The End of the Mitsubishi Lancer
Wow, we did not see this coming. It’s a bit of a heartbreak, but Mitsubishi is saying goodbye to the Lancer sometime this summer. It’s been quite a run, especially when the last Lancer Evolution was sold for auction on eBay. It seems the Japanese automaker brand is making some changes, and with that, they’re sending some of their sedans out to pasture.
Who knew this was going to happen? Following the merge with Nissan-Renault, Mitsubishi had plans to take the Lancer and put it on Nissan’s CMF platform, something that could have completely changed the Lancer altogether. With any luck, that’s still a possibility, given that it was prospected a few years from now, and might just be under the guise of a different name.
However, at this time, Mitsubishi is saying “sayonara” to the Lancer. The last Lancer Evolution was auctioned off on eBay and sold for $76,000. The proceeds went to a great charity, so it wasn’t just a collector’s item (don’t ya just get a warm feeling inside?), but now with the last Lancer being produced, we’re a little sad to see it go. Especially with the 2017 Lancer and all it’s glory, it’s a surprise.
The 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer will be the final model year for the sedan, leaving the Mirage and Mirage G4 as the last two in its wake. How long they will last is uncertain; Mitsubishi Motors is moving its focus onto SUVs and crossovers, believing those to be more profitable and keeping a leg up in the auto market. Many other automakers have already done the same, and the sedan market has shrunk in recent years, but losing all of its sedans would be crazy.
The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage and 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 are still powerhouses when it comes to fuel economy, with the former racking up 37/43 mpg and the latter with 35/42 mpg city/highway. Sure, a sedan may not be ideal for rock climbing, or packing up all that sports equipment, but going the distance with friends and family? Summer just isn’t the same with a classic road trip, and the less money spent on gas, the more can be used on making lifelong memories.