From Autoweek:

"Evolution VII to U.S. is official, sort of

Mitsubishi is still not confirming what it told employees at a recent internal meet ing: The Lancer Evolution VII will be imported to the United States next year.

Mitsubishi’s U.S. arm has been gauging the strength of the American market for the 276-horsepower, turbo-charged all-wheel-drive rally car in hopes of convincing the parent company to sell it here. Apparently, the market has spoken."

 

I posted this earlier this week. I am still skeptical of it coming though.

 

And even if it does, what kind of pricetag are we looking at for a turbocharged 276HP AWD monster?

 

Under 50k and I'd have one parked in my garage... Mmm... Evo... That thing would be a BEAST in the winter.

 

I believe that the Evo sells for $25-30k almost everywhere else in the world. Don't see any reason why it would be much higher than that (has to compete with the WRX after all)

 

how bout Canada?????

 

ya how about Canada!!!

 

The EVO, in 276hp form, would not compete with the base WRX. It would compete with the WRX STi with all of its go-fast goodies. Mitsu bringing the EVO would ensure that Subaru brought the WRX STi so as not to get its butt kicked in the US. I am guessing that you could get a new EVO or STi for about $40K, maybe $50K with all the options, once they arrive.

 

$50k? No way. For $46k I could have a 317hp M Coupe or a 333hp M3 (by then the price should be at MSRP).

Apart from a few hard core car heads, almost nobody in the US is willing to pay more than mid thirties for Japanese performance cars.

And who here would buy a Lancer over an M3 if they were the same price?

 

The previous-generation Lancer EVO does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and grips at like .95g. Those are better numbers than an M3 puts up, even with 333hp. 276hp is the voluntary Japanese restriction...any Japanese turbo car with 276hp (Skyline, Supra, EVO, WRX) usually has a bit more. The Skyline, for example, pushes out around 320.

 

I'd imagine the Evo would be priced right around what the WRX STi is... As far as M vs. Evo... I'd pick the Evo, only because it has always been my favorite car in Gran Turismo (1, 2 & 3) and I think it would be cool to have a car in real life that you play in a game

Besides, it is kind of like a dreamcar... Like if the skyline ever came to the states.

 

That's only because of the mystique surrounding the fact that it never came to the U.S. If you think about it, the M3 is a better all-around car. They are two very different cars. M3 offers awesome performance combined with exceptional refinement in the traditional sports-car layout (front-engine, RWD). The EVO is a an AWD monster and is very modern. I would love to have an EVO, don't get me wrong, but an M3 is a sports car that can be other things too. Like a panty-dropper...girls wouldn't even give an EVO a second glance unless George Clooney was driving.

 

I'm thinking they will try and be competitive with the current base WRX to draw some of the market to them. If they come in right off the bat and say, "you want the EVO, fine it will cost you $35 grand," they will get few customers.

But if they say, "here is our answer to the WRX with more hp and better handling/braking for $29 grand-ish," they will have some serious buyers in the reasonable market.

This WILL bring the Sti version over, and it is my guess that the base WRX will fall the way of the RS, and go for around 20 grand or so as long as there is a market for it, and the RS will disappear completely .......

They are bringing it over to compete with Scooby, so they need to be close in pricing, especially since the Sti will not make it for a year or so more .... at least not until Subaru gets wind that the EVO is really going to happen. And this may spark more pressure on H/A to bring the R versions of our cars over .....

I've said it before, its a good time to be an enthusiast!


[Modified by TypeR0207, 1:18 PM 8/17/2001]

 

I was thinking more of the marketing reality. Most people who buy $50k+ cars do so for prestige reasons and, unless you are a car head, there is no prestige at all in an EVO.

Hell, most people will assume it is a $15k economy car with a wing.

An English magazine (Top Gear?) recently compared the new EVO and the new M3 and decided that they were very close performancewise. However, they slightly preferred the M3. That was with a substantial (~$15k) price difference. If the EVO costs the same as an M3 in the US, they will probably sell less than a few hundred per year.


[Modified by norice, 10:19 AM 8/17/2001]

 

Well the E46, IMO, is not like those E30 M3 anymore. In the E30 generation they're built to race. Right now, BMW build those to impress the yuppies. There are way too much hi-tech stuff to make them sooooo easy to drive. It's like, u don't need that kinda skills to drive a fast car now. A Lancer EVO also. So many ppl crash them in Hong Kong becoz they thought they can drive good. Rely on the AYC and such.

I still like TypeR more, or an Impreza, in the 2.0L turbo class.

 

My bud from the bay area said he had already seen one at a Mitsu dealer in Hayward? I've heard this rumors for awhile, who on this board is into rally?

 

oh yea which dealership in hayward??? i know they have one raced out one at bozz performance in fremont.....
so they actually bringin the evo here??? did they pass that 5mph crash thing with the intercooler n bumper???....damn that be tight it is coming just wish it looked more like the evo6

 

No way is that thing going to be less than $35K. Just think about it logically, the WRX with many of the cool JDM stuff removed is $24K. Sti which will be similar to the EVO in performance is going to be around 50% more. I'd say the EVO will come in at $39K plus the inevitable markup/gouging.

 

i'll believe it when I see it......

i don't think either car will sell for that much and move as many cars as they would hope. it'll kill the market. the general public will see it as another high price japanese car. that's why the RX-7, 300ZX, Supra, 3000GT VR4 died out here in the US. too much money, when you can go out and buy a BMW, or similarly equipped/priced domestic. it's gonna happen again.

"Damn, remember when your mom bought that Subaru Legacy Outback for $24k. Look at this Impreza WRX STi (more freggin' letters!!) that is smaller, noisier, and a rougher ride for $40K!!"
"Hmm...drop top Eclipse Spyder V6 for $30k
OR
Lancer EVO VII sedan for $45k...."
typical buyer question....

If they really do bring the EVO VII, it would have to less than 35k. There is just now way they are to sell many if they can go down the street and buy a BMW, M-B, Lexus for the same price and get more confort, prestige, better warranty, etc.

IMHO