It wasn’t long ago that news of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X becoming the last of its breed ran across the noises of automotive enthusiast everywhere. The reason behind this decision was Mitsubishi wants to shift its priorities to electric vehicle technology and feels the EVO doesn’t fit into those priorities. Apparently neither does the long living Eclipse sports car because Yoichi Yokozawa, Mitsubishi North American CEO has reported that the current car will not make it past this summer. It is obvious that Mitsubishi is really serious about its upcoming brand image but it’s sad to see another icon fall down.
The Eclipse was released in the late 1980s and has been continuously built ever since. It has a horrendously loyal following that might even eclipse (pun intended) the EVO fan base. Although the current generation is much different from the older models, it is still a household name amongst sports cars. This is what makes decision to stop building the car so puzzling: why get rid of a car with so much panache? Mitsubishi says it is to make room for the production of more Outlanders and potentially a new Galant. With this and the release of the electric i-MiEV at the New York Auto Show, no one should disbelieve Mitsubishi when they say they want to change priorities. It seems, for once, they are serious.
