Along with most of us on this board a few weeks ago, I too had witnessed the pre-release pics of the US version of the Evolution MR posted to the Mitsubishi USA website.. You remember.. no blacked out headlamps, nor taillamps, nor JDM black MR edition Recaros in the interior.. no JDM MR-spec wing.. yadayadayada..

So.. I decided to give the people at the corporate offices of Mitsu USA a call to see what the #@$# was going on..

After dialing, I was able to reach someone who was actually ON the Evolution Product Planning team for Mitsu USA..

BTW, if it isn't obvious, Mitsubishi USA does READ this forum..

For what it's worth, they explained to me the following explanations for the discrepancies between the US and JDM models.

#1) Unlike Japan, we have a MR EDITION, and Japan gets the Evolution MR.. BIG difference..

#2) USDM MR Edition: Chrome headlight and taillight bezels - we STILL get these, vs. having to recertify/respec new blacked-out versions for the US..
rejected due to cost reasons.

My reply: Not sure why this would be, after all, we're not talking about recertifying an all-new beam pattern in the lenses or anything.. Just black bezels on the existing US/DOT spec headlamps & taillamps.. that's all we ask..

Guess this costs more to stock 4 new part numbers and a whole new run of black headlamp & taillamp bezels.. have to chalk this up to cost cutting

#3) Same old blue USDM interior on the MR Edition unlike what the MR gets in Japan: Yeah.. you know that, right, but they explained that the JDM seats are smaller.. yeh, shure, but that still doesn't address that they could have just given us the black fabric/alcantara over the USDM seats!!

My opinion: Regardless of the seat spec, Mitsu should have given us the black seating materials over the EXISTING US spec seat.. How much more does THAT cost? Certainly no more than spec'ing up the leather for US which has ALREADY been DONE.. No safety recert necessary for the black MR materials on a US-spec seat, I'd have to say..

If Mitsu can get us leather recaros for us fat Americans, why can't they just substitute the black fabric for the US MR Edition recaros?!? This is insane..

#4) As I mentioned above, the Mitsu product team for the Evolution DOES read this message board intensely, so let your voices be heard..

#5) Well, at least we get most of the cool mechanicals:
a) Helical LSD
b) 6-speed
c) Bilsteins
d) Alum. roof

My response: Bravo.. but Mitsu USA is losing sales, and desirability for the MR Edition by leaving out much of the key points that differentiate a MR Edition from the other Evos in the US market, especially when the only differentiators are b, c and d above. Not sure if that really justifies the price difference anymore..

I think mitsu lost a lot of street "cred" with the MR by allowing the USDM model be de-contented vs. the JDM spec MR.

Again.. potential sales and added desirability, buzz and anticipation which is SO IMPORTANT for a SUCCESSFUL new product launch has been lost for the MR Edition..

Examples?? Need we point out any of the voluminous threads here on this board protesting these changes in the USDM MR Edition from the JDM MR?

By contrast, Subaru gave the American Market the world's most powerful version of their comparable STi vs. the weaker JDM version! Oh.. and they didn't water down the interior.

And.. so what's happening in the sales column? Subaru sells at least twice as many STis as Mitsu USA sells Evos today.. and Evo sales are DOWN 37% last month compared to a year ago! See here for the stats.

Again.. the bottom line is that Mitsu Japan only let's Mitsu USA get an MR Edition, vs. the true Evo MR in Japan.. That's what they kept emphasizing to me.

In fairness, I guess we should be lucky we get an MR-something, given the costcutting & poor finances at Mitsubishi these days.

I hope that Mitsu Japan lets Mitsu USA get it specced right for 2006. I support the Mitsu US Evo product team and their valiant efforts. They do seem to understand, but looks to me that they (and us US consumers) just are just getting hosed by their Japanese superiors.

Summary: The US Evo MR Edition ain't bad.. it's just not what it could have been for NO additional cost to mitsu..

 

good job man.
I'm not getting a MR because at the brink of collapse, mitsubishi is still trying to cut corners which is what got them here in the first place. Stop cutting corners and we'll start cutting checks.

 

okay...that just totally threw my mind off in trading my evo for the mr

 

Good research.

I do believe our government would be so unrelenting as to make them re-certify new headlights regardless of how similar they are to the originals...government sucks, please don't vote for Kerry...

 

Yeah...Kerry had a lot to do with the MR healight/taillights having to be redsigned!! And Bush's dumba$$ probably couldn't even spell Mitsubishi or EVOLUTION for that matter...Please leave your right wing, christian-worshipping, Bush-loving bullsh!t out of this topic please!! What did you "future" MR owners expect? The USDM EVO VIII was watered down from the JDM version, what made you actually think we would get the same specs as the MR...

