The next generation of Mitsubishi’s performance flagship could eschew sedan or hatch convention and become a crossover. At least that’s the view of the man whose opinions count – Mitsubishi Motor Corporation President, Osamu Masuko.
Speaking at Japanese brand’s end of Japanese financial year celebrations and dealer conference in Adelaide yesterday, Masuko-san told Australian auto media that development of a performance version of the next-generation Lancer was not planned. In fact, he confirmed that Mitsubishi was still to confirm plans for the donor car.
But at the same time he hinted strongly that Mitsubishi’s performance future could instead reflect both its electrification and SUV development focus.
“The Lancer EVOLUTION, to develop into the new generation, is not currently in our current [planning] line [up],” Masuko-san told motoring.com.au.
“Having said that, with the new technology such as PHEV [plug-in hybrid electric vehicle], we would like to actually challenge [performance conventions] in [the] SUV [segment],” he stated.
Masuko-san championed the company’s experimental EV racers that have competed at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb for the past four years. He intimated that Mitsubishi remained interested in motorsport and would “challenge” via its own plug-in hybrid and electrification technologies in the competition arena.
And such a focus would in turn lead to a new ‘shape’ for future EVOs.
“Gradually, I think the definition of the SUV is expanding. So I might anticipate that the borderline between [Lancer] EVOLUTION and SUV might become more overlapping,” he hinted.