AIMS: EVO X heads added import emphasis

Mitsubishi will go head-to-head against Subaru with its new Evo X launching a two-pronged attack when the hot rally-inspired all-wheel drive sedan arrives in the second quarter of 2008.

The new Evo had its worldwide motorshow debut in Sydney this week following its launch in Japan earlier in October. Like the Subaru WRX STi, which is due to land in Australia about the same time, Mitsubishi will offer the new Lancer based Evo in GSR and harder edged MR versions.

Both will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that in international press material has been quoted as producing 213kW and 407Nm although exactly what specific outputs we will get in Australia remains to be seen.

The unveiling of the Evo follows the launch of the new Lancer sedan that should both see the fortunes of Mitsubishi continue to rise. According to Mitsubishi CEO Robert McEniry, the brand is the fastest growing in the top eight with total sales to the end of September being 21 per cent ahead of the same period last year with a tally of 48,565.

However none of this increase has been on the back of the locally built 380 which is down nearly 15 per cent recording just 8170 sales to the end of September.

McEniry says he expects to build about 10,000 cars at the company's Tonsley Park facility this year and insists that it remains viable at that rate. But the growing part of Mitsubishi's portfolio is obviously its imported products but that doesn't mean its about to lose its Australian identity.

With that in mind the company also used the Sydney motor show to announce a multi-million dollar partnership to provide vehicles and support for the Australian Olympic Team. The sponsorship runs for the next five years covering the Beijing and London summer games and the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

Cue Advance Australia Fair!