Autoblog

Autocar: Next Subaru STI to go diesel, rival Mitsubishi Evo going hybrid

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Rumormill, Diesel

2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumblings about a diesel-powered Subaru WRX STI first surfaced more than two years ago, and now they're back. The realities of meeting CO2 emissions limits in Europe and elsewhere may have increased the likelihood of a high-performance diesel Subaru, and an oil-burning STI would probably generate at least 200 horsepower and well over 300 pound-feet of torque, suggests Autocar. According to the UK rumor-traffickers, gasoline engines will almost certainly remain in the mix, albeit with reduced displacement. A new engine based on the 1.5-liter boxer in the base Impreza could offer suitable power if mixed with other technologies like direct injection. Even if Subaru does indeed develop a diesel STI, there's no guarantee that such a model would ever make it to North America.

Of course, the WRX doesn't live in a vacuum. Its longtime rival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo may also ditch the spark plugs and also add a hybrid system. Earlier plans for a gas hybrid were reportedly canceled in favor of the diesel. The plan is to retain the Evo's sophisticated all-wheel-drive for acceleration to 60 mph in under five seconds and CO2 emissions below 200 grams per kilometer. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition

[Source: Autocar, Autocar]

Autocar: Next Subaru STI to go diesel, rival Mitsubishi Evo going hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi recalls nearly 30k 2008-2009 Lancer/Lancer EVO models over airbag sensors

Michael Harley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Evo X - Click above for high-res image gallery

Potential corrosion of the front impact airbag sensor has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall up to 29,353 2008-2009 Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution models. NHTSA is concerned that long-term exposure to a mixture of melted snow and salt thrown up by other vehicles on the road may cause the wintery mixture to adhere to the front impact sensor and lead to corrosion over time. In the event of an accident or collision, a damaged sensor may short-circuit and delay airbag deployment possibly causing driver or passenger injury. The recall is currently limited to states where heavy road salt is used in the winter (i.e., Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin, etc...).

Mitsubishi dealers have been instructed to replace the airbag sensors with a redesigned model with improved corrosion resistance. Of course, the service will be performed at no charge. While the safety recall isn't scheduled to begin until November 27, 2009, owners may contact Mitsubishi Customer Relations at 888-648-7820, contact NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit NHTSA on the Internet at www.safercar.gov. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading Mitsubishi recalls nearly 30k 2008-2009 Lancer/Lancer EVO models over airbag sensors

Mitsubishi recalls nearly 30k 2008-2009 Lancer/Lancer EVO models over airbag sensors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Mitsubishi

2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's a revelation: being stuck in traffic sucks. And it's even more infuriating behind the wheel of an Evo.

Despite what some scribes might lead you to believe, the Evos of yore (VIII and IX) weren't deplorable daily drivers. Granted, Mitsu's engineers erred on the stiff side with the Evo's ride, and it didn't help that the tiller provided more feedback than a Metallica sound check. But the real reason jaded journos harped on the old Evo's workaday unfriendliness was because nothing is more frustrating than piloting concentrated adrenaline in a sea of buzzkill.

With the 2008 Evolution X, Mitsubishi attempted to rectify some of the Evo's (perceived) shortcomings by equipping the range-topping MR with more amenities, more sound-deadening material, a more compliant ride and a new twin-clutch transmission to balance back-road thrills with daily livability.

But all those extras have caused the Evo's curb weight to skyrocket, and its price tag has followed suit. For $42,000 - the sticker on our MR tester - you can get your hands on the new yardstick for high-end, entry-level performance: the BMW 335i. While that kind of wallet shock could ostracize the Evo's core demographic, Mitsubishi is quick to point out that the new MR is for the discerning enthusiast: a more sensible, mature owner. But does mature mean infirmed? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR

Continue reading Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR

Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi prices Lancer EVO X GSR from $34,000

John Neff — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Mitsubishi

click above image for high-res gallery

I've recently had the misfortune of driving a new base-model Mitsubishi Lancer ES and was disappointed to discover that the materials and fit and finish inside have barely improved over the last generation model. The base Lancer is an inexpensive economy car, however, while the Lancer Evolution is its more mature and expensive big brother. How expensive? Well Mitsubishi has announced that it will be pricing the latest iteration of the Lancer Evolution from $34,000, which will get you the GSR model with a five-speed manual. The top-o-da-line Lancer Evo MR that comes equipped with Mitsu's new six-speed dual clutch cog swapper will base at... gulp... $39,000. Inside Line reminds us that the previous Lancer Evo IX started at $28,679, which is a long way away from the new model's base price. Hopefully all that extra cash goes into making the Evo's interior better than the base Lancer's. Keep in mind, this is preliminary pricing, and Mitsubishi says that it hopes to reduce the price of each model by around $1,000 before they go on sale.

Speaking of which, Mitsubishi also announced that the GSR model will be available to purchase next February, while the MR should arrive before the summer. Finally, the EVO has also received its official EPA ratings for fuel economy, which are 16/22 for the GSR and 17/22 for the MR.

