2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to go hybrid

[Dave_au]

Lancer Evo to go hybrid

BRUCE NEWTON IN TOKYO

C/- SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/drive/green-mo...1022-h9lb.html

October 22, 2009



Mitsubishi Lancer Evo


The fastest Mitsubishi on the road is set to adopt a frugal petrol-electric drivetrain in a radical about-face for the rally-bred performance car.By Bruce Newton

The next all-new generation of Mitsubishi's iconic Lancer Evolution will go from red- to green-hot thanks to a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

The move was confirmed to Drive.com.au by one of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's chief product strategists, Ryugo Nakao.

"The next Evolution will be a hybrid, combining ecology and sport," Nakao said, via an interpreter.

The revelation that the next Lancer Evolution will switch to hybrid propulsion confirms internet rumours and follows a trend for hybrid and electric sports cars from the likes of Audi, Porsche, Ferrari and Honda.

The all-new Evolution is due around 2013 as part of the next generation Lancer range.

The current version, known among fans - but not officially - as Evo X, has been on-sale since 2008.

It pumps out 217kW and 366Nm and accelerates from 0-100km/h in as little as 5.7 seconds.

It follows the same all-wheel drive turbocharged four-cylinder sports sedan blueprint as all its predecessors, which date back to 1992.

However, Nagao-san said the fundamental change to the next Evo's drivetrain was a response to changing consumer preferences.

It also reflects the tightening emissions standards in much of the world and Mitsubishi's commitment to becoming an electric vehicle (EV) leader.

However, the type of hybrid drivetrain the next generation Evolution will employ has yet to be finalised.

Nakao confirmed one option is the Plug-In Hybrid System debuted at the Tokyo motor show this week by the PX-MiEV cross-over concept.

This employs a petrol engine, permanent magnet synchronous motors mounted on both axles and a lithium-ion battery pack.

But in-wheel electric motor technology is also under consideration, Nagao-san confirmed. Indeed, an in-wheel electric Evo was tested in public at an EV rally by Mitsubishi back in 2005.

"We need to see what technology is appropriate," he said. "We have not decided which application as yet.

"The Evolution has to be harmonised with sports and ecology and from that point of view the most appropriate system will be applied."

He rejected the suggestion the Mitsubishi Evolution might continue with a traditional turbo-petrol drivetrain as well as adopting a hybrid drivetrain.

The Lancer Evolution hybrid will arrive amid a substantial overhaul of Mitsubishi's range.

The Challenger mid-size heavy-duty SUV arrives in December and the production version of the compact Cx cross-over in mid-2010.

Around the same time the i-MiEV electric vehicle should be on-sale, albeit in extremely limited numbers to selected buyers.

In 2011 expect to see the replacement for the Colt light car, currently known as 'Global Small'. Unlike Colt, which was co-developed with Mercedes-Benz, this will be an in-house Mitsubishi design and eventually spawn numerous derivatives.

A new generation Pajero is expected in 2012. This could spin-off a variety of different versions, including light and heavy duty and hybrid versions.

The front-end graphic of the PX-MiEV is one of three styling themes believed to be under consideration for the next Pajero.

[Skotty]

Atleast the front of the evo looks the goods!

[Mr Brooksy]

Im sure I heard a few years ago that EVO was ending with this model!

On second though, it becoming a hybrid prob means it will end... as a red blooded road going rally car.

[Fev]

That MIVEC electric Evo they built back in 2005 was an awesome concept car. If i remember rightly it ran electric motors in each of the wheels, pumping out a total of 225kws with over 500nm of torque. I think it only ran for about 200km's before needing a recharge but in the last couple of years the technology has improved tenfold.
It will be great to see the new technology finally hitting the streets.

[MAGPIE]

However, Nagao-san said the fundamental change to the next Evo's drivetrain was a response to changing consumer preferences.

Yeah sure it is

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Yeah sure it is

X2

Nice find, posted it to the WRX forums for some discussion over there too. I expect this to be a massive flop but we will see.

[Bossxr8]

What a dumb move. People who buy Evos could not give 2 stuffs about hybrids and fuel economy. This will just ruin it. The extra weight of the batteries and electric motors will kill the handling too. Epic fail. :

[ryanstev]

I don't think the hybrid system is going to be what people are assuming here.
This is the Evo, they wouldn't destroy it by going hybrid when they have other models for that, or even the Lancer or GSR.

I predict they're going to have a small battery pack, 2 or 4 in wheel motors and the hybrid system is going to be used for performance rather than straight economy, eg reclaim some braking energy then use it to accelerate even faster.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by ryanstev

I don't think the hybrid system is going to be what people are assuming here.
This is the Evo, they wouldn't destroy it by going hybrid when they have other models for that, or even the Lancer or GSR.

I predict they're going to have a small battery pack, 2 or 4 in wheel motors and the hybrid system is going to be used for performance rather than straight economy, eg reclaim some braking energy then use it to accelerate even faster.

Electric motors and batteries are heavy. This will impact on braking and handling, 2 things Evos have always done well. Its a performance vehicle, if you want economy stick it on a standard Lancer.