File this under hard to believe. According to a recent report Mitsubishi has scrapped plans to build a hybrid EVO in favor of a diesel hybrid EVO.
AutoCar is reporting that a gasoline hybrid project based on the PX-MiEV concept was recently junked in favor of this new direction for the EVO XI. Using a torquey diesel powerplant mated to even more torque provided by an electric motor, the EVO XI would provide plenty of grunt, although the switch to a diesel option would likely remove it from competition use in motorsports and would most certainly kill the car’s following in North America. In fact, if Mitsubishi does decide to go the hybrid diesel route there’s a good chance they could cut the model altogether from Mitsu’s U.S. lineup, opting instead for more of a Ralliart pseudo-high-performance model to fill its shoes.