UPDATE: Production of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X skipped for 2009 in U.S.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Evolution X
Mitsubishi has put production of the Lancer Evolution X on hold, saying there's enough inventory to make it through the end of the year when the 2010 model is released. Mitsubishi spokesperson Christine Jew told KickingTires that no changes were planned for the 2009 model, but the 2010 variant would benefit from a few minor revisions. Inventory tracking through Cars.com confirms that there are plenty of Evos available (887 2008 models, to be specific), but that doesn't mean the new Evo X is a flop; sales of Mitsu's rally rocket were up over 50% in 2008.
UPDATE: We spoke with Christine from Mitsubishi about Evo production, and it's hardly a "halt." The 2009 Evo will continue to be produced for Canada and Puerto Rico, so Mitsubishi is only skipping the U.S. market for the 2009 model year. As some of you pointed out, this is primarily due to the late launch the Evo received last year. The 2010 model will go on sale this summer and will feature some "minor," undisclosed tweaks.
Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
[Source: KickingTires]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
zamafir 5:35PM (2/03/2009)
I'd say there's more then enough on hand at the rate they keep shooting themselves in the foot. I attempted to test drive one, showing up in an R32, no go. I tried with a 335i, no go. Nop, they wanted a deposit prior to driving. I don't get that kind of treatment from BMW, Audi, VW, anyone. This comes as no surprise
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BigMcLargeHuge 5:47PM (2/03/2009)
Same dealer?
zamafir 5:58PM (2/03/2009)
No, both in so-cal, from what i've been hearing my results are typical around here. Mitsu dealers are giving them GT-R like protection which is counterproductive when it's just about the only car bringing customers in.
BigMcLargeHuge 8:58PM (2/03/2009)
I think if it were me I would have started laughing when they demanded the deposit.
Infinity 9:41PM (2/03/2009)
When I bought my Evo IX MR. Out of the 3 dealers I visited, 2 let me test drive a lower end GSR model. One of the reasons they said was that the cars end up taking a little abuse or you'll have morons who think since they are epic with the car in Gran Turismo, they should be epic behind the wheel of the real thing.
When the Evo first came out in 03 here in the states, there were several stories of people crashing the cars/ launching the cars, etc during test drives. People coming is just for joy rides with absolutely no intention to buy whatsoever.
I understand that it limits real buyers like us from our decision but it's a catch-22 situation for the dealerships.
Anyway, I was fortunate to get a minor test drive, ironically I ended up buying my car from the dealer that didn't allow any test drives.
Stringfellow Hawk 11:20PM (2/03/2009)
I remember when the Evo first came out, I showed up in my WRX and the dealer wouldn't even let me sit in it. What a joke! They'll be done and out of the US market soon.
Duders 11:39PM (2/03/2009)
We at luxury dealerships have the same problems with joy riders. But I can imagine it being a bigger problem with some of these cars as almost anyone can get financing for a car in this price range. Good salesmen can tell if you're in it for the ride or you actually plan on purchasing the car. Shouldn't hold not giving a test drive against them, but demanding a deposit? That's nuts.
FordGT 5:37PM (2/03/2009)
Who would buy this?
I'll buy nearly any previous generation Evo before I'd buy this. It's slower, uglier and more expensive than ever.
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naggs 8:24PM (2/03/2009)
its true, worst evo ever
hopefully they find a way to fix it for '10
JDMlover 8:50PM (2/03/2009)
I agree...it handles better it seems. But its slower and looks worse....
CarbonBlack 12:39AM (2/04/2009)
You all are right on!
Quattroporte 5:39PM (2/03/2009)
Considering the hype and that they actually live up to the hype, I'm surprised at how few of these I see on the road.
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Paul C 5:55PM (2/03/2009)
theyre not as raw as the Evo IX. and to be honestly honest, id much rather get an STi over this. It just feels more..uncivilized than the evo
Affalterbach 6:02PM (2/03/2009)
@ PAul C
I see. Want a little bit of 'Camry' flavor with your rally rocket?
The STi has a much worse interior. Maybe this is what you called 'uncivilized'?
Tourian 6:50PM (2/03/2009)
They typically sell 3500-5000 Evos a year. This is the first year of this new bodystyle. Unless you live right next door to a Mitsu dear, chances are you won't see one every day, or once a week. I've never understood why people think Civic, Camry or Accord level proliferation can happen over night, or in this case the several months since this car has been on sale.
DZ 12:16AM (2/04/2009)
@ Paul C
What i find funny is people who say its "uncivilized" due to the interior, but those same people are the first ones crying foul when Mitsu does something to make the interior better... "Oh, its just raising the cost of the car, they shot themselves in the foot for that", "What are they trying to be BMW", "what the hell, its a rally car, it shouldn't have nice interior".. and blah blah blah...
Farggin' unbelievable.
I'm not even going to get into the fact that this car makes ridiculous HP with a few bolt on parts, and someone from Minnesota is killing anything else he races against, and is setting a ton of track records... And he's just getting started...
/ok so i got into it... sorry
Bob Aman 9:50AM (2/04/2009)
Funny, I own an Evo X MR, and there's a blue Evo X GSR one block over from my apartment. Two blocks over is a ho-hum black Lancer X. Admittedly, this is probably a fluke, but they're definitely out there.
ryan 6:01PM (2/03/2009)
i thought mitsu didn't have an evo released for 07 in the US.
so, a 50% jump in sales wouldn't be a huge deal, year over year. especially since 2007 was all about selling still-new 06's.
i may be wrong. and i would agree, i tried to get a test drive in one, and they said no. the only way they'd let me go for a ride in one was one of the tech's cars. something about breaking in the vehicle a certain way for longevity, or that's what they told me.
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AeroX 6:08PM (2/03/2009)
The current Evo X is a visual disappointment overall. The front end is i guess "ok", but anything else is nothing special. The interior of the car is very cheap, the quality of plastics very low and the Recaro seats will only fit teenagers on a diet....AND it's way overpriced. Here in my country, Greece, it costs 60K euro, that is $ 80K..no wonder the car is "immediately available" in any configuration and color....I would take an Eno 9 anytime.....
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Bob Aman 10:05AM (2/04/2009)
Regarding the Recaros, you're overstating it quite a bit. Once upon a time, I was skinny as a rail, but these days, I tend to hover around 175 lbs. The Recaros don't give me any trouble, and in fact, I find them to be quite comfortable. I've had people in my passenger seat who were up around 230 lbs or so and they also found them to be comfortable. A diet is not a prerequisite, though I can certain understand why someone might think so after sitting in them for a moment or two. I had the same initial impression, but it really isn't true. You'd have to be downright obese for these seats to give you trouble.