Mitsubishi Still Wants a New Evo: ‘We Have a Dream’

The last Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution left the US in 2016 with the discontinuation of the Evo X. Nearly a decade has passed since then, and Mitsubishi has remained silent about a potential successor—until now.

A recent interview at the Japan Mobility Show suggests that Mitsubishi executives haven’t completely closed the door on reviving the Evo nameplate. Speaking with Australia’s Drive, Senior Engineering Fellow Kaoru Sawase—often regarded as the “godfather” of Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system—said that the company still “dreams” of building a new Lancer Evolution.

While Sawase-san stopped short of confirming that a new Evo is in development, his comments indicate that the idea is still very much alive within Mitsubishi. He explained through a translator:

‘We have a dream, of course, for Lancer Evolution. It’s my personal dream.’

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Concept-X

Photo by: Mitsubishi

While that dream may still be far from reality, Sawase-san noted that any new Evo would need to embrace modern powertrain technologies. He mentioned that a future model would likely include “electrification,” which could range from a conventional hybrid setup to a fully electric system.

That said, based on Mitsubishi’s recent concepts, there’s reason to believe that a new Evo—if it ever materializes—wouldn’t go full EV. At the Tokyo show, the automaker unveiled the Elevance SUV concept, which features a sophisticated plug-in hybrid powertrain rather than an all-electric one.

Mitsubishi has also been breathing new life into its Ralliart performance sub-brand, adding it to several models, including the Outlander. That renewed focus on performance could signal promising things for Mitsubishi enthusiasts.

For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see whether the Evo name makes its long-awaited return. Here’s hoping.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

– The Motor1.com Team