12:51 pm, November 20, 2013
MITSUBISHI dealers are desperate to get their hands on as many special edition Evo models as they can get, says the UK MD.
Boss Lance Bradley recently tweeted that he was thinking of bringing in a small run of Evo special edition models next year – and ever since dealers have been hassling him for more details.
Speaking to Car Dealer at the Tokyo Motor Show, Bradley revealed that if he can negotiate a decent deal with the MMC, he may bring as many as 100 into the UK next year.
‘We originally planned to bring in 40 as it’s Mitsubishi’s 40th anniversary in the UK next year,’ explained Bradley. ‘But since then I’ve had a number of dealers calling me to say they’ve already got orders.
‘Our newest dealer in Peterborough, who ditched Subaru to join Mitsubishi, told me he has 10 orders already and could have 20 if the price is right!’
That dealer had only been a Mitsubishi franchise for a month, but Bradley said his database of Subaru buyers made for ripe pickings.
The biggest stumbling block at the moment, says Bradley, is the price of the car – but if he can secure a decent deal he’ll order more than the original plan.
All will come to the UK with a standard 280bhp and when they arrive Mitsubishi UK may decide to boost their power further. The FQ400 kit was always installed when the Evo models arrived here.
‘An FQ400 was £50k which is quite a lot, so it depends what we secure them for as to what we do with them when they arrive,’ said Bradley. ‘A 350bhp version for around £35k may sell more.
‘In the real world they were all pretty quick anyway. I know it’s exciting to have a car that’ll for 60mph in 3.5 seconds but in real world driving 350bhp is just as quick.’
The Evo 10 was taken off sale around a year ago as market conditions dictated slow sales and depressed interest. It’s extremely unusual for a car to make a come back in exactly the same guise – but if any car can do it, it’s this Evo.
‘It still has a cult following and for many the chance to have one of the last of the lot will be very tempting,’ explained Bradley.
A replacement model has been discussed by the manufacturer, but it’s a long way off yet. Bradley explained it could use the manufacturer’s pioneering plug-in hybrid technology too, meaning next year’s batch of Evos could be the last chance for purists to own an ‘analogue’ version.
‘A PHEV Lancer Evolution is entirely possible – a performance hybrid is not out of the question in the future,’ he explained. ‘But you’re right this could be buyers’ last chance to get a traditional internal combustion engine model.’
Dealers bet get those deposits in fast then…
