Is the Mitsubishi Evo dead?

EVO Track Car of the Year 201414
CarNewsCafe drove a very special edition of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2014, Pikes Peak Safety Car

The Mitsubishi Evolution (aka “Evo”) is dead. Every Japanese sport driver just screamed a loud “Nooooooooooo!” Probably on their knees while looking to the heavens.. maybe in the rain. It’s our worst nightmare.

Autocar magazine is reporting that they’ve confirmed with Mitsubishi’s Kanenori Okamoto that the Evo will cease production as the sports car we know it to be (read about Nicolas driving it on Pike’s Peak here).

Instead, the Mitsubishi Evo will be replaced with a hybrid and a performance-oriented sport utility. In classic “how to kill a race car” speak, Okamoto gave the Evo its last rites by claiming that the Evo will become a “crossover SUV” and a plug-in hybrid. Neither of which are ever considered track-ready pavement blisterers.

Mitsubishi did throw us a bone, however, by saying that the new car will “draw inspiration” from the company’s awesome Pike’s Peak electric hill climbers.

That’s not exactly rawhide to keep us chewing for a while, but at least it’s something.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.