Mitsubishi President Confirms Next Lancer Evo with Hybrid Powertrain, May be Combined with a…Diesel!

Perhaps the Maya were right and the world will come to an end in December 2012. In which case we’ll never get the chance to see what a Lancer Evolution hybrid-diesel looks like in 2015.

But let's take it from the beginning. The hybrid part of the story is not just another one of those crazy rumors that pop up on the net. In fact, it is as official as it gets since it comes from the mouth of Mitsubishi president, Osamu Masuko.

Masuko revealed to British magazine Autocar that the next generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo will ditch the regular 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit, which has become a mainstay of the 10 previous versions, in favor of a hybrid powertrain.

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VIDEO: The Ultimate Taxi Ride in a Rally-Spec Mitsubishi Lancer EVO

In a perfect world for gear-heads, a sweet taxi ride would involve a high performance sports car, preferably a racing model, and a qualified driver. Unfortunately, the WRC-like Mitsubishi Lancer EVO taxi seen in the video after the jump exists only in fantasy, as this clip is a commercial for a new 4G mobile broadband plan from Norwegian cell phone operator Netcom. Click past the jump to watch the ad. Read more »

VIDEO: The Stig Goes Donuts in a Lancer EVO 9-Based London Taxi Cab at the Top Gear Festival

We don’t know the identity of the man hiding behind the white racing helmet at the ‘Top Gear Festival 2011’, but The Stig sure knows how to work the steering wheel. Of course, being that the black London Taxi Cab you see in the video after the jump is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, does help a bit. You see, what looks on the outside like a normal black London taxi cab, is in fact a re-skinned Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 crafted by the folks over at SHP Engineering.

The company started with a Lancer EVO 9 with just 1,500 miles on the odo and stripped it down to the bare bones. The body shell of a London Taxi Cab was then dropped on top creating the most innocent EVO we have ever seen to date. Follow the jump to watch it in some awe-inspiring donut action.

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Vilner Joins Forces with Overdrive to Tune 400HP Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

After tuning several American and European cars, Vilner has now turned its focus on a Japanese model, the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X. For this project, the Bulgarian tuning house joined forces with a company called Overdrive, which took over the performance upgrades.

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FAIL: 2 Fast, 2 Furious Lancer Evo VII Breaks Free Of Dyno In Puerto Rico [Video]

Dynamometers, or dynos for short, are a useful tool in any racer’s arsenal. By applying some basic physical principles, a dyno can calculate the amount of horsepower and torque being transferred from the wheels to the track, without ever needing to leave the safety of the garage.

So here’s the scoop (according to the posters): some students at Mech-Tech College in Ponce, Puerto Rico were putting a Lancer Evolution VII through its paces on the school’s dyno, when disaster struck. Everything seems normal until 16 seconds in, when the Lancer careens to the left and slides off. Of course, it was all captured on video for our edification.

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Proton Shows Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X Lookalike Concept of Inspira with 240HP Turbo Engine

The 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show at the Putra World Trade Centre in Malaysia saw local automaker and owner of Lotus, Proton, revealing a host of concept models including a sport prototype of the recently launched Inspira called the Jebat. Needless to say, it's clearly inspired from the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

As you may remember, the Inspira is a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer sedan and is the result of an OEM collaboration between the Malaysian automaker and Mitsubishi Japan. However, we're not so sure if Mitsubishi had this in mind when it was signing the agreement with Proton.

In any case, the Jebat study, which could very well lead to a similar production model, features a wide body kit with blistered wheel arches and splashes of matte black paint all around the car. Power is provided by a turbocharged 4-cylinder MiVEC engine producing 237HP (177kW) at 6,000 rpm and 343Nm of peak torque at 3,000 rpm.

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South Yorkshire Police Completes Mitsubishi Lancer EVO Trilogy

If there's a reason to feel jealous for the folks in blue at UK's South Yorkshire Police department that has to be their garage which was recently enhanced with the addition of a new Police specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. The new car will be used alongside the ever present Evolution VIII and IX in the Road Crime Unit where proactive road policing is the mission and officers will be driving the EVOs in cases involving drug dealers and car thieves. "The Evo X was the car of choice because of its excellent pursuit capabilities and the fact that so much time and effort has been put into maximizing performance whilst minimising the risk of accidents" commented Inspector Slack.

New Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ-400: Limited Edition with 405HP

The Brits have developed a special fondness for tuning Mitsubishi EVOs the past few years with the most impressing version being the FQ-400 - and yes, FQ actually does stand for F***** Quick as it's an internal code which somehow passed into "production"... For those of you that missed the FQ400, you'll be happy to learn that Mitsubishi UK and its race team builder ADR Motorsport is bringing back the iconic nameplate on the latest iteration of the Lancer EVO.

In what promises to be the fastest (and most expensive) EVO yet, the Lancer EVO X FQ-400 will pack a souped-up version of the standard car's 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with a new ECU and exhaust system to produce around 405HP and 400lb-ft of torque. That should be good enough to propel the EVO from standstill to 60mph (96 km/h) in around 3,5 - 3,7 sec. Comparatively, the 354HP EVO X FQ360 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4,1 sec.

