Legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Could Return as a High-Powered Hybrid

Mitsubishi is once again sparking conversations about the Lancer Evolution. The legendary model could make a comeback—but it won’t be the same car we remember. Engineers are preparing a genuine technological leap, and fans are eagerly waiting for details. In fact, most of the potential comeback’s key points are already known.

Within Mitsubishi’s engineering circles, hope for reviving the iconic Lancer Evolution hasn’t faded. According to recent reports, one of the company’s lead engineers, Kaoru Sawase, revealed that the project remains a cherished dream for the entire development team. And if this legend is to return, it will do so in a completely new, electrified form, designed to meet the demands of modern performance standards.

The company already has the technical foundation for such a bold move. A key component of the future sports sedan could be Mitsubishi’s signature S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) system, renowned for its precision in distributing torque to each wheel. This technology is expected to be paired with a cutting-edge hybrid powertrain. One likely candidate for the setup is the Outlander PHEV drivetrain, which in its current two-motor configuration delivers around 300 horsepower—a solid starting point for the next Evo.

But the engineers are looking even further ahead. They have more futuristic concepts in the pipeline, like those shown on the Elevance cross-concept, which envisioned a setup with four electric motors—one for each wheel—plus a combustion engine running on carbon-neutral fuel. From a technical standpoint, building a modern Evolution on this platform wouldn’t be an insurmountable challenge for Mitsubishi’s specialists.

The main obstacle to bringing back the icon is financial. The classic Lancer sedan, which served as the base for all previous Evo generations, has long been out of production. Developing an entirely new platform from scratch for a single, albeit legendary, model would entail enormous costs. The project might only be financially viable with the backing of alliance partners Renault and Nissan. Without their support, the business case for producing the car looks questionable at best.

Adding another layer of intrigue is the future of Mitsubishi’s Ralliart division. Today, its activities are mostly limited to styling packages for production models, far from its former racing glory. However, Kaoru Sawase hinted that company leadership has bigger plans for the brand, though specific details remain under wraps. It’s possible that the new Lancer Evolution could become the flagship model to bring Ralliart back into the spotlight. For now, the project officially exists as a “sleeping dream”—one that may one day transform into a high-powered hybrid reality.