The Possibilities of the New Lancer from Mitsubishi Motors

It’s been a good while since we heard much news about the upcoming e-Evolution from Mitsubishi Motors. We saw it pop up at the Tokyo Motor Show, but for the most parts it’s been amiss. Said to be a “high-performance electric SUV”, the e-Evolution is said to be the resurrection of the “Evolution” or “EVO” nameplate. That nameplate used to belong to the Lancer Evolution, the last of which was sold on eBay back in September, 2016. With Mitsubishi Motors turning the Lancer into a crossover, we may see it return as the e-Evolution after all. With a little research, TopGear once covered the Lancer EVO, or EVO-8, and there are plenty of great performance specs to look forward to.

“So when you drive this thing really, really hard, it just redefines what you think is physically possible.” – Jeremy Clarkson, TopGear.

Below is a video of Clarkson testing out the EVO-8 and showing off what it can do. Sure, it’s a four-door vehicle able to seat five people, but it also has a large spoiler and insane handling that would make most consumers think twice about using this car as a family passenger vehicle. Turbocharged and riding on four-wheel-drive, the EVO-8 is more like a rally car, what Mitsubishi Motors was actually once very well known for during their 100 years in the automotive industry.

Just watching Clarkson drive this thing is insane. Clearly, the EVO-8 was riding on Mitsubishi Motors own electronic four-wheel drive and traction control system. Even with a hard turn that causes the grip of the tires to momentarily disconnect from the asphalt, the EVO-8 is able to straighten out and get back in gear. There’s even a moment where one of the rear wheels are off the ground, and Clarkson is still in total control the whole time.

Not only does the vehicle handle the road well, but it offers the driver total control. It’s responsive to the smallest amount of effort, which is really what all sports car drivers are looking for. Surprisingly, Mitsubishi Motors was able to design a 2.0-liter engine capable of generating over 400 horsepower. The performance of the Mitsubishi rally car is probably the most surprising, especially to those of us who look at Mitsubishi Motors now and see an automaker knee-deep in crossovers and hanging with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 175 mph, it’s no wonder the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was the prized vehicle to modify for racing and horsepower. In the end, Clarkson raced a Lamborghini Murciélago. Surprisingly, not only could the EVO-8 keep up with the Lamborghini, but the driver actually spun out in an attempt to shake off the EVO-8. Oh, and James Kay, British Touring Car Champion, was driving the Lamborghini. Really puts things into perspective about the power of this rally car.

Now take a look at all the EVO-8 was capable of, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in its eighth generation. Can Mitsubishi Motors do it again with the new Lancer crossover and the evolution nameplate? Join the conversation on University Mitsubishi social media.

Photo Source/Copyright: Auto Evolution