Is the Lancer Crossover Enough to Replace the Lancer EVO?
Way back when Mitsubishi Motors first started making a name for itself, many started to recognize the name for its rally cars. Long before Mitsubishi entered the auto market on American soil, vehicles like the Lancer and Lancer Evolution were making their mark on the racetrack. Once retail versions of these vehicles became available, they instantly became a favorite amongst racing fans and Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts. One of the best things about the Lancer and Lancer EVO was the potential for adding mods and improving performance. Having been discontinued years ago, some fans are wondering if that new replacement Lancer SUV concept can match up to its predecessor.
Yes, in 2018, Mitsubishi Motors announced plans for a new Mitsubishi Lancer as a crossover and just hearing it doesn’t do the real concept credit. Looking at the image above, and SUV or not, it definitely looks like a vehicle that could rip up some asphalt. Although Mitsubishi also claims that this concept may become an upcoming electric SUV, the automaker has mentioned a vision for “performance-oriented EVs”. We’re not quite sure what that could mean, but we do wonder if the new Lancer Crossover could contend with the real deal.
Some fans don’t think so. Washington-state resident Brent Coleman, like many, wanted to own a Lancer Evolution, but not many were sold in the United States, and the Lancer Evolution VI never sold in the U.S. Market. During an interview with The Drive, Coleman mentioned he realized he could build his own version of this overseas rally car when he noticed the Lancer EVO VI shared a chassis with a vehicle still sold stateside – the Mitsubishi Mirage.
A sedan, the Mitsubishi Mirage doesn’t have the look of a rally car, but one could get all the necessary parts to upgrade the cosmetics. Just look at the below image. It took twelve years, but Coleman took his 1998 Mirage sedan and turned it into an Evo VI Tommi Mäkinen to replicate the body, interior, and drivetrain parts. He even sourced a Tommi Mäkinen edition rear floorboard to splice in to get the correct all-wheel-drivetrain setup.
Some fans will go lengths to recapture the rally cars of old, but not everyone can spend the time or money modding an old vehicle. What if the Lancer crossover concept is the closest to the Lancer EVO? It’s not all bad. The Lancer Crossover in the image above is also known as the Mitsubishi e-Evolution, the next vehicle to wear the Evolution nameplate after the Lancer Evolution. Imagine if Mitsubishi Motors managed to recapture the driving capabilities of the Lancer EVO into the Lancer Crossover. Turbocharged, an all-wheel-drive system, and with plenty of traction control that vehicle was able to handle sharpest turns. Maybe a sub-compact crossover would be better suited for a rally car, but it all depends on the stance of the vehicle. If the concept stays close to the image above, racing enthusiasts may just have a chance at reliving the days of the Lancer EVO in the new Lancer Crossover.
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