Originally Posted by bounce

Well all I can say is if they are looking for new customers, they will certainly find them with that new X. Personally I could never bring myself to part with $36k for the current EVO. Let me put this as gently as I can… The current EVO looks too much like a riced up cheapo econo box. Oh I know the performance is there, and I know all the parts are functional, so it’s not really rice. You see the problem is most normal people don’t know this. So when you’re proudly driving around town in your marvel of Japanese engineering, everyone around you is thinking, “look at that idiot in his riced up encono box”. Many of you are now thinking, “well I don’t care how others perceive me, as long as I’m happy”. But you will one day learn that this can be more important than you initially realized; both at work and at play. For this reason I would rather pay a little more and get an Audi S4, fast yet tastefully understated. The boy racer look is fine… If you’re a boy racer. I am not, so the look doesn’t suit me.

Those who disregarded these attributes and still purchased the current model car are relatively few. It’s a niche market. And these mean a limited market. The new car will draw from a wider pool of customers. It will range from those who will be saving every penny and need to work two jobs just to make the down payment, to those who have the cash just lying around and can buy it outright, and to everyone in between. It would be silly for Mitsu not to go after this much larger market.

One can understand the desire for the car to look more “Rally”. It is after all supposed to be based off a rally car. The hard thing is finding a way to accomplish that without going totally overboard.

That said, there is one thing that is certain, $36k is close to $40k out the door… For that kind of money the car should not only go like a $40k car, it should look like one also. The current car does not, the new car does. I know there are far more that agree with this statement than those that disagree. Perhaps not on this current generation owners forum, but Mitsu will have to move beyond this current niche market anyway, if they want to survive. Mitsu apparently knows this too.

Originally Posted by Design1stCode2n

The more I look at the Concept X and Sportback the more apparent it is that Mitsubishi is trying to move the Evo out of it's super niche market. From my position that is a good thing. Many on here would disagree I'm sure and I understand your point. Every article or review on 8s and 9s have been glowing on the Evo's performance and handling. The three areas many would find the Evo lacking are in: ride quality (comfort), quality of interior materials and body style. Not many here but then many here are existing Evo owners who either like the Boy Racer image or just want the best performance for the dollar and will sacrifice most everything else for that.

Will I admire the dedication and Mitsubishi for providing it they are bleeding red and need something that will appeal to a greater audience. What one vehicle is Mitsubishi most acclaimed for, the Gallant, the Endeavor? No the Evo. So it is understandable that they would try to preserve most of the spirit of the existing Evo while improving on the things the regular sporting crowd find missing.

I am really looking forward to the Evo X or the Sportback. It will hopefully provide room for 4, wonderful performance and handling and not feel like the wheels are welded to the frame and wrap it in a contemporary stylish exterior.

Originally Posted by Happy Madison

dude, have you ever even looked at your own cars or are you just incredibly self-deluded??? mini cooper, jeep wrangler and elise?? i hate to burst your bubble, but none of them exactly screams sophisticated or classy...

Originally Posted by giumela

All this speculation might be dissapointing when the Evo X will kick the $hI3t out of previous Evo models....

Originally Posted by Design1stCode2n

From an outsider looking in current Evo’s and WRX STi’s are like an exclusive club. You have either chosen performance above all else (excluding style and refinement) or like the looks of the existing Evo’s (people bought Aztecs and buy xB’s and Elements so to each there own).

The existing style and refinement on Evo’s and STi’s appeals to a very core niche. I applaud you all who either don’t mind or sacrifice style and refinement for pure overall performance. Your dedication is impressive. Even though you love your Evo’s they are not conducive to even moderate sale volumes. Mitsubishi regardless of its rally heritage is a car company and their job is to sell cars. They can be commended so far in their ability stay the course and produce a fine machine purely for the enthusiast. That time is over.

Mitsubishi needs sales from all of its product lines including Evo’s. This means they must appeal to a wider audience. This way more will be able to experience it. Even if all current Evo owners never buy another Evo, this change in style will, IMO triple if not more, world wide sales as long as they price it competitively. I am still not convinced that priced at 40k people will by a Mitsubishi, I know I can not and would not. STi’s are around 33k or so, it is their most direct competitor, they need to remain somewhere in the ballpark of 33k.

Now of course if you are a true performance enthusiast the shape of the X will not matter so that coupled with new buyers will make this the most successful Evo ever (assuming they don’t screw it up of course, but then that was a given).

Originally Posted by wakeupanddrive

I see what you're saying. Sounds like some of the hardcore fans will maybe wanna keep their current car and mod it. Let the posers and like the article says "sissy drivers that can’t drive but still want to be fast." get this new one. I hope they don't screw up the evo like they did the eclipse by trying to appeal to too big an audience. it's a niche car, mitsubishi should keep it that way.

Originally Posted by SterlingEvo

Think of all the misinformation that those magazines put out about the VIII before it came here. I don't take anything they say at face value. In other words, it's pure speculation. IMHO, there's no way they're going to make a whole new platform with only the power of the current Evo. Especially considering that most other brands are increasing their horsepower substantially with each new model.

oh yeah, I would call that a "preview", not a "review"...

Originally Posted by EvoIXMR

Personally, I love electronics and all, but too much of it is teh suck. A perfect example is Mercedes and the AMG cars like the E55. Most magazines hate how intrusive it is. I biought the Evo IX coz I think its the last vehicle that captures the true essence of the Evo. An Econo pocket rocket - not meant to be upscale and classy. I think the X will put the Evo in a different class of vehicle....

Originally Posted by Ludikraut

Wow, sad statements indeed. Chalk up another one to peer pressure.

I guess I should count myself as being lucky, since I outgrew that kind of thought process in high school...

l8r)

Originally Posted by Design1stCode2n

Just a fact of the world we live in, it's not who you are it is who you are perceived to be.

Assume that you are 30 something or perhaps 40 something, hell even late 20 something. You have a corporate job, business admin, programmer, salesmen whatever. You pull up to a business function or pick up clients. What you drive says a world about who you are. What people will see with an Evo (admitedly wrong) is a suped up (they won't know riced) 4 banger with a giant wing on it. If you are in your 30s or later you just commited careeracide. If you are picking up clients you could well have lost your company business. Pull up in almost anything else, RX-8, 350z, IS 250 and no one will bat an eye.

Originally Posted by Design1stCode2n

Just a fact of the world we live in, it's not who you are it is who you are perceived to be.

Assume that you are 30 something or perhaps 40 something, hell even late 20 something. You have a corporate job, business admin, programmer, salesmen whatever. You pull up to a business function or pick up clients. What you drive says a world about who you are. What people will see with an Evo (admitedly wrong) is a suped up (they won't know riced) 4 banger with a giant wing on it. If you are in your 30s or later you just commited careeracide. If you are picking up clients you could well have lost your company business. Pull up in almost anything else, RX-8, 350z, IS 250 and no one will bat an eye.


That may well be the case but most 1st impressions are lasting. I didn't say I agree with it just believe its the way a large portion of America thinks.

A good salesmen can sell anything and I'm sure after meeting you your clients could care less about what you drive. However if we clone you and put you in a BMW 330 and then you in your Evo, my money is on the clone with the 330 who will sell more at the end of the month.

It's like going to an interview with a polo or in a suit. Sometimes its just the credentials that matters but if everything is more or less equal they are taking the guy in the suit.

Just my opinion, and we know how the quote goes.