2014 Lancer going smaller - Evo might be hybrid

[aussie027]

Those details re a possible hybrid Evo and a smaller Lancer have been on other websites for over 3 - 6 mo now so hardly "news" as the Aussie motoring sites claim. LOL Where have their motoring reporters been I wonder??

With all the competition going bigger inside and out in this car class Mitsu cannot afford to screw this new 2014 model up.
If they do the consequences around the world for the company could be very bad indeed.
They almost had to shutdown and pull out of the USA about 6-7yrs ago due to a horrendous sales/financing disaster. They are way down on the sales number list in USA as they are here in Aust.

How they expect to go smaller on outside and yet keep the inside the same size or bigger will take some very creative design and engineering. The older model CH Lancers are small compared to a CJ.

[BZC-45S]

Overall bodysize reduction would hopefully also mean a weight reduction, which would make sense given the Lancer is meant to be a small car and in the CJ generation crept into the middle sized car category - for better or worse.

I do conceed tho they would have to cater strongly to the North American market as the sales volume and profits are there - which brings financial success to the company... so it will depend strongly on what US buyers perceive of their needs from a small car in coming years, and whether Mitsubishi's offering is competitive compared to its rivals.

[aussie027]

Chi, yes U R right about a possible wt reduction in a smaller car.
However the weight increase in newer cars is also partly due to the design features of the chassis and extra fixtures required to get a 5 star safety rating.

If Mitsu was serious about a weight reduction there would be big gains to be made in a lighter design stock alloy wheels like many people have chosen to fit aftermarket and also fitting Al alloy hood, roof and hatch tailgate, boot lids as they did on the RA and Evo.
No need for them to be steel, (apart from a cost difference) as they are just covers and not structural load bearing components. The chassis frame provides the safety.

i am not sure of what the reduced wt differences of all of those combined would be but it is substantial.
The first time I opened a RA hood it almost flew up out of my hand it was soooo much lighter than my steel one.

[Tweak]

What Ian trying to say is the hybrid Eco won't be a performance car. If it was a true elec car with no petrol engine the I could see a market. But would the put all their eggs in one basket and do it. I'd say no as it would put them into a corner unless they being out diff engine options but that more money Mitsubishi would have to find for something that's not guaranteed to be successful in profits

[debonaire]

I don't see a hybrid Evo as a bad thing at all, but there remains a stigma around the word "Hybrid" and the manufacturers need to find a way of communicating that a hybrid setup can be there for performance not just fuel saving. No one can argue that they wouldn't take a consumption cut if they didn't lose any perormance.

If instead of saying hybrid they gave it a name akin to turbocharging or supercharging, for instance electrocharge or e-boost or some other wanky term then people would forget about it being a performance car trying to be environmental and think, alright really what this motor is is a free 30kW boost to my normal engine, and thats a good thing. They could even have a nitrous-style boost button that would get the marketing people wetting themselves.

Just look at F1, they use electric assistance to pass.

[squala]

Problems with electric vehicles:

1. The threat of getting stranded (might need a tow truck after a track day)
2. Heavy batteries affecting balance, like the Tesla Roadster not being as sharp as the Lotus Elise on which it was based
3. The ability of batteries to hold charge after several cycles

[AUSSIECJ]

They could possibly follow what Honda has on the cards for the new nsx. But instead of a rear engine format they may have a combustion engine up front the. Have an electric motor for each of the rear wheels. Sticking to the evos all wheel drive heritage

[Dire]

I think some of you are getting hybrid and electric confused still...

There are many ways to combine electric motors and a combustion engine, but I doubt we'd see anything too fancy in the next evo due to its price range. I'd expect just a traditional hybrid setup, but with a sport mode for torque over economy and maybe a 'boost' button. Like a CRZ.

Although I guess the fact they are a bit hushhush means maybe they're doing something new, or at least new for a 5-figure car, but theres endless potential for speculation there...

And debonaire I'd hope people interested in a performance car like an evo would have enough knowledge to make a rational decision. Although its a fact of life some people's income doesn't really match their intelligence, or they buy to be cool above anything else

[dannyboi]

Have to say that the size of the CJ was a factor for me to get the Lancer over other cars at the same price range. It'll be a bit disappointing to see it downsize, but I guess it paves the way for them to introduce a medium/large car whilst also being competitive with other small cars.

[Tweak]

Maybe is not even a elec hybrid.................. now that would be shaking the market up lol

[squala]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor. ... 9F001AF2A0

While most new cars have been restyled to look more masculine, the next Lancer will follow the Mirage's plain cues so that it will appeal to ladies more. I mean seriously? The current CJ has more female drivers than Mitsu thinks, and those girls aren't necessarily members here.

It seems that they're missing the point here yet again. Why is the Lancer unappealing to some people? It's anything but its 'manly' looks. Try poor interior quality, no telescopic steering, stuff like that. This car's design helped a lot in my purchase; otherwise I'd be looking elsewhere.

[Momengah]

can i just say that the new mirage styling is UGLY! Sorry to people who like it but it is really unappealing to me. I hope to god that theyre not going to replicate that with the next lancer model.

[tencents]

makes me feel if they want to appeal to women.. then the have the mirage...Lancers should be even more aggressive if u ask me... hang on... so they don't want men driving their cars?