Ok some fun. If you were responsible for bringing the Evo X to market next year what would you do (with the caveats below)?

1. Exterior styling of the X is more-or-less set as we have seen it.
2. You need to raise profits across the board so the Evo needs to generate an increase in sales worldwide, say 40%.
3. You are not Joe Blow supertuner but a high level exec so keep it realistic.

And no comments like"The 9 rulez and the x suxxor, gimme 150 more hp!" Lets be constructive as well as intelligent please.

 

I would stay in WRC and give the Mitsu rally team engineers the liscence to give the Evo X the chassis, body and engine it needs to be dominant. The resulting detuned street car will be the new Evo X.

It's what an Evo is... and it it's one thing the new evo X sadly will not be.

 

Yeah, I mean the styling is going to be a departure no matter what, but I'd try and keep it as true to the heritage as possible in regards to as much as possible. I mean look at the new mustang and charger and all that stuff. People who love cars (read: Evo and other performance buyers) appreciate the history and legacy as much as what the actual car is...

 

I guess we'll all have to wait and see for what is really going to be unveiled as the new Evolution. If stays true to it's heritage and history, we should be ok with whatever is taking the place of the existing IX. As for myself, I will have no problem purchasing a new X if and or the "Evolution" doesn't veer from heritage and history, and goes to a more "marketing friendly" aspect. In which a what would be mass produced sports car with 4 doors. I can't see ruining a complete line of proven history of racing and the bi-products that has come from it, by introducing a car that will actually take a step back in the series of "Evolutions" to follow. I do sub-conciously pray for this new outcome to be a jaw-dropping expirience. But with everything we have today (I-IX) we should be completely satified with what will actually be produced. I don't have any doubt that the next generation to come, that there would be a reason for me not to invest into a such proven product. I love my VIII, will be buying a used IX and then plan on buying a X. Once I became an Evo owner, I can't see going without one while I'm still able to drive.

It's the anticipation that is driving everyone insane about the new X, because no one really knows for sure what it will look like as a production car. We can only speculate.

 

nothing , mitsubishi cant afford marketing

i would let the other vehicle manufactures, who own the same car, advertise theirs; and then use that publicity to sell the mitsubishi version

 

if i were looking to make some money out of mitsubishi, the last thing i'd do is redesign the evo to appeal to the masses... not when their mid sized sedan, compact and truck/SUV lines can be reworked to be more appealing to a lesser-priced and larger demographic. 30-40k for an evo, even if reworked, is not going to be appealing no matter what.

 

I would give one to sport compact car or a similar magazine before launch to get a buzz going, as a project car, tap a few tuners on the shoulder and give them a big back door to develop the aftermarket for it and the following stories in the magazine. Nothing wrong with nearly free publicity.

Get the car into some type of motrsport and running well. Something like speed world cup would be perfect. Put banners showing the car on the track in showrooms and service areas. While we know the Evo has a racing heritage most people here in the US have no idea what the car is or where it comes from.

Launch Ralliart parts for it in the US because, why should the tuners make all the money from performance parts. Provide warranty coverage with these parts.

You definately have to give the car some headroom for the aftermarket and make it respond well to tuning. That way you keep your original following as well as add new people.

Finally and it makes me sad to say this but, soften the car up in at least one trim level and give it more creature comforts to appeal to a bigger demographic.

I think I would make the standard Evo the one to appeal to masses with less power less tech and more amenities. The RS still stripped out for autocross/rallycross/hard-core street car. The MR as the flagship high power, high tech, and high dollar genuine M3 S4 competitor in all areas, not just performance.

I think as long as the car has better fit and finish with higher quality interior parts with the same driving feel as all past Evo's have had it will be a success. Almost every thing I've read about any Mitsu product they complain about interior quality. In reality it would probably only cost them about $50 per car at the most to provide a Lexus like interior. I for one wouldn't mind shelling out or financing in another $50 over 5 yrs to make the interior hold up better and be a nicer place for me.

