Well, Concept X was just it, a concept, concept cars are usually built with aesthetics as the first priority, not functionality, what something may look good, doesn't mean it's aerodynamic or practical. I've seen Concept X in person, it was a very good looking vehicle, I haven't seen Prototype X in person yet so I can't really compare between the two. All I know is that even Concept X didn't look on any of the pictures as good as in person, especially the front. From what I have seen on the pictures, Concept X and Prototype X are not that much different on the outside. Prototype X has a bit different roof line (Concept X had a more coupe like roofline but I am sure it was altered because the headroom in the back wasn't that great), the headlights and taillights have been altered (I actually prefer the headlights of Prototype X but I liked the tail lights of Concept X a bit better).

As far as weight is concerned, I am more than sure that any car company can build a car out of titanium but then you would pay a whole lot more for it plus I don't think it would meet the safety regulation requirements. Anyway, if they really want to improve the safety of our cars then they should ban any type of cell phone based devices even the handsfree ones. 10-15 years ago cars had no air bags, less stiff cages, and yet there was less accidents. In my opinion I believe this is all BS, I wouldn't surprised if big oil comapnies had something to do with it (engine technology is definately better than 10-15 years ago but yet because of the weight addition beacuse of new "safety" requirements the MPG actually hasn't seen any major improvement). SO the weight addition is not only Mitsubishis problem but the whole car industry. However I think there will be a new material revolution soon (just like there was in the 1970s when car manufacturers developed and started to use lighter steel and aluminium).

But all in all, I believe that the new Evo will be the best one yet, and why do I believe that Evo X won't be like the Eclipse? Because Evo X is a global product (not only meant for American market), plus it has a real rally heritage and it will also be a basis of new Mitsu WRC platform in 2008/2009, so why would a company that didn't came out of the financial hole completely invest in a rally car if it was such an inferior product to begin with, Mitsu knows their rally competition, thats why they backed out of it in 2005/2006 and thats why they'll be back in 2008/2009 with an all new Lancer "r"Evolution.

 

Wait a minute, you think its an oil company conspiracy that has forced car companies to build safer cars, but yet heaveir at the same time so we use more fuel? Hmmm, I guess that's a topic for another thread, but I disagree.

I believe this is the first time the Japanese have really listened to the American market and have built an Evo to try to address all the criticisms they get from this country. But of course, some people here can only ibthc because they assume the car has to get heavier because of it. A pretty, well laid out dash doesn't necessarily weigh more then a plain one. Fancy HVAC controls with auto motors is a marginal increase over manual ones, and the big sound system, NAV and sunroof will be optional as always. The only difference is Mitsubishi has spent more money on interior and exterior design, but they still have Evo performance as their top priority. All the other projects have been put off because this car is so important for Mitsus survival and there wasn't enough money to spread around. Failure isn't an option for them.

 

the what???? I am not aware of any US or other mandate. Since the vehicles matter does have mass it has weight, the US government for instance mandates emmissions, bumper absorbtion (3mph), safty features such as crumple zones, air bags, and tire pressure monitoring systems, as well as side door guard beams, but a manditory put on the pounds mandate----sorry your off here.

 

Since we have NOT seen the official specs how do we know it's several hundred punds heavier??

Lets think this through, the car is shorter, alum roof on all, alum block.. Im sure S-Awd/ACD plus navigation and a heavy american driver could make the 200 lb difference!

 

i dont care how much it cost, im getting one

 

HOORAY!!!

 

Great work.. that pic look bad

 

I read on the mopar GEMA engine site that the aluminum block will have iron sleeves. This is a sign in the right direction. For me, if the stock block with stock internals is not capable of holding 500 AWHP it would be a shame, because that is what differentiates the evo 4g63 from most other 4 cylinder engines. That is one of the main things that makes the evo a cult hero car. Anyway, with iron liners, it is possible that the 4B11 could hold up under 500 awhp, assuming that the crankcase is strong enough to do that without girdles and so forth.
However, one of the other things that made the 4g63 great was that the guys who are out there with 1000 hp drag cars are STILL using the stock block - with upgraded internals of course, but the block is just like stock except for o-ringing the deck and using stronger bolts. All the guys with aluminum engines have to spend a lot of money sleeving and girdleing and I don't know what else. So I decided to read the Darton manuals on installing sleeves. There I find out that they don't think too much of cast-in sleeves. For that reason, Darton makes sleeves for the Cobalt engine, to replace the stock cast-in sleeves which that engine comes with. The machining manual reads like a nightmare. There are only a handful of shops in the entire country I would trust to do a job like that. I didn't want to see Mitsubishi go that way, you need to have cubic yards of money to build an engine like that. The GEMA thing didn't specifically say that the sleeves are "cast-in" but this will be something to watch for. They probably are, because that is the lowest cost way for OEMs to do it. In order for the 4B11 to continue the legend, in my mind, it has to be capable of 500+ hp with stock internals, and 1000+ hp with stock block, otherwise it is a step backwards. One more thing, I haven't seen any mention of oil squirters under the pistons.

 

#2 FTW (minus the red recaro's)

 

??????

 

No one knows since pricing has not been announced.

 

I didn't say it was an oil company conspiracy but it certainly works for the advantage of oil companies. Heck, put todays engine in a 10-15 year old car body and the MPG would be a whole lot better than what we have today because cars were lighter and when you actually look at the statistics the cars may have become more safe but that doesn't mean there is less deadly accidents, 10-15 years ago we also didn't have cell phones. Cars may have all the roll cages and safety air bags but also cars are too powerful, too fast, and people take "advantage" of it. You improve one thing and then there is another thing that basically evens it out back to step 1.

Anyway, Mitsubishi has really put a lot of money, engineering, and effort into the new Lancer, hopefully it will be a big seller, so far Outlander has been selling well but I don't think well enough considering that pound for pound, value-wise, Outlander is a better car than the new CR-V, Santa Fe, Rav4, or CX-7.

Also, one last thing about new Lancers weight, all in all, people need to remember that as much as Mitsu improved the safety features and stiffen the architecture, the new Lancer is also a bigger vehicle size-wise, so proportionally to it's size it really isn't that much heavier than the last gen Lancer.

 

O dam that is so sexy, I hope they come out with some after market bumpers that look that hawt ^_^

 

Are you lurking on this thread Mitsubishi ?



If so ... watch and learn.




.

 

i wish it was like that, maybe aftermaret companys will listen!! looks a little like the previous models good job