[Source: Inside Line]

Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

Mitsubishi prices Lancer EVO X GSR from $34,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C&D first to drive the slower but faster Mitsubishi Evo GSR

Dan Roth — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Mitsubishi

Our pulpy friends over at 2002 Hogback Road have gotten their hands on the latest version of Mitsubishi's Evo, the Evo X. Car and Driver's November 2007 issue has a preview of the Evo X, and they found that while the new car gives up speed to the outgoing model in a drag race, it kicks it in the teeth if curves are on the menu. Any car that can run a 13.8-second quarter mile is not slow, anyway. Consider that you get that kind of speed for a base price of $30,000, and 295 horsepower from two-liters is impressive. C&D's numbers are from the Evo GSR, and a JDM one at that, but changes for US-bound Evos are down to details.

Putting the 295 horsepower and 300 lb/feet of torque to the ground in a seamless manner is a bucketful of acronyms. There's a new dual-clutch sequential gearbox called Twin-Clutch SST that is bolted to four coordinated systems that get the overall descriptor of Super All Wheel Control. S-AWC combines a center differential with yaw control, stability control, and a rear differential with separate clutches for the left and right wheels. The structure is stiffer and lighter, and in the boy-racer arena, the Evo's always been a sweet driver, which hasn't changed. In fact, the character of the car has become a little less uncouth, which purists may cry about, but the rest of us will just giggle like schoolgirls as the Evo X replicates the video game experience IRL.

[Source: VWVortex]

Thanks for the tip, Chris!

C&D first to drive the slower but faster Mitsubishi Evo GSR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evo IX bids farewell to UK with the MR FQ-360

Alex Nunez — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Mitsubishi

Click image for 4 more photos in our gallery

Over the summer, we reported on the UK-market's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX FQ-360, a car whose verbose nomenclature communicated the presence of a force-fed 366-horsepower 2.0-liter four under its bonnet. With its MR-style vortex generator on the roof, gigunda rear wing, carbon-fiber lip spoiler and rally-look five-spoke wheels, the FQ-360 looked every bit the tarmac carver that it was engineered to be.

Fast forward to January '07. Mitsubishi is laying the groundwork for the arrival of the next Evo, which was previewed with the appearance of the Prototype X at Detroit last week. Before we get too caught up in Evo X hysteria, we need to remember that the Evo IX still roams the streets, and that even when faced with imminent replacement, it's no shrinking violet. As such, Mitsubishi's UK division is bidding farewell to the machine with one final model: the Lancer Evolution IX MR FQ-360.

Its 2.0L engine is prepared by Ralliart and HKS, and while its output matches the 366 horses of the last HQ-360, this car's mill is said to be even more responsive. The FQ-360's 0-60 sprint is now an astonishing 3.9 seconds (vs. 4.1 for the last one). Top speed is 157 mph -- and that's an electronically governed number. In terms of appearance, the final edition MR FQ-360 looks like the car it replaces with some subtle changes. The five-spoke Speedlines are out, replaced by 11-spoke units from the same manufacturer. This time around, there's enough badging on the trunklid to let everyone know that this is the alpha dog Evo IX, and it's going out in style.

Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Mitsubishi UK]

Continue reading Evo IX bids farewell to UK with the MR FQ-360

Evo IX bids farewell to UK with the MR FQ-360 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi Lancer will debut in U.S. first

John Neff — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Japan, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi will debut its all-new Lancer sedan in the U.S. nearly six months ahead of its debut in the company's domestic market of Japan. Inside Line notes that the U.S. will be the Lancer's biggest market by far, and that the Japanese market is more interested in minicars at the moment than midsize sedans. Those two facts are the maini reason's behind the company's decision to begin selling the Lancer in the States first. The debut for the car in the U.S. is slated for early or mid next year, at which time we'll get a larger Lancer based on the Concept X and its many variants.

[Source: Inside Line]

Mitsubishi Lancer will debut in U.S. first originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Esquire magazine picks its '10 Most Awesome Autos'

Chris Paukert — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Infiniti, Lotus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru

As Esquire magazine appears to have forgotten to post its "10 Most Awesome Autos" feature from its May issue online, Terry Box at the Dallas Morning News has been kind enough to accommodate list fanatics. The men's magazine actually made a pretty good show of picking its 10 favorite cars under $50,000. No defining criteria other than price and editorial opinion appears to have been employed, so take these for whatever they're worth. In no particular order and without further delay, the envelope, please ...

Lotus Elise ($42,990):
Chevrolet Corvette ($44,490)
Mazda 6 ($19,670)
Infiniti G35 coupe ($33,200)
Ford F-150 ($19,640 to $37,005)
Audi A3 3.2 DSG ($34,700)
Subaru Legacy GT ($28,795)
BMW 3-Series ($30,900 to $44,900)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ($29,149)
Chrysler 300C SRT8 ($42,695)

So, did Esquire get it right, or is it missing something?

[Sources: Dallas Morning News; Esquire; Lotus]

Esquire magazine picks its '10 Most Awesome Autos' originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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