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Mitsubishi ready to pull Evo's plug

We have all manner of unofficial metrics in the auto industry. No doubt you've heard some of them, like the butt dyno. Another popular measure is the smiles-per-dollar index - how entertaining is a car versus its price. Cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Scion FR-S and Mini Cooper S, for example, score quite highly, while vehicles like the BMW M5 or Audi RS7 are great to drive, but score lower because of their much higher price tags. For a long time, the king of the smiles-per-dollar index was arguably the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, which blended hair-raising thrills for the price of a well-equipped Ford Fusion Titanium.
Now, it looks like the Evo will need to hand over its title, as this generation of the rally-derived rocket is likely to be Mitsubishi's last - at least for a while. There's been no mention of just when production of the current car will end, so if you're in the market, we'd suggest trying to find a dealer with inventory ASAP. The news comes from the automaker's Japanese mothership, which says the brand will instead focus on utility vehicles and EVs. While there are no direct plans for a successor, an Evo XI as it were, the door remains open for a different kind of beast, according to Mitsubishi.
"Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to design a successor with the current concept, as a high-performance four-wheel drive gasoline-powered sedan," said Namie Koketsu, a spokesperson for Mitsubishi, according to Automotive News. "Mitsubishi Motors will explore the possibilities of high-performance models that incorporate electric vehicle technology."

What $40k worth of lights and chrome does to a JDM truck

Japan's dekotora truck culture allows big rig drivers to express themselves by decking out their vehicles with a plethora of blinking lights and shining chrome. While we occasionally catch glimpses of this automotive lifestyle in the US, this short documentary called Dekotora, Another Roadside Attraction takes viewers inside the dekotora truck scene with someone who actually drives one everyday. Takuya Sosogi carries fresh vegetables between markets and claims he has covered the over 2 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) in his dekotora. He also has spent around 5 million yen ($46,200 at current rates) to make his Mitsubishi Fuso light up the night. At this point the truck has become among the most important parts of his life. Sosogi believes that taking good care of his rig is akin to looking after himself. Despite the blinking lights and polished metal, Sosogi's truck is almost subdued by dekotora standards. Some of the rigs feature lighting rigs that rise high into the sky and sport crazy body modifications. Watch the entire documentary above for a look into this fascinating Japanese automotive subculture. Related Video:

Mitsubishi headed back to Rebelle Rally with new Outlander, retro wrap

Just like Ford, Mitsubishi will again compete in the 2021 Rebelle Rally. This year, the competition car will be the redesigned 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. However, it takes its color scheme from a far older Mitsubishi racing vehicle – one that's a perfect tribute for the all-women Rebelle Rally. The Outlander's flashy red, gold and black wrap is inspired by a 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero entered in that year's Paris-Dakar Rally. The Pajero won thanks to driver Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first (and so far only) woman ever to win the grueling off-road endurance race. So creating a tribute of her Pajero for an all-women off-road rally seems like a superb way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her victory. Mitsubishi hasn't given many more details about the Outlander, but based on its past entries, it should be mostly stock. It will also likely compete in the X-Cross class for crossovers. This year's Rebelle Rally will run from October 7 to October 16. The route is estimated at around 2,000 miles across California and Nevada. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.