Autoblog

Autoblog reader Corey Baines laughed and told us this video was lame. While Baines won't be winning an Oscar his short film's production values, it stands as one of if not the only glimpse we've had of the production Mitsubishi EVO X on public roads being tested. Baines came across the car while driving around one day, and after confirming the boss was away for the day, hit the street to track down the EVO X mule with camera in hand. Not only was Baines able to follow the car and get some decent enough footage of it being driven on public roads, afterwards he approached its drivers in a parking lot who were very tight-lipped and made a hasty exit. While it's difficult to glean new info about the car from the video, one thing that's obvious is the giant rear wing out back that appears to be slightly bowed on the new EVO.

Follow the jump for the full video, which is the tastiest morsel of EVO X news we've had all year.

Thanks for vid, Corey Baines!

The plebeian versions of the Lancer sedan were unveiled to us earlier this week, but the base DE, ES and mildly sporty GTS models are not the versions in which we are particularly interested. That model would be the legendary EVO, and while we're still not privy to its production version yet, Mitsubishi will be bringing this Prototype X Concept to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to wet our appetites. It looks hot and not at all unlike the various EVO-inspired concepts Mitsubishi has shown us the past year, including the Concept X and the Concept Sportback. The Prototype X even has the exact same three-vent hood of the Concept X, as well as a similar front fascia and rear diffuser. We're betting the Prototype X is a pretty clear indication of what the production version of the next generation EVO will be, which judging from the sketches is just fine with us.

Check out a rear shot after the jump.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

UPDATE: These are fakes, the originals can be found here and here.


Mitsubishi has already told us that it will debut the all-new 2008 Lancer at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in early January. Our sources tell us that Mitsubishi doesn't have a shot in hell of keeping this thing secret until then, and this morning we find that the Lancer may already be out of the bag. Pics of what appears to be the all new Lancer have shown up on a Russian website, and while we can't verify whether or not the shots are official or well done Photoshop fakes, they do look convincing. Nevertheless, the new Mitsubishi Lancer is on deck and should be revealed in a more obvious way, either on purpose or by accident, fairly soon.

Check out the rear of the car after the jump.

[Source: Autonavigator.ru via Jalopnik]

click on image to enlarge

Mitsubishi announced today that its all-new Lancer, perhaps the most important product in its ninety year history, will debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit come January. Just to make sure we would read the release, the automaker also included a design sketch of the Lancer. We've all seen spy shots of the new Lancer and reaction to the new car's design has met with much approval so far. The sketch released by Mitsubishi is infused with a bit of hyperbole from the designer's pen, as we expect the producton car to have things like door handles and windshield wipers, along with with wheels less than 20 inches in diameter. Still, news of the new Lancer always brightens up our day as it's a car that many have been waiting patiently a long time to arrive.

Mitsubishi does give up a few deets about the car in its press release, saying that it will be launched in the spring starting with the North American market. It's global engine lineup will range from a 1.5-liter base engine for Europe to the Lancer EVO's powerful turbo four. Europe will also get a diesel engine and the release seems to imply a Ralliart model may get a detuned version of the EVO's 2.0-liter turbo, although that may be us filling in a bit too many blanks.

Enjoy the sketch for now, as we'll get plenty of pics and video of the new Lancer when it debuts in Detroit. Check out Mitsubishi's press release after the jump, as well.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Mitsubishi has introduced the 2006 Lancer Evolution "Special Edition" (MR model shown above) as the final iteration of the Evo IX before the long awaited Evo X replaces it. The Evolution SE will ride the line out in style with red-stitched Recaro seats inside the cabin and a host of exterior enhancements. The Evolution SE gets a new airdam extension up front that reduces front end lift and the same lightweight aluminum roof worn by the Evolution RS and MR. It rolls on 17-inch forged BBS wheels with a diamond black finish and illuminates the road ahead with a set of HID headlights. The price of the Evolution SE will start at $33,249, which places it neatly above the standard Evo IX and below the range-topping MR.

(Mitsubishi's full press release can be found after the jump)

[Source: Mitsubishi]

We know how long a lot of you have been waiting for any tidbit of info on the next Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. News has been slow to come by, but yesterday Dubspeed Driven scored some outstanding spy shots of what might be the EVO X. One can see a clear inspiration from the Concept-X show car that Mitsubishi rolled out at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show in the shape of the headlights and vertically flat front end.

The next Lancer Evolution will come to market as a 2008 model and be based on the same GS platform used by the Dodge Caliber. It certainly appears to be a much beefier sedan than the tiny Lancer it's replacing, although rumors suggest that it will be lighter than the current Lancer Evolution and have more than 300 horsepower under the hood.

As incredible as this car promises to be, how many think it will save Mitsubishi's slumping sales in the U.S.? One could make the argument that the EVO X is the perfect halo car, as its lineage with the Lancer will be very visible and could do wonders for increasing that car's street cred. For those that don't want EVO amounts of power, there should also be the Ralliart and OZ Rally Edition models. In fact, Dubspeed Driven's editor notes that these shots may actually be of the Ralliart model, but we'd like to keep believing they're not.
   
[Source: Dubspeed Driven via Winding Road]