After numerous Evo concepts, Mitsubishi has released a few more teaser details to the forthcoming sporting saloon. The new car will wear different badging in Japan, part of a new strategy to differentiate the tenth iteration Evolution and its regular Lancer siblings from the product available in other worldwide markets, but the real story is garnered from the images.
In Japan, Mitsubishi has decided to christen the Lancer the Galant Fortis, named after the Latin word meaning "strong, steadfast and courageous". In European markets the model will retain the Lancer nameplate and will also sport slightly different styling, claimed to be more dynamic and sports-inspired. Though still tagged "a design study", the car in our pictures appears to be more production oriented, devoid of the large rear wing fitted to the 'concept' unveiled in
Detroit in January. Motivated by a 2-litre engine with an aluminium cylinder block, the Lancer is claimed to deliver high power output and return excellent fuel efficiency. Mitsubishi, however, has yet to release any performance figures.
Mitsubishi has also announced that the tenth generation rally-inspired Evo will be called the Evolution X when it goes on sale in its home market of Japan, but it will wear the Lancer Evolution nameplate in Europe. Judging from the photos this car is also near production ready, though Mitsubishi also maintains it is still a design study.
Nevertheless, the images of the new Evo clearly differ from the
Prototype X, particularly in the headlamp treatment, the addition of front fog lamps and a licence plate mounting bracket, along with more subdued wing mirrors and side sills. The chromed wheels have been replaced by less attention-grabbing silver alloys and the LED tail lamps of the show car have also been revised, featuring chrome rings around the individual brake lights and an orange indicator lens.
The new model will feature Mitsubishi's S-AWC (super all-wheel control) traction and handling system - that manages drive torque and braking control with the four-wheel drive system - and a new 2-litre turbocharged MIVEC engine with a lightweight aluminium cylinder block mated to either a six-speed automated manual transmission or a conventional manual. The recent photos also show large red-painted Brembo callipers nestling behind the wheels, though the discs are not cross-drilled as they were on the Prototype X.
Production versions of the Lancer and Lancer Evolution will make their European debut at the
Frankfurt motor show this autumn and become available to buyers at the end of the year. UK buyers will need to hold off until the scheduled launch in March 2008, with a five-door Lancer anticipated in UK showrooms in September 2008.
Eric Gallina - 29 Apr 2007