As far as Subaru giving us the more powerful STi...that was groundbreaking for sure, but so what...there are still things on the JDM STi that are probably better than the more powerful USDM version...

 

For everyone the bottom line is your right to exercise not to buy. This will make a big statement to mitsubishi for cutting corners.

 

Well up to now I don't understand what's in the head of the Mitsu superiors in Japan. First of all Mitsu is at the brink of collapsing and then they still bring in watered down, lesser versions of their Evo. What the heck is wrong with them? Instead of bringing in to US the exact or maybe better version of their Evo so as to satisfy potential customers they seen to be trying to discourage us from buying their cars by giving us lesser versions of their evos!

 

Well, I for one, am disappointed. I sold my '03 Evo to my brother-in-law in order to not make payments while deployed in Iraq. When I get back in February (hopefully), I was planning on getting an MR. Not sure now...

In the MR, customers are looking for two things

1) Increased Performance (equal or better than the RS)
2) Increased Sophistication (i.e. leather or at least black cloth seats. Retain the sound deadening and amenities.
Mitsubishi: You got it right on the performance aspect, but missed the mark on the luxury. Calling it an "MR Edition" is a cop out.

Hello, I would have paid $35k for everything. The money is not the problem.

We'll see, I may still have to get an MR because I want the 6 speed. But Mitsubishi: If the "Regular Edition" had the 6 speed, that's what I'd get, because I want the sophisticated look of the available leather.

The Captain

 

I'm not expecting RHD, or lack of US safety equipment in a US car or even AYC in the USDM MR Edition.. The point is that Mitsu could have given us additional features that further differentiate the MR Edition from the standard Evos ( the blacked out lights, steering wheel and black seating materials) at little to no additional cost to Mitsubishi. and they've lost credibility and potential sales because of it. What a needless way to lose sales. (and no, I'm not a Mitsu salesperson, nor am in the car industry.)

 

Just got back from my vacation and it's nice to know that the bickering hasn't ended yet.

 

I live in the Philippines and Mitsu and some grey importers has been selling the Evo here for quite some time. I always wanted to get one. The Evo 5 , 6, 6 TME, and 7 rs2 LHD's were all available in the past (all had similar spec to JDM )but I never had enough money to buy one...now after a few years I have the money to buy a new evo but darn Mitsu suddenly screwed up the Evo. I was expecting the USDM Evo 8 to be just as complete as the JDM Evo8 but it was not and i was really disappointed since there are no more LHD evo8's with the same spec as the JDM. Now the USDM MR is about to come out but still not the same as the JDM MR. I guess its better to have a USDM MR than never ever having an Evo.

 

Me too . GP40X, did you ask about the auto climate controls? It's much nicer than the RS climate controls we have. I mean Subaru has auto climate and if they bring the Twin Scroll 2.5 without understeer and JDM seats, and redisigne the steering rack to match the EVO I think i'm going to jump ship. I went from a bimmer to evo and I've experience a hugh downgrade interior wise and all i'm asking from day one is auto climate controls and acd/lsd. If I new it was too expensive to use dark fabric, paint the headlights / steering wheel black and some fake carbon fiber trim i wouldnt' even bother asking about the stupid climate contorls Truthfully, the reason i want the climate control is to have more fan speeds. Even Honda have more dials. 4 really sucks and becoming a huge pet peeve after experiencing better.

Anyways, for me performance is #1 priority. I feel the MR will perform wonderfully and edge out on the STi. I like the thought of having the larger oil cooler?? 4 ply head gaskets and revised coolant passages. Maybe titanium turbos? Were any of these performance issues addressed?

We appreciate the efforts GP40X

 

twice as many STi's sold as Evo? This can't be true anyone who drives around will see the opposite.

#2 is not true at least not for me if I want a luxo'd up and heavier Evo I would buy an M3. I bought the Evo for it's raw performance and low cost.

Sorry if I'm offensive but you guys are basically *****ing about some cosmetic differences. The performance goodies are still coming w/ the MR and that's what is important. If you cared so much about looks and less about performance you shouldn't be buying an Evo in the first place.

 

You guys are still crying about the headlights. Go buy some JDM lights or Paint them yourselves. Some of you guys are the biggest babies over these things you shouldnt even deserver a car like this. Maybe if more of you guys could lose some weight we could get JDM seats. Too bad most americans would not fit in them.

 

well, gotta first thank you for getting some info but i don't really care about the blacked out head and tail lights, the jdm recaros
i'm just glad we're getting the important stuff
6 speed, acd, lsd, bilstein shocks and aluminum roof
i can correct the cosmetic problems later on, yea gotta spend more money, that kinda ticks me off but all in all did a pretty good job