Mitsubishi eyes rally return, but Lancer Evolution replacement must wait for electric tech
Nearly a decade since the Lancer Evolution ended production, Mitsubishi's boss says the brand must return to its 'fun' roots.
A month after Mitsubishi announced it would be reviving its Ralliart performance division, the company's boss says there are no plans yet to introduce a replacement for the iconic Lancer Evolution.
Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato told attendees at the company's Annual General Meeting it was considering an eventual return to rally, but the development of a Lancer Evolution-type replacement must take a back seat to the development of battery-electric technology for the time being.
"For the current situation, there may have been a problem with the way we have developed our products so far," Mr Kato acknowledged.
"Now we need to redefine the Mitsubishi character, and after incorporating the opinions of people who know the fun of old-fashioned Mitsubishi Motors, we decided to revive Ralliart. I understand that sports cars are the flower of an automobile manufacturer."
However, Mr Kato confirmed the company was prioritising the development of battery-electric vehicles to ensure the long-term viability of Mitsubishi Motors.
Vice President Hiroshi Nagaoka then added: "At present, there are no sedan-type or sports car-type product plans."
In May 2021, Mitsubishi announced it would revive the dormant Ralliart department, with an image of an aggressive-looking dual-cab Triton ute sliding on dirt accompanying the news.
Mr Kato also told the shareholder meeting the company was continuing to develop a city-sized electric vehicle in conjunction with Nissan – a partnership which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
"The strength is that we can combine our own technology with various alliance technologies for electrification."
The new model, which was announced in March 2021, is expected to be offered in Japan and Southeast Asia – suggesting the model could be a chance for Australia.