2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition Back in 2015, we bid farewell to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The brand had released the Final Edition, sending a pretty clear signal we were at the end of an era. But a lot can change in four years. According to Autocar, Mitsubishi has plans to bring the Lancer Evolution back and reintroduce an eleventh-gen model into its line of performance cars. Autocar’s anonymous “Japanese-based sources” say the car will arrive in the styles of either a four-door saloon or a five-door hatch. The publication goes on to suggest the future Lancer Evolution will borrow mechanics from the Renault Mégane RS, including its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, dual-clutch gearbox and the S-AWC four-wheel drive setup, developed by Mitsubishi and used in the Evo X. In the top-end Mégane RS, that engine develops 296 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, but there’s a chance Mitsubishi will boost power to around 350 horsepower by adding a hybrid system. Some Mitsubishi fans were not at all pleased when the brand resurrected the “Eclipse” nameplate on a crossover, giving birth to the Eclipse Cross. And while it seems the Evo has escaped this fate for now, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Mitsubishi stretch a version of the Evo XI to plop into the compact crossover segment. Official details to follow shortly, we hope.
Origin: Mitsubishi might be bringing back the Lancer Evolution: report
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Canada’s getting VW’s Mk. 8 Golf and ID.4 — even if the U.S. might not
Canada is getting the new base model Volkswagen Mk. 8 Golf after all, as well as VWs new ID.4 electric car but not for a while.During the new generation’s debut last month, it seemed uncertain whether dealerships in the U.S. and Canada would see any trims of the Golf besides the high-performance GTI and R versions.Now, VW Canada has confirmed other, lower-spec trims of the Mk. 8 Golf will come to our shores, along with the high performance GTI and Golf R, though whether they hit the U.S., too, is still up in the air. The Mk. 8 Golf as well as the GTI and Golf R variants will start to arrive some time in 2021 as 2022 models, Thomas Tetzlaff, Volkswagen Canadas public relations manager, recently told The Car Guide.That means well see a small gap between the sale of the last Mk. 7 and the first Mk. 8 for some Golf variants, such as the Golf R, SportWagen and Alltrack, none of which will return for the 2020 model year.In other news, the new fully-electric ID.4 will replace the eGolf as the brands small-EV option, and will lead the way in introducing the ID lineup to Canadian showrooms. The ID.4 is a four-door crossover, with a low roofline and a small footprint.The first ID model in Canada will be the production version of the I.D. Crozz concept. This one is planned for early 2021, said Tetzlaff.Next year, Europeans will get the even-smaller ID.3, which was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show. Whether that vehicle will make it to Canada remains to be
Origin: Canada’s getting VW’s Mk. 8 Golf and ID.4 — even if the U.S. might not
Report: Mini might be pared down to just three or four electric models
Mini may plan to pare its lineup down to just three or four vehicles, all fully electric, in the not-too-distant future, according to a new report.According to Automobile, gasoline-powered Mini models might be all but dead, their chassis pushed aside to make way for an electric future.Contrary to earlier reports, it appears that management has since black-flagged the internal-combustion versions in favor of an all-electric model range, the magazine says.The decision has not been confirmed, but Mini would be wise to consider the consequences of turning its small-vehicle lineup into an EV-only brand. Take rival Daimlers Smart brand, which went down that road a few years ago, and has now folded up its tiny EV suitcase.The first electric model from the British marque is the Mini SE, due to go on sale in 2020; it will be the litmus test for the EV revolution, though other battery-powered vehicles are almost certain to follow in its wake. The SE is powered by a 32.6-kWh battery, and has an all-electric range of up to 270 kilometres. Another EV, based on the super-short-wheelbase Rocketman concept, is rumoured to show in production form around 2023, as is a more compact version of the classic three-door Mini. Lastly, theres talk of a crossover-style vehicle. All will run on a skateboard-style platform and feature front-wheel-drive, with energy stored in either 35- or 50-kWh battery packs.We would love to see the Rocketman come to North America, but its likely too small; if it does hit production, it will likely only be available in markets that allow small cars to be federalized, such as China, where it could be built in partnership with Great Wall Motors. The Countryman will likely be evolved into a