 

Well to be honest with everyone....I think the evo 9 is the sickest lookin sedan out there....Even tho i love the audi rs6, bmw v8 m5's, and the e55....nothing grabs more attention than an evo....With that being said...I love the current look of the evo and that should stay for a while longer....To make it more successful... Lessen the height of the vehicle about an inch and half...the current model is a bit tall if u ask me.. and slope the rear windshield more to give the car more aerodynamic efficiency...make the fenders and quarter panels bulge out about 1.5-2 inches more than they are now and add very subtle flares on top of that...as far as the interior goes....the dash is not a bad design..however the center console and center of the dash should be made to flow into one piece altogether as many other cars do....and cover the whole dash with leather...carbon fiber and titanium trim..and a suede headliner..and as for the engine i think its bout time to dump that 4g63 motor and go for a 3.6l mivec twin turbo v6 with a six speed....Anyone remember the vr-4 days......haha excelllent cars if u ask me...and jus make the car more streetable and you will get every single one sold guaranteed...! did i mention not make it more than $40k

 

As long as the new car can provide more safety, and more refinement, better aesthetics, but not sacrifice the current performance, I would be happy.

I have nor problem with the car as it is, but I can understand why some poeple have an aversion to it because of the way it looks inside and out. Or that it is manual only. The 2 star side impact rating is lacking also. But, if in a Evo VI can keep up with or even beat an VIII on a track, then it don't necessarily think the new car will get much better considering its probably going to get heavier too. If they can keep it the same price and do all that, it'll be all good.

 

You've got this backwards... The current Lancer (whcih is what the EVO is) was designed as a family sedan, not a rally car. The car was then turned over to the rally team to make it into a rally car. This modified rally version was then watered down for street use as the EVO.

From what I can see the X will be the first EVO designed with rally in mind from it's conception.

Clearly this forum was started by a X hater. It doesn’t matter in the end because Mitsu will do whatever Mitsu thinks is right. If you don't like the new X, buy/keep the previous gen car. Problem solved!

 

Sell The

EVO X As a High Performance semi luxury vehicle. For the Rally Enthusiasts
Eclipse as a Performance Vehicle (A little less power than the Evo but still having that turbo everyone wants) for the Tuners
Sell the Colt and Grandis (For the everday driver and soccer moms)
Sell the Pajero (Montero) Deisel (With Growing oil prices they should have a deisel 4x4 as they have in Asia and Europe)
Also implement a nationwide mandatory training for the sales and servicestaff (For good customer service).

Hire a VP or CEO who knows whats best for Mitsu not for Himself (Pay him $60,000 a year but have an incentive bonus "$300,000" in 3 years if he increases sales by 30%)


A 10 year warranty is good but most people need reliability and customer satisfaction. How sales and service people treat their customers dictate the future sales of a company. Most people would recommend something if ever they have a good experience with that company.


Competing in the WRC is good for marketing but it boils down to how good of a driver you have. If they can do a good job Marketing the regular Lancer to the public like the Mazda 3 then they won't have a problem marketing the EVO.

 

Top CEOs and VPs don't work for $60k a year my man. And “nobody” CEOs and VPs don't run multi- Billion dollar companies. I doubt they would get anyone that they actually wanted for fewer than seven figures, and that's on the low side.

Heck I seem to recall reading somewhere that the average US auto worker earns $125k per year. Last time I checked CEOs get paid more than plant workers. Now ask yourself this: How many of you would actually turn down or leave a job paying you millions so you could bust your butt at Mitsu for $60k a year?

Good luck with that plan.

 

I was just putting numbers as an example. Most of these Exec get payed millions yet they slack off. I'm sure the current Exec at Mits gets payed 6 figures if not more. Bottom line is they have to find someone who knows the product and how to sell it to the public. Getting payed lower than your average Exec and Having an incentive to earn more than most exec would be a good reason to work really hard and get results. Thats what I meant not really gonna pay an Exec $60,000. Sorry if I gave you the wrong message.

 

Always keep a version for the racers (keep the RS line going!)!

No need for leather, luxury and other useless amenities like the M3s.. thats
MR's job.

 

I remember reading somewhere that they were looking at the Euro R32 as a sort-of comparison vehicle to change the future evo's. I think they want to make the interior nicer and give the X a relatively "softer" ride. If they made it handle like an M3 or a euro-spec R32, I wouldn't have any complaints!