that has no bearing on anything whatsoever

evo---------10 years
corvette---50 years
mustang---38 years
skyline-----47 years
911---------39 years
civic---------30 years

enough examples?

 

-

 

yes but that different from releasing a car (lancer EVO) then a year later releasing a totally new, revised, high-tech, and *** kicking car (colt EVO) in japan

it would just satisfy the masses for the time between the US release of the lancer EVO and the jap release of the colt EVO, then it would be back to square one with ppl whining and *****ing about how we got the shaft again

for instance the SKYLINE was suppost to come over, what did we get? a crappy infinity G35, with a rumerd G35 turbo model to come. also i bet we wont get the upcomming SKYLINE R35

well america will never get the really really cool cars or atleast not for a while, i guess the japanese hate giving us cool cars. but i have to admit if the EVO is the
EVO and not the evo then this is a good sign for future high end jap sports cars to appear on our shores

 

I wouldnt mind having an AWD Turbo colt. That would kick some serious butt. With the WRC rules what they are now though, I dont think we would see the WRC as a production model. The 206 is a good example of that.
I would love to have the same HP and drivetrain in a shorter and lighter car.

 

Here is the concept version of it. Turbocharged, And yea, it's all wheel drive too. The concept is called the CZ3 Tarmac.

 

The cars we don't get have nothing to do with Japan not wanting to export them, Boosted. More than anything it has to do with MMC's projected interest in the product/sales, cost, and (most importantly) the nhtsa's regulations.

 

So IS planning to bring a full spec Evo? More or less as the JDM?

Regarding the Colt WRC, I'm wondering if I should wait for it, or just get an Evo 8. Either way, I will probably be importing a real JDM from EI (if available). The Cedia chassis is just too heavy. All those weight saving measures (thinner glass, alloy parts, etc.) are just band-aids to disguise this fact. Mitsu really needs to work with a lighter chassis. So if I plunk down 36K on an E8, only to have a sub-3000 lb AWD/AYC/ACD 300 bhp Colt come out in 04, I am going to commit harri-kirri! If you have any details on the forthcoming Colt, please post!!!

 

Japan and the US are the primary markets being targeted for the initial release of the Evo. We will get a full spec Evo.
And btw, it will not cost 36k. It would fail at such a high cost. I know I won't pay that much...I'll look elsewhere if it's that high. Several months ago, a source that works for the marketing for said they were thinking of setting base price at 28,600k (or somewhere around there). If it comes over at that price I won't be surprised to find things like the brembos, recaros, wing, etc. as options.

 

Well, at the very least I think we won't get AYC and ACD. This also allows for the larger fuel tank, something the US market will demand. As for the rest of it, engine parts, alloy weight saving parts, stiff suspension, etc., I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Don't mind me, I'm just a skeptical type.

I was referring to the JDM spec Evo from EI as costing 36K. Depending on what the US EVO is like, and how much it costs, I am probably going to buy a full JDM spec from someone like EI.

So Paul, what are your thoughts on the Colt and on the possibility of a full spec E8-E8.5?

 

I'm not sure I agree with your fuel tank comment. The S2000 has been fairly successful sales-wise, and it has a diminutive tank - about 10.5 gallons usable (250 miles out of a tank is rare). Anyone who passes on an Evo8 because they think the 12.5 gallon tank is too small is missing the point.

To me, the AWD system with AYC and ACD is one of the Evo's biggest selling points (especially since the Evo will be my year-round car and thus see a lot of rain and snow). Removing it to save a few lbs or a few dollars makes the Evo no better than a lot of other cars out there, at least in my book.

 

Returning to the the Ralliart vs MMC.

Remember that Ralliart is owned by . The R&D they do supplements that of R&D and vice-versa.

Further, take into account that the full spec EVO VII GSR in Japan costs approximately 2,998,000 Yen in Japan. Taking an exchange rate of 120 Yen per US$, that equals $24983.33
(the Euro-spec EVO's are so expensive because there are high tariffs on imports)

Now, taking into account the cost for to clear NHTSA and EPA regulations as well as the cost for importing, distribution and marketing, a price just below 30k for a full JDM spec EVO is still realistic(i.e. 29,999.99 )

The Cedia Turbo will come to the U.S. not as an EVO, but as an expansion to the Lancer line-up, possibly replacing the OZ Rally.

Paul, I highly respect you and this is in no way meant as a challenge to you or your expertise and highly appreciated comments and insights.

I base my deductions on industry analysis, which I can do as part of my work (though it is not my job or expertise).

I hope I cause no offense.

 

WestSide: good point, although the S2000 is a sporty little roadster and not all that practical to begin with. People might accept it having a small tank. But with a four door sedan? I think the public will expect it to have a greater range than 250 miles.

No one ever said the car buying public was rational! I would gladly sacrifice the range for AYC & ACD. But note that one of the most frequently complained about points with the Evo 6-7 in Europe is the small fuel tank.

However, I still think the Evo is a great car even with a plain jane viscous center diff and conventional rear diff. The STi's are fabulous cars and they never had fancy diffs (although some had a manually adjustable center diff.) But personally I am with you in that I wouldn't really want the car without AYC/ACD. This is why I am considering buying from EI rather than Mitsubishi America!

 

Don't worry, I know Ralliart is owned by MMC - but that doesn't change the way they do things on paper to get around Japanese gov. regulations and possible lawsuits. A Ralliart/STI/Nismo/TRD/etc. product is essentially recognized as being a specialty vehicle vs. their respective parents. Hence the ability of Nismo to sell 400ps Skyline GT-R's despite the power limit agreements. For MMC to sell a Lancer Evolution, they have to take on responsibilities that Ralliart could ignore.

On price (no flame intended):
You can never use the JDM price of a vehicle as a price base for the American (or European) cost. Prices are usually inflated by at least $5000 over the JDM cost, and that also doesn't include any differences in trim levels. Companies usually use an exchange rate that favors them if the rate changes drastically in the future - I'd say they are using a 110yen to the USD if they are setting prices right now, with the current plummet of the dollar in consideration. And while the Evo 7 was 3 million yen at it's launch, the Evo 7.5 leaped to 3.3 million yen for base versions, and easily climbed to 3.6 million yen when putting what little options there were into it. While some of the cost could be attributed to the automatic transmission, the truth is that MMC priced it for profit instead of loss, and sources indicate that will continue.

And going by previous sources, MMC has indicated that they plan to call the Cedia Turbo a Lancer Evolution in markets outside of Japan. This plan may have changed in the past couple of weeks - nothing is set in stone - but from a marketing viewpoint, it would be hard to ignore the fact that a larger amount of people would buy a Lancer Evolution, even a bastardized version, than would by a Lancer Turbo, a rather large unknown to the Gran Turismo crowd in comparison.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen

 

Here is what I say to Mitsubishi.
Go ahead and bring a POS Cedia Turbo instead of the true Evo and I won't hesitate to buy something else.
I have been told that the US and Japan will receive the first allotment of Evo VIII's (not Cedia turbos)....I guess we'll see.
I am thinking we'll receive both though...

 

Well, as I mentioned before, I believe they'll release the true Evo 8 as a Ralliart Evolution, that's all.

And from all indications, the Cedia Turbo won't be that bad - it should be using the Evolution body as a base, with an improved front subframe assembly from the Evo, the Evo motor in Outlander/Airtrek turbo spec, and simply lesser components where they can get away with it. An Evo body with a 4g63 turbo in the basic Evo driveline (maybe minus the AYC/ACD) would still provide a good, cheap base to start tuning on.

Paul Hansen