Skip to main content

Mitsubishi’s Lancer is going away, and it’s not coming back anytime soon

Mitsubishi has confirmed the slow-selling Lancer is not long for this world. The rally-bred Evolution model was deep-sixed two years ago, and production of the standard sedan (pictured) is scheduled to end in August.

Don Swearingen, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Mitsubishi’s North American division, told Motor1 that there are no immediate plans to launch another compact sedan on the United States market. Lancer sales are dropping at an alarming rate in spite of a recent update, and the company has previously made it clear that it wants to focus its resources on developing a full line of crossovers and SUVs. Sedan sales are declining all around the globe, which makes it even more difficult for the brand to justify spending money on bringing a new Lancer to the market.

Recommended Videos

A separate report finds Mitsubishi will introduce a brand-new compact crossover during this year’s edition of the Geneva Auto Show. The yet-unnamed model will draw inspiration from the XR-PHEV concept shown in Los Angeles three years ago, and it will occupy the Lancer’s spot in the company’s portfolio. Boldly- tyled, it will slot between the Outlander Sport — the brand’s smallest soft-roader — and the Outlander.

The new crossover is widely expected to spawn a hot-rodded, Evolution-badged model equipped with a powerful gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Two electric motors fed by a lithium-ion battery pack will work with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, giving the crossover a Jekyll and Hyde personality. On one hand, it’ll be capable of driving on electricity alone for relatively short distances. On the other hand, the motors will provide a significant boost in power when the pace picks up.

The exception to Mitsubishi’s light truck-only rule is the tiny Mirage. “Our customers love the product,” said Swearingen in an interview with Motor1. The entry-level model received significant updates for the 2017 model year, and a second-generation model will make its debut before the end of the decade.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more
Gemini AI coming to cars as Android Automotive update suggests it’s due soon
The 6.8-inch Pioneer digital media receiver installed in a vehicle's dashboard.

Google appears to be getting ready to sends its Gemini AI into cars through an Android Automotive update.

This would make sense as Android Automotive already uses Google's Assistant to help with those much-needed in-car hands-free requests.

Read more
Watch from the passenger seat as the new Porsche 911 GT3 sets a record at the Nürburgring
911 GT3 with Weissach Package (Manual Transmission), Nürburgring Nordschleife 2025, Porsche AG

If you've ever wanted to race at top speeds around one of the most iconic racetracks in the world, then now is your chance. A new Porsche 911 GT3 just set a record for the fastest time around the Nürburgring in a road car with a manual transmission, knocking almost 10 seconds off the previous best time. And Porsche has released a video of the run filmed from the cockpit, so you can experience the thrills for yourself.

The record was set by legendary driver and Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel of a 911 GT3 with the Weissach package, setting a time of 6:56.294. That's 9.5 seconds ahead of the previous record set by the Dodge Viper ACR in 2017 -- though there's some math involved in these time calculations as the track was reconfigured in 2019.

Read more