Paul, the only difference I see, is that Ralliart is actually making money on their products! Small operation. Outsource ALL operations to Chinese, Indonesian and Malaysian manufacturers with German companies doing the QA testing.

 

The easy way to see if the Evo VIII is still made by Ralliart Japan is to see how many they make. The record so far is 11,900 in 16 or 18 months for the Evo VII.

The big difference if they are built by MMC will be chassis rigidity. The Evo is much like the type-R with many hand welded braces and extra spot welds. While the 400 or so extra spot welds are disruptive enough on the lancer assembly line. Think about pulling each one off the line and having a highly paid welder jig and hand weld the 37 some odd braces in place.

If you hope that the Evo VIII is more than a Cedia turbo rebadged then it better be built by Ralliart in limited numbers.

Erik

 

Exactly!

I can do without ACD/AYC (though I would like them) but if decides to forego these steps to improve the chassis rigidity on the US Evo, then STi here I come.

 

Paul, does Ralliart have its own manufacturing facility where they produce the EVO, or do they use a custom production line at a factory?
As far as I know, factories are highly automated and spot welds could be done by robots. Unless there are other major manufacturing differences, the EVO could conceivably share the line with the Cedia (this may explain the lack of AYC/ACD for the U.S. versions, which seems to be the only major component install difference).
As far as I can tell, as long as Ralliart does the intial R&D, testing and manufacturing development, can manufacture the car according to Ralliart specs. Right?

 

the spots are done by robots on a slowed production line. very disruptive BTW. Then are pulled off and finished up by ralliart. I believe STis have a similar body-in-white production method.

The commom parts on the US lancer and EVO VII are:

Both front doors and the trunk lid.

erik

 

When you say: "...pulled off and finished up by Ralliart."
Are you saying they are hand-built at a Ralliart facility?
Again, it seems to me that could manufacture the EVO according to Ralliart specs without a loss of quality and reliability.
The EVO is on the same platform as the Cedia and flexible maufacturing could produce both in shifts, theoretically...

 

OK, OK everyone You all have valid concerns but they are all null and void one you understand one thing. Ralli///Art is owned I repeat OWNED by MMC ..........so it is more of a question of how many Mitsubishi wishes to produce, small production = mods done after production , larger production - all assembly accomplished on assembly line. Remember this is a WORLD Car now..all will be done via assembly line (JUST LIKE sKUBARU)

 

More like hand modified. Like type-r Integras. Yes, Ralliart is a wholly owned sub of MMC. And no I don't think you can reinforce the chassis like the Evo 7 and make 30-40K a year.

Remember Mitsu USA sells around 300K of all their cars a year in the US. WRXes are built on a line but STis have some hand modifications also work also.

Erik

 

Go to my thread for a good update
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...932#post116932

 

So no ralliart contribution what so ever will there be a ralliart evo coming out or is that just another rumor as well?

 

I don't know if I'd say that. I'm sure they've been involved in some way with the R&D of the US Evo. Or maybe thev've done it all and just left the manufacturing to MMC. Whatever the case is, I'm sure Ralliart does NOT want the Evolution name tarnished in any way.

 

Neither does
I'm pretty sure that Ralliart still does the R&D, drivetrain/powertrain, and performance tuning.
just needs to manufacture exactly to spec.

erik, do you think producing in shifts(i.e. switching from Cedia to EVO) would still be too disruptive? The Okazaki plant was named most efficient plant in the world 2 years running...

 

Yes, since there are not many common parts on the Evo VII and the Cedia. Evo VIII or Evo USDM who knows. Assembly lines are all about synchronization and consistent flow. Slow handwork and assembly lines do not mix well. Evo have been built in the past in very short runs.

It would seem that the handwork that Ralliart did was done offline. It still may be in the MMC plant. When enough bodies were reinforced to schedule a run they complete the entire quantity in a pretty short period of time on the line.

erik

 

Thanks for your responses Erik.

 

little slow, I know, but needed to say.....
the tails are not Mr. King of Bling look at me tails. these were the tails that were sold as standard on the anniversary GTI in Europe. the only difference between USA and Euro is the part of the tail light that is smoked. so, no he did not ruin his nice car.