VIII IS NOT ENOUGH
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Sat, Jun 26, 2004
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
Alien spaceship? No, it's the Tarmac Spyder concept car
VIII IS NOT ENOUGH
Mitsubishi Needs More Than the EVO VIII to Stay Alive in the USA Following the announcement by controlling shareholder DaimlerChysler that it is withdrawing future financial support to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the manufacturer then announced that Mitsubishi CEO Rolf Eckrodt has resigned from the company. The development is the latest in a series of set-backs for the ailing automaker, not the least of which is disappointing sales in North America and losing nearly $500 million after approving credit to buyers who didn't repay their loans.
The predicament is reminiscent of the situation that Nissan found itself in a few years back. Nissan tried several moves to counter its financial difficulties, including some very clever advertising. In the end, it boiled down to one factor: Product.
Outside of the Lancer Evolution VIII, and to a lesser extent, the torquey Lancer Ralliart, Mitsubishi doesn't give me a compelling reason to buy their vehicles. Their interiors, which (more often than not) look like they're inspired by alien spaceships or ghetto blasters, leave me cold. Why, for instance, they use three different grain patterns of vinyl plastic, is beyond me. Even the top-of-the-line Galant GTS has some strikingly cheap accents, such as the lack of a trunk lid liner.
If Mitsubishi is to turn itself around, it needs to go beyond alien spaceships and anime cartoons for inspiration. The EVO VIII is a great car, but it's not enough.
- Roy Nakano
