While the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has thankfully received another year of life with the recent 2015 MY announcement, to say that its future is unclear would be a major understatement. However, Mitsubishi may have just dropped a rather important hint on this and it all has to do with the Gran Turismo game.
Following carmakers such as Mercedes and Toyota, Mitsubishi has released a concept vehicle destined to he driven in Gran Turismo 6. Zooming in on this, it looks like is Mitsubishi testing the waters on its future halo car, which may or may not be related to the Evo.
Before we move on, we have to explain that Mitsubishi no longer wants the current format of the Evo, since the carmaker has veered away from the world of rallying where the Lancer Evolution was born. Moreover, the company is currently working to become an green vehicle maker and its future range-topper has to be in line with this new image. Nevertheless, the Evo name has great value and the automaker will probably try to connect this with its future halo car. Of course, the extent of this connection remains unknown.
Returning to the Gran Turismo business, the concept we’re talking about is dubbed Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution. This is basically a follow-up on the XR-PHEV Concept the carmaker revealed at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. This came in a crossover form and we’ll remind you that the latest rumor states Mitsubishi will top its line-up with just that. After all, a crossover makes quite some financial sense here and Mitsubishi does have the means to make such a vehicle behave like an Evo. Let’s not forget that the current incarnation of the Lancer Evolution shares its platform with the Mitsubishi ASX crossover.
Interestingly enough, Mitsubishi introduced the concept in a manner that relates to its rallying past: “Mitsubishi Motors, a company with a spectacular history in races like the Dakar Rally and World Rally Championships (WRC), has developed a special concept model for Vision Gran Turismo.”
There are certain elements here that will go into the entire range of future Mitsubishi vehicles. For instance, the company tells us the front grille of the concept.
“Power” obviously comes from a Plug-In Hybrid EV system, featuring an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Further down the power line, we find the Active Yaw Control, one of the best tech bits of the Evo. As far as the electronic nannies are concerned, the concept uses Mitsubishi’s S-AWC, something we also see on the Evo.
Following the latest trends in vehicle construction, the concept features carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) body. It rides on 20-inch wheels, which “give an impression of a tough suspension system,” whatever that means...
As for the gaming part, you can get your PlayStation controller on the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution Vision Gran Turismo in two ways. You either purchase it in the “Cars” section of the game or complete a lap in the new Seasonal Event. The laptime doesn’t matter but be aware, this is only available for a limited time.
We're expecting Mitsubishi to pay close attention to the public's reaction, so be careful what you do on your Playstation.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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