Origin: Report: Mini might be pared down to just three or four electric models
BMW’s M might build a standalone supercar
BMW M1 BMW’s M performance division is changing its mind about not building a standalone model, and is now instead studying how to build one. “We are investigating M variants that may also be standalone; that don’t have a predecessor,” BMW M chief Markus Flasch recently said in an interview with Australia’s Car Sales. The exec also noted the cars may not be range-toppers—the company’s already chosen specific categories in which the vehicles could reside. Flasch has previously said the new BMW M8 offers supercar-like performance, so the standalone model won’t be faster than the flagship GT. If the standalone model isn’t range-topping, then it isn’t likely we’ll see a competitor to Audi’s R8, or the Mercedes-AMG GT. A concept car is planned to be revealed at the end of June that should give us a better idea of things to come. Electrification and self-driving are expected to be present on the concept. If you’re old enough to remember it, BMW M did have a standalone supercar in the late ’70s; it was called the M1. Although the car was built for racing, the rules were changed before it was able to actually compete. It remains the only true supercar BMW ever built. The new M car is still very much in the early stages of study, but the company could have the vehicle approved before M’s 50th anniversary in
Origin: BMW’s M might build a standalone supercar
Want a Lamborghini Huracán crossover? It might be coming’
Hot on the heels of its Urus sport-ute, Lamborghini is apparently considering putting a crossover version of its Huracán, the Sterrato, into production. Automobile magazine had a chance to drive the prototype Huracán Sterrato on the Nardo test track and off-road facility. The rumour is that Lamborghini would make between 500 and 1,000 copies, priced at about €240,000, or around $360,660 in Canadian dollars. Maurizio Reggiani, the automaker’s chief technical officer, told the publication that while the budget is quite tight (“It always is at Lamborghini,” he said), the company could build the car at a profit by manufacturing any Sterrato-specific parts on 3D printers, including cladding, panels, and splitters. The parts, made of a newly-developed lightweight synthetic material, would be bolted or screwed onto the body. Like the Urus, the Huracán Sterrato has off-road ability, but is a crossover rather than a sport-ute, and uses a 5.2L naturally aspirated engine that churns out 640 horsepower. With a Huracán replacement still at least five years away, Automobile suggests the company will fill in the gap with derivatives, including the high-performance STO in 2020; the Sterrato in 2021; and a possible hybrid in
Origin: Want a Lamborghini Huracán crossover? It might be coming’
Mazda is mulling over a new Mazdaspeed3, but might not call it that
Miss the Mazdaspeed3? Mazda says it was childish and we wont see anything like it in the next little while.Handout Mazda could be planning to build another Mazdaspeed3 for the first time since 2013. Representatives have confirmed to Autocar and Car and Driver the Japanese brand is seriously considering adding a performance version of its new Mazda3 to the lineup. According to Mazda program manager Kota Beppu, Mazda is very close to approving the proposed vehicle. It would directly face off against the Volkswagen GTI, which has been the benchmark for hot hatchbacks for many years. Mazda already has all the ingredients for the perfect hot hatch recipe, namely a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder from the CX-9 and CX-5 SUVs that makes up to 250 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a huge bump up from the 228 horsepower found in the GTI and encroaches on Honda Civic Type R territory and Golf R territory, which also means that the zero-to-96-km/h times could be as slinky as 5.0 seconds. All that twist would be sent to all four wheels, a serious upgrade from the front-drive-only models. It won’t just be a track toy, however; Mazda has gotten much better at injecting luxury into the everyday norm, and this new model could be no different. The previous-generation Speed3 was a little harsher than most and was more suited to performance driving, but this new one, if it happens, will be more livable while still delivering thrills. After all this though, it will be down to the enthusiasts to decide if Mazda will build a new Speed3 or not. Mazda has said if people really want them to build the vehicle to let them know. So scream loud, hot hatch
Origin: Mazda is mulling over a new Mazdaspeed3, but might not call it that
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