In May 2020, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance shared its news strategy of its Alliance 2022 business plan. The new strategy had a “Follow the Leader” pattern, with Mitsubishi Motors set to be the first automaker of the three to release a new vehicle. There is just one small problem – the complete lack of news from Mitsubishi Motors Corp (MMC) and the automaker about any upcoming models. Ever since, there has been a lot of talk on the internet about this new Mitsubishi vehicle being a sports car, and possibly the revival of the Lancer Evolution after the release of the never-before-seen Mitsubishi Starion 4WD concept art. Alas, Mitsubishi Motors finally broke its silence, and no Lancer is in sight. The future is still electric vehicles (EVs).
At the end of June 2021, Mitsubishi Motors held a shareholders meeting, and many in attendance were asking about the Lancer Evo or a new sports car, especially after Mitsubishi decided to bring back its high-performance Ralliart team. This is the same team that took the original Mitsubishi Lancer and turned it into a powerful rally car, the Lancer Evolution, that went on for several generations before meeting its eventual end. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? However, unlike the Dodge//SRT team, Ralliart will be taking more of a backseat like MOPAR and serve as an after-market supplier of accessories consumers can use to enhance the performance of various future models.
Hopes – dashed.
“Electrification costs a lot of development, and we still don’t have enough strength as a company. We put out a big deficit in the previous fiscal year, so we want to revive the company first and then put out a little car that fans are waiting for.” – translated via Google Translate from Japanese publication Response by way of Japanese Nostalgic Car
Salt in the wound, isn’t it? Not that we’re trying to rub it in. Stings for us, too.
But we knew this going in. When discussing the future of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance after the digital press release in May, we knew plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles were coming to the forefront. Nissan and Renault have been developing new EV platforms and powertrains called ePTs, Nissan released a new EV platform for use across all three brands, and Mitsubishi has had its share of concepts over the years. Aside from the requests for the Lancer Evolution, the other question Mitsubishi Motors gets a lot is what plans are for the Outlander PHEV.
The Outlander PHEV might get a replacement within the next few years. Quickly putting on the years, the plug-in hybrid SUV has had its success and time in the spotlight, but with the new technology being introduced in today’s modern cars, the Outlander PHEV is falling behind. A plug-in hybrid SUV was once a rarity but is quickly meeting competition. There have been some contenders – in 2019, during the Geneva International Motor Show and Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi revealed the Engelberg Tourer concept and the Mi-Tech concept, respectively. The Engelberg Tourer was more so a sporty version of the Outlander PHEV, whereas the Mi-Tech was a new take on plug-in hybrid technology, but there hasn’t been any news about either since.What is Mitsubishi Motors up to? If the Lancer EVO isn’t making a comeback, then what EV could Mitsubishi possibly be working on? Stay up to date with all Mitsubishi Motors-related news when you follow us on Miami Lakes Automall Mitsubishi social media.