't put too much stock in it.
jhatmaker24 says:
01:07 PM, 03/21/11
I remember reading this (that the next Evo would be a diesel-hybrid) in Road and Track or Car and Driver a couple months ago. Not sure where they go it from. But I definitely remember seeing this.
I'd be all over this if that were the case, as this will be about the time I'm in the market for a new car. If not, I'll "settle" for an Evo X MR Touring....
greenpony says:
02:00 PM, 03/21/11
Sorry, didn't mean to pooh-pooh your fun. I'm just not a fan of idle speculation. Especially with April Fool's Day so close.
bostonjoe says:
03:11 PM, 03/21/11
I say offer the same gas powered version, (4b11 gas turbo) and a hybrid version for those who want one, much like Altima has 3.5 se, 4 cyl, and hybrid.
Offer Lancer, Lancer Evolution, an either a hybrid Lancer (which would be cool) or a hybrid available TRIM of the EVO.
Settled.
cz_75 says:
04:20 PM, 03/21/11
Sounds like a WWII submarine, not a car, with a diesel-electric powertrain. It should have a lot of torque, however.
jmm_101r says:
04:50 PM, 03/21/11
An EVO' THAT IS DIESEL/ELECTRIC???????
Is MITSU' SERIOUS??? CUSE I READ THE SAME FACT ON A MAGAZINE(IT WASNT AUTOCAR)
THEY ALSO STATED THAT MITSU' WAS WORKIN ON A DIESEL/ELECTRIC CAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE FOR AN UPCOMING NEW ENTRY- VEHICLE.WHATEVER THEY PLAN TO DO.. HOPEFULLY THEY DONT DO IT ON THE EVO'!!
I DONT THINK THAT A DIESEL/ELECTRIC POWER PLANT FOR AN EVO.. WILL OUT PERFORM THE [4B11 ENGINE] I ALSO THINK PACKAGING,WEIGHT & OTHER THINGS WILL BE AN ISSUE AS WELL.
IS MITSU' SAYIN THAT THEY HAVE SOMTHIN UNDER THEIR SLEEVE WHEN IT COMES TO DIESEL/ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY????.. I THINK ITS A REALLY RISKY' MOVE FROM THEM.
ME AS A EVO' ENTHUSIAST DONT AGREE WIT MITSU'.
carlisimo says:
05:17 PM, 03/21/11
Sounds like a cost nightmare. Diesels are expensive because they need to be turbocharged and need more complicated emissions controls than gasoline engines. They’re also heavier than gasoline engines. We’re all familiar with hybrids. I would hate to try to combine the two!
v8vader says:
06:15 PM, 03/21/11
i'll go ahead and bet that's not going to happen. but if it does, that would end up being a mighty expensive little rally car.
stonehammer says:
09:00 PM, 03/21/11
I remember watching as my evo 8 slid off the ramps of the carrier oh so many years ago, and thinking - I wonder if this is even going to be any good? I was the lucky first in my state to purchase one, having waited a long, long time. My deposit was down for quite some time before it arrived. My current daily driver was an e36 M3, and my expectations were high. At the time this sort of kit always came to the states late.
It was good; heck it was a great; no, it was a fantastic car and at the time a bargain even with its cheap interior pieces and silly looks. My father, a staunch Camaro man, turned his nose up at it and looked upon me in shame - until he drove it.
But... yes, time has marched on and close to 10 years later the new cool is the new pony cars and a renewed interest in cheaper hot hatches... why buy an Evo or Sti when for a little more you can get a Shelby with 550 something hp or for a lot less get a Mazdaspeed. Never mind that they are totally different beasts, no one is going to stop in their tracks and say, whoa, sweet Lancer bro! and sadly thats what sells cars.
Soooo.... if Mitsu comes up with a quick but incredibly fuel efficient car, and manages to keep it fun to drive. I'll put my deposit down early again.
melohor says:
10:38 PM, 03/21/11
Those mitsubishi fools should just make another new model instead of messing with their ionic car. it's like Nissan said they're going to make hybrid GTR.
They can slip "Lancer Evolution" into two different models just like "Skyline GTR" became G37 and GTR.
suju89 says:
04:36 AM, 03/22/11
For those unaware of how awesome an Electric Evo can be, I would like to direct your attention to the 2005 Mitsubishi EVO MIEV.
http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/toyota-ad.png
1 motor at each wheel (replaces the hub/brake assembly)
Total power: 268hp
Total torque: 382lb-ft
and that was six years ago...
hotrodw says:
05:20 AM, 03/22/11
It's an interesting concept for sure -- one that many on these boards have speculated about previously. Diesel torque + electric torque = unbelievable low-end pull. A complete about face from the current high-strung Evo. But how will they address the top end?
jazzor says:
04:44 AM, 03/23/11
Mitsu hurry the heck up already... I need a new car! and I don't want to pay for Premium Gasoline any longer!