Not Ready To Say Goodbye To The Mitsu Evo?
March 6th, 2011 11:15 AM
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Surf on over to causes.com and join the People’s Evolution Front. Remember, true comrades reject the notion of progress through hybridization, diesel or other modifications aimed at appeasing the ecological running dogs. Hasta la victoria siempre!
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I guess I must not be a 'true comrade' as I believe there is much progress that can be made through hybridization and diesel. Audi has had pretty staggering success with their diesels at Le Mans. I reject the notion that true automotive enthusiasm is not at odds with resource efficiency and environmental stewardship. That being said, I think losing the loss of the EVO is pretty sad for Mitsubishi and the motoring public.
As iconic as the Lancer Evolution is (I owned a VIII and drove it every day for five years), it sells very poorly in the US (a little over 2000 last year) and does nothing much for Mitsubishi's bottom line, which has been hemorrhaging red ink for years. Mitsubishi has a wretched product lineup and has apparently figured out that competing with Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and now Hyundai and Kia will continue to leave it where it is right now: dead last. If they can make a go as a legitimate maker of hybrid and electric-only vehicles then at least it will be better than being a perennial has-been. I'm as sorry to see the Evo go as all the well-intentioned petitioners, but everything must come to an end. There are still many enthusiast cars to chose from and our memories of the Rally Car - inspired genre (Evo, STi, Audi Coupe) will remain fond ones.
All I know is that the last time I went by a Mitsubishi dealer, all they had on the lot was about ten Evos. I would wager a guess that even at 2000 a year, it is one of their more profitable cars in the US, especially when you take into consideration the discounts they have to put on the other models to move them.