Photo: Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi is preparing to replace the Lancer, as the compact model from the Japanese brand is over eight years old.
We already know that the automaker will not make another Lancer Evolution, which was the performance version of this model, but everyone is wondering what’s in store for the next Lancer. The company is expected to launch the eleventh generation of the compact model soon, but no prototypes of it have been spotted testing.
The delay of the next generation Lancer is somewhat justified for the Japanese brand, because Mitsubishi is better off with selling SUVs than its compact sedan. However, even without a performance version of any kind, the next Lancer is still expected by a few faithful customers.
The recent tie-up between Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan, which happened quickly after the three-diamond brand admitted to cheating in its statements regarding fuel economy, might lead to a CMF-based Lancer. For those of you that are not fully briefed on the automotive industry, the CMF letters stand for the Common Module Family, which is a platform developed by Renault-Nissan.
Currently, the CMF platform has been introduced in versions that serve three segments, and it seems to be as versatile as Volkswagen’s MQB. You can find the CMF platform in cars as small as the Datsun redi-Go, and in vehicles as large as the Renault Kadjar or the Nissan X-Trail.
From the beginning, that platform was designed by Renault-Nissan to reduce its development and manufacturing costs, so it does make sense to introduce it in the lineup of its new partners at Mitsubishi. However, it will take up to two years for Mitsubishi to develop a new Lancer with the CMF platform at hand, which could bring a disturbing delay.
After all, the discontinuation of the Lancer Evolution was upsetting enough, as was the elimination of the Ralliart lineup, but over ten years of production for the current Lancer might be too much even for the die-hard fans of the brand.
The delay of the next generation Lancer is somewhat justified for the Japanese brand, because Mitsubishi is better off with selling SUVs than its compact sedan. However, even without a performance version of any kind, the next Lancer is still expected by a few faithful customers.
The recent tie-up between Mitsubishi and Renault-Nissan, which happened quickly after the three-diamond brand admitted to cheating in its statements regarding fuel economy, might lead to a CMF-based Lancer. For those of you that are not fully briefed on the automotive industry, the CMF letters stand for the Common Module Family, which is a platform developed by Renault-Nissan.
Currently, the CMF platform has been introduced in versions that serve three segments, and it seems to be as versatile as Volkswagen’s MQB. You can find the CMF platform in cars as small as the Datsun redi-Go, and in vehicles as large as the Renault Kadjar or the Nissan X-Trail.
From the beginning, that platform was designed by Renault-Nissan to reduce its development and manufacturing costs, so it does make sense to introduce it in the lineup of its new partners at Mitsubishi. However, it will take up to two years for Mitsubishi to develop a new Lancer with the CMF platform at hand, which could bring a disturbing delay.
After all, the discontinuation of the Lancer Evolution was upsetting enough, as was the elimination of the Ralliart lineup, but over ten years of production for the current Lancer might be too much even for the die-hard fans of the brand.
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