Some quick news while waiting for materials to do a full article -

Now, as some of you already know, in the JDM market the Airtrek turbo has been released. It's basically a direct competitor to the Forester Turbo, both power-enabled vehicles in the CRV/RAV-5 range. Now it appears that MMC is going to fill out the Lancer/Cedia range with the Evolution version.

Wait, confusion runs rampant through your minds right now, I know. There already is a Lancer Evolution (ver. 7.5) right now.

This is a separate deal. It will be using the Airtrek Turbo drivetrain and systems instead. It should have the front end from the Lancer evolution 7.5 (GT-A), but they refuse to talk about the ACD and AYC - which essentially means they aren't available. They are not present in the Airtrek - it instead has a standard viscous centre differential with a default 50:50 torque split front to rear. It's also automatic only, though it's the 5-speed tiptronic-style unit from the GT-A. Output will be the same as the Airtrek turbo also - 250ps and 35.0kg/m of torque (alright, alright, that's 248ft/lb).

The interesting thing is that the Airtrek Turbo is currently about 1 million yen less than the Lancer Evolution GT-A. If the Lancer Cedia Evolution is using the Airtrek as the base, then chances are the Lancer Cedia Evolution will be significantly cheaper than an Evo.

The not-so-interesting thought - MMC may use this as their "worldwide" Lancer Evolution model. They would have conformed to the spirit of their promise to sell a Lancer Evolution in the U.S. - this is indeed a Lancer Evolution in name - without going the full mile and selling the full-on Lancer Evolution 8 in the states.

On one hand, good news, on the other, possibly bad news. We will have to wait and see.

(feel free to move to rumours section if need be, but most of this is not rumour)

Paul Hansen
www.apexjapan.com

 

Paul,

That is very close to the story I have heard for the last six months. I hope the US gets the real deal.

Erik

 

Interesting story but I don't see where the "good" news are as far as the U.S. crowd is concerned. Will the U.S. be happy to receive an Evo8 with Airtrek drivetrain, no ACD/AYC, and lower HP and TQ figures, among other things ?

The only "good" news I see here is the price figure, but that's for a different car than the real Evo7.

 

Yeah but 250 ps = only 247 hp or so, and Mitsubishi said more than 250 "rabid" horses for the US the Lancer EVO.

Seriously though, I hope your speculation is just that, pure speculation. Or I guarantee I will take my money elsewhere.

 

Rax you have a good point I think if that happens I to will take my $ elsewhere.

 

What indication is there that this Airtrekish Lancer Cedia is going to be the "Worldwide" evo? Is it actually going to be called the Lancer Cedia Evolution? Or just some new trim to it? Will it be AWD? According to the info that is available, we will be getting *THE* Lancer Evo...I would be bummed if its not

 

Ah, the good news aspect of it -

Mitsubishi has released this model to fill out their lineup, in their own words. It especially makes sense in Japan, where it would like a model to directly compete with the Legacy B4 sedan, which is about 2.57million yen for a 2.0-litre twin-turbo with 260ps and AWD. So MMC is going to release this "lesser" Lancer/Cedia Evolution as a more mainstream, non-ralliart vehicle. The Lancer Evolution is not an MMC vehicle, officially, but instead a Ralliart vehicle. This model is most probably an actual MMC model.

And if you think about it, while everybody lusts after a Lancer Evolution 8 or Subaru STI, the main aim of both vehicles is to sell the base models. In Subaru's case, it's the WRX turbo. In MMC's case, well, it's the somewhat power-challenged Lancer fwd. Now MMC looks to make a vehicle similar to the Legacy or WRX - a well-powered turbo awd for a good price. It wouldn't surprise me if there appeared in the states this particular model as a direct competitor in price and features to the WRX turbo.

So what the U.S. may actually get is TWO turbo Lancers. A "base" Lancer Evolution, and the Lancer Evolution 8 full version.

<pessimism>or they may just send over this version and claim it's the Lancer Evolution they promised to send</pessimism>

I'm going to hope for the two car scenario, meself.

Paul Hansen
www.apexjapan.com

 

Now that sounds a heck of a lot better I was thinking it was going to be crap it sounded like it wasn't even going to AWD I will be waiting to see what happens that way we can stop with all these rumors!

 

Well, I guess this could be like all the other cars from Japan. Time to start finding ways to import the brembos and recaros ourselves For me the AYC and ACD aren't that important, but if this is $30,000 then that's too much!

Paul, do you happen to have any official specs on the Lancer/Cedia Evolution? I'm wondering if the only differences will be things like AYC/ACD, hp, brakes, or will there be more like softer suspension, smaller wheels, no recaros, etc.

Mark

 

No guaranteed info, to be honest. If it is based on the Airtrek motor, that's been downgraded to 240ps now, which is about 236hp. Almost identical to the WRX turbo in JDM spec, so you could be looking at identical power figures to a WRX turbo in the States. Odd coincidence, that...

Paul Hansen

 

We are getting over 250hp and the Brembos, etc. will at least be an option...I gaurantee it

 

But you can put brembos on anything.

 

why is everybody so obsessed with brembos? they aren't that good. you will need to change hoses, fluid, etc. before they are semi-decent. even then the discs will warp after some hard braking and you will need to change them (mine lasted less than 3000 miles)

 

Probably because they are in gran turismo

 

Seems like I'm right again, since the beginning I said they would only bring something that matches the WRX over