looks like we're not getting a evo vII here...

[ChrisCantSkate]

http://www.apexjapan.com/news/evo_8/evo_8.html

That's right, no Evo VII for the States. Wait, before you write hate-mail to your local MMC representative on your tear-stained hanky, here is what is most likely to happen: The U.S. of A. will get the Evolution VIII instead.
Evo VIII, you say? Why? Because that is traditionally what MMC has done in the past. They made a specific allotment of each version number, in the case of the Evo VII, 10,000 units. Once all of those were sold, they would develop the next version. MMC has made more Evo VII models, but they are, for all intents and purposes, a new series, for what they made was the Evo VII GT-A, the first automatic Evolution since the series first debuted in 1992. And within MMC, that's referred to as the Evo 7.5, much like the Evo 6.5 Tommy Makkinen Edition. Going by MMC's past strategies, making a completely new run of Evo VII's just for the U.S. doesn't make sense, not when they are already developing the Evolution VIII. And there's also the fact that the Evo VII is based on the Lancer Cedia platform, which already exists in the States, but in a very base, fwd-only form. Mitsubishi would like to expand the Lancer/Cedia lineup to include the AWD and turbocharged models that it has in Japan. It would make sense for MMC to launch an Evo VIII at that time, to promote sales of the "base" Lancer Cedia series. For that is the purpose of "halo" cars, cars that don't generate much profits, but instead generate a lot of free press via magazines and word of mouth.
So instead of concentrating resources on simply revamping the Evo VII for the American market, MMC will most certainly modify the current Evo VII and make a newer Evo VIII for sale in Japan, Europe, and for the first time, the United States. It's easier to develop one car that will be sold in all markets than to make several different versions of the car, changing factory setups each time.
So what is Mitsubishi planning to do? Well, some reports point towards MMC adding in the front subframe from the Lancer Cedia, and a real bumper bar, to get it through crash tests. Included in those changes would be a smaller front mount intercooler (FMIC). And then there is Mitsubishi's GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine technology, recently developed in the quest for higher power engines along with better emissions.
Well, MMC may address the power issues by moving to GDI (Gasoline Direct Ignition) for the Evolution VIII. It would make sense to move to the newer, cleaner engine design of the GDI motors, for the 4G63 that MMC uses for the Evolution is an old design, dating back to 1992. GDI engines make very good power and torque. Sometimes more torque than hp. For instance, their NA 2.4-litre GDI makes 160hp and 167ft/lb's of torque. A turbo-charged, performance-oriented GDI could make even better low-end torque than the Evo's 4G63, plus get far better gas mileage and actually pass emissions without all the power-robbing catalyzers that are needed for the WRX turbo.
So in the end, you may actually see more power and especially more torque than the Evo VII had. And that would be good news indeed.
-Paul Hansen


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[ebpda9]

sounds good to me, but i think that car needs a redesign. the rear end looks like hell

[Racing Rice]

Whatever works..

[Kyle]

That car looks pretty sweet...don't know toom uch about it though

all i know is they have 276ish hp. and do the 1/4 in 13 seconds flat. this according to motor trend. this is for about 30,000 dollars. just as a comparison a camaro ss completes the 1/4 in about 13.3 seconds. that info also from MT

[ebpda9]

i thought it was supposed to have 282 according to car and driver and the WRX sti 268.