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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution dead : Brand confirms the end of its high-performance sedan

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X will be the final high-performance sedan from the Japanese brand.


A statement surrounding the death of the Lancer Evolution X sedan came as Mitsubishi announced a final update for US-specification models

"Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to design a successor with the current concept such as a high-performance four-wheel-drive gasoline-powered sedan," a statement from the brand read.

"Mitsubishi Motors will explore the possibilities of high-performance models that incorporate electric vehicle technology. Moving forward, the technology honed in the Lancer Evolution model will continue to be advanced and proactively incorporated into future models."

Mitsubishi Motors Australia head of corporate communications Shayna Welsh told CarAdvice the brand would keep selling the current Evolution X model until stocks run out, but couldn't give a timeline as to when that may occur.

"We're still selling Evo until it's out of production. It will remain part of our line-up until production ceases," Welsh said.

There is plenty of speculation surrounding what could replace the Evolution model as a flagship performance offering for the brand, and it is highly likely given the company's push towards an SUV-strong line-up that a go-fast SUV - possibly based the XR PHEV concept seen above - could be the best option.

"MMC has been very clear about what its forward direction is, with a strong focus on LCVs and SUVs," she said.

As Mitsubishi Motors president Osamu Masuko told CarAdvice at a press event earlier this year that the next-generation Evolution needs to be something that people want to buy.

“Gradually the definition of an SUV is changing,” Masuko said. “So I might anticipate that the borderline between Evolution and SUV might become more overarching.”

Welsh said there was no further clarity surrounding the future of the standard Lancer range, either, which is languishing against strong small car competition. Sales of the Lancer have dropped by 28.4 per cent so far this year, with just 4388 units sold to the end of June.

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