Enthusiasts have spent the last decade mourning the death of the Lancer Evolution, desperately waiting for the brand to deliver a proper successor. The community has been holding its breath ever since a performance revival was teased by executives years ago. While those original rally-bred sedans defined an entire generation of car culture, the shifting industry forced the automaker to completely pivot away from performance vehicles.
However, as we previously covered, that long-awaited electric successor is finally gearing up to hit the market. The upcoming ASX VR-e GSR packs a devastating dual-motor powertrain generating 459 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of instant torque. That massive output easily outguns any factory Lancer Evo ever produced. This translates to serious straight-line speed, allowing the crossover to rip from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 3.8 seconds.
Mitsubishi
It’s Been a While Coming For Mitsubishi
While the standard GSR is already a monster on paper, Mitsubishi Australia is completely open to producing a much wilder version of the ASX VR-e. According to a recent Carsales report, regional executives explicitly confirmed that a dedicated Evo-style variant is absolutely on the table. The local division is actively studying the market potential, looking for ways to push the platform further into dedicated performance territory.
The only catch is that the current GSR trim has to prove itself as a legitimate sales success first. If buyers actually show up for the 459-horsepower version, we could see a flagship model featuring massive brakes, aggressive aero kits, and potentially even more power. If they successfully pull this off, an official VR-e Evo will easily put the coolest fan concepts floating around the internet to absolute shame.
Mitsubishi
Coming To Terms With an Electric Evo
While traditional purists might immediately reject the idea of an electric crossover wearing the sacred Evo badge, the performance math certainly checks out. The original Evolution ethos was never strictly about a manual transmission or a loud gas engine. It was always about packing brutal, rally-bred technology and highly advanced all-wheel-drive systems into an unassuming family vehicle. The powertrain changed, but the fundamental engineering philosophy remains intact.
The ASX VR-e is already launching with a direct nod to the iconic Galant VR-4, proving the company still understands the weight these legacy badges carry. A 500-plus horsepower electric monster featuring active torque vectoring is exactly the kind of unhinged engineering this brand desperately needs. If buying the current GSR is what it takes to finally get Mitsubishi back into the hardcore performance game, enthusiasts need to start voting with their wallets.
Â
