When Mitsubishi discontinued the Lancer for the global market in 2017, it marked an end of an era for the brand. It was the long-running compact car that served the automaker since 1973.
The Mitsubishi Lancer is also an icon on rally stages and in Southeast Asia. It has been seven years (and counting) since it was pulled off the global market. Even the Taiwan-made Grand Lancer has ceased production this year.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Fact Check: Did McLaren team boss Zak Brown appear on Wheel of Fortune?
The Lexus ES looks sexy with the Black Line Special Edition package
However, the Mitsubishi Lancer might stage a comeback sometime within this decade. That’s according to a report from Motor1, based on recent trademark filings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Not only that, it is said that it could return as an EV.
It has been reported that the ‘Lancer’ could become a twin of the next-generation Nissan Leaf. It’s already known that Mitsubishi will make its own version of Nissan’s EV, but a name for it has yet to be confirmed. Several publications have pointed out that the ‘new Lancer’ was already shown in Mitsubishi’s future lineup teaser.
Should this be true, it might be Mitsubishi’s first all-new, non-SUV product in over a decade in North America. The last model that fit that description is the Mitsubishi Mirage. Speaking of the Mirage, that’s another product whose future is in limbo. There are still no official statements or any hints that a next-generation model will be made, so it looks like the current gen will keep on rolling until its time is up.