As with the FQ-360 version, Mitsubishi UK will offer the FQ-400 exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox as the company is still reluctant to match the engine's 400 lb-ft of torque with the quick and efficient dual-clutch SST (Sports Shift Transmission).

Along with the engine upgrades, the FQ400 will also benefit from a new body kit with additional cooling intakes and vents, 18-inch alloy wheels and larger brakes with six-pot calipers at the front.

Mitsubishi has yet to (officially) release details, but according to Autocar magazine, the Japanese firm indicated that the car will cost somewhere north of £45,000 with only 100 units planned to be produced.

Via: Autocar

Video: J's Racing Honda S2000 vs Mitsubishi Lancer EVO WRC

Time to turn up the volume -as long as you're not at work, that is - and enjoy the footage from the interior of the 320HP J's Racing Honda S2000 and the rally-spec Mitsubishi Lancer EVO WRC 2005 as they race their way through a twisty and rather narrow sideroad somewhere in Japan. Check out the video right after the jump. (Thanks for the tip Tim!)

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X GSR Premium Edition Introduced in Japan

Mitsubishi has refreshed its 2009 Lancer Evolution X line-up with the introduction of a new top-of-the-line GSR Premium edition that sits above the RS and GSR models. No different mechanically from the other EVO Xs, the Premium edition is distinguished on the outside by the 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, the front fog lights and the body colored hood and fender scoops while it also features a set of Bilstein shocks. -Continued

Inside the GSR Premium gets Recaro leather bucket seats, a satellite navigation system, side and curtain airbags as well as a Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine-speakers. For the 2009MY, the Japanese-market Lancer EVO X range also benefits from minor revisions to the instrument panel and a new floor console.

Prices for the 009 Mitsubishi Lancer EXO X GSR Premium edition are set in Japan at 4,798,500 Yen ($48,250 US) for the version equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox 5,050,000 Yen ($50,785 US) for the Twin Clutch-SST model.

Lancer EVO X GSR Premium Edition

Lancer EVO X GSR

Lancer EVO X RS

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X Police Interceptor

We know most of you are smiling at this one, and we don't blame you. Revealed at last month's National Association of Police Fleet Managers' exhibition in the U.K., the cop-spec Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X will certainly grasp the attention of drivers even without the use of lights or a siren. And who knows, maybe an EVO X interceptor could actually help officers break the ice with speed-hungry youths by giving them a discussion point - we're trying to make a case for U.K. cops to convince their superiors that the EVO X would benefit their department... More pics after the jump.

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X Race Car Debuts at Britcar

Mitsubishi Motors UK’s race-prepared Lancer EVO X made its racing debut in this weekend’s Britcar event at the Silverstone circuit. The EVO X, which was co-developed with ADR Motorsport developing around 400 HP, proved itself by completing the 24-hour endurance race. Driven by Mitsubishi UK’s managing director and former BTCC driver James Kaye along with Andy Barnes, Mark Lemmer and Jay Wheals, the team crossed the line fifth in class and 25th overall after covering a race-distance of 517 laps and 1,651 miles. -Continued

At the finish, Team Principal and Ralliart General Manager, Paul Brigden said: “We have achieved what we came here to do and I am delighted. The car performed so well – without any significant pre-race testing – for all 24 hours. It’s a credit to the whole team: the engineers, drivers and pit crew.”

The Japanese automaker is now considering participating in future events in the UK before the end of the year details of which will be announced in the next few weeks. Depending on the interest, Mitsubishi UK is also looking into creating a dedicated race-series for the Evolution X.

Mitsubishi Developing Lancer EVO X Racer with 400HP

Mitsubishi’s UK arm today announced that it is developing a race-going version of its new Lancer EVO X, with which it plans to participate in the Britcar Championship and a one-make race-series in the near future. The race-prepped Lancer EVO X will make its first public appearance at the Britcar 24-hour race at Silverstone on September 20th & 21st driven by the company’s managing director and former BTCC regular James Kaye along with two other drivers who are yet to be named. -Continued

The project is being run in association with Southampton-based vehicle importation and compliance specialists SVA UK. The racing version of the Lancer EVO X which is anticipated to deliver around 400HP is being co-developed with ADR Motorsport, the same firm that builds and runs the two-works Mitsubishis currently competing in the British Rally Championship.

“We are pleased to be introducing a race-car programme for the Evo X”, said Ralliart’s General Manager, Paul Brigden. “Mitsubishi UK has not been involved with circuit racing for many years, so this new initiative is a great opportunity for us. Subject to the level of interest from competitors, we are also hoping to announce a one-make race-series for the Evolution X soon,” he added.

One Tastefully Modded Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X

It’s amazing what the right set of rims combined with a lower suspension can do to the appearance of a car. And although the owner of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X, Ryan Gates, is actually setting the car up for track use and in particular, for the NASA TT-A class and the Street AWD class at select Redline Time Attacks, those absolutely stunning black-colored 18-inch rims could make any EVO X look totally sick. -More pics after the jump

Link: Gates311 – Thanks for the tip Alex!