Goodbye and good riddance It's about time they left. They've been making ricer junk for years, and I can't stand the sight of those fugly Lancers or Evos.

Bummer, and I was looking forward to when the Evo X came out. That looks promising. Adam.

I respect the role played by the Eclipse and its DSM ilk in the proliferation of affordable performance via endless upgrade accessibility. Maybe for that reason, I don't blame it for being a central player in the 2 Fast 2 Dubious stickers-paint-neon-spoiler-soupcan movement. However, I think we can all agree that the BSA needs to come up with some name for its younger, already hazeable ranks than a homonym for "we blow."

Even if they leave, they will be back some time. In Japan they see Mitsubishis as inferior cars compared to Toytota, Nissan, Honda etc. but they sell. They are a superpower in offroad stuff, and a major player in cargo vehicles and their SUVs are selling too. Mitsubishi Colt is selling good in Europe too, so they will be back and when that time comes Corydorf will be a sadder person. :D

Snozberries. It's about time that the mighty diamond brand finally decided to stop making shit and stick to mediocre flat tube TVs. So sad that there won't be another 37 versions of the Lancer though. Man those cars are great... [/sarcasm]

I really think, if they leave, and admit defeat in the US, they're admitting defeat in the greater world auto market. Selling cars does not equal profit, nor doing well. Simply becuase a company has one or two cars that sell well in one or two markets will not keep them afloat. Mitsu should stick to making second-rate electronics, not cars.

Meanwhile, there's a big assembly plant in Centrral Illinois whose future (& the jobs therein) is in doubt. Any guesses what happens there?

The Starion would save their bacon. Everyone needs a Starion.

You know what else would work: designs that don't look like a bag of beat up a$$holes and interior plastics that don't resemble the finest that fisher price has to offer.

They are nuts... I could turn them around in five minutes -- The top-shelf Diamonte gets an EVO mill and AWD. The top Eclipse -- same thing. The EVOs come in Eurospec, all the way up to 400 hp. No more three pointed stars on the snout of any cars, and make a totally rad small truck. Crib from the OG Nissan hardbody. Drop all small SUVs, as no one wants any. Then, sell some of the snorkel-equipted Eruo-spec off-roaders here. Bring back the Starion, and more importantly, the 3000GT, only running all EVO internals and pumping out 400 HP. next!

In Japan the little Mitsus are definitely in the disposable girl-car camp. But the Diamanti was really seen as upscale. They are seen as offering a full range of vehicles. Now a Toyota -- well those are seen as being as basically being cars for poor people from the suburbs or the country. That's why Toyota makes the Crown. And Hondas? Well those are for geeks.

It really is sad to say this but the new lancers are crap. Basically they are disposable junk. I owned many Mitsis in the past including an evo 2 and 4 and Pajero and I have to say they were nice to drive and the evo interior was also quite nice. But the latest north american offerings suck ass. Mitsi will take quite a hit for pulling out of NA market and this will hurt them in the pocket book and in the perception area as well. Which one will be longer lasting remains to be seen. They definitely need to step back and re-examine the car market.

Seriously. The Starion must return like the prodigal son it is.

This is all because they don't sell the Evo in Canada. Idiots.

Davey, I'm gonna make you a Lego Starion just because I have no job and nothing to do and you're in lurve with it.

I remember this kid down the block from me had a Starion when i was much younger. He was a douche though. That doesn't sway my opinion of how cool the Starion was. I dunno if the Starion name has enough star (heh heh) power to bring Mitsu back. The previous Galant was their breadwinner, now no one cares about it. The Diamante from two generations ago was about as beautiful as a Japanese sedan was going to get and the previous gen Eclipse? Sure it was a girl car, but it was good-looking. I love the japanese-car haters coming out and trolling anytime something negative comes out about a foreign car maker. I'm surprised they don't just pop in and yell "MUSTANG!!!!" every few minutes.

I like Mitsu's design language almost as much as Mazda's. I'd be kind of sad if they left, but it's probably nostalgia talking since I owned a very fun '97 Eagle Talon TSi AWD ('Talon; the cheaper Eclipse'). It's a good thing I got the used car warranty though; many second generation DSM's had crankwalk, and mine did to. Got the shortblock minus the heads replaced, but problems cropped up two years later. So quality, not so much. Blast to drive though.

With the Come-here-o and Challenger on the horizon Mitsu would have a good contender for the rear drive crowd with a reborn Starion. I've owned an EVO, still own an 87 Starion ESI-R, and they are two completely different rides, each good in their own way. America needs a cheap, powerful, fun-to-drive rear drive turbocharged monster. Mitsu should absolutley bring back the Starion.

Hey, the Brat saved Subie (at least in my fantasy it did), so why not the Starionamino? http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b307/inkahntrol/starion_...

Dude, Danny. Maybe Primedia could save themselves by starting Starionamino High Performance.

The Starion ESI-R remains one of my favorite cars. I have spent many hours looking on Autotrader.com looking for one. But it would have to be in Tahoe Blue, and with a standard. Before I made the wise decision to get an Integra, there was a Gas station in town that was selling exactly this car. And one with very little rust! It was somewhat cramped inside though, but did it have great acceleration! I am also still looking for any scale models of the ESI-R. As to the new Eclipse, fantastic looking, except for its rather pronounced avoir de pois

"Dude, Danny. Maybe Primedia could save themselves by starting Starionamino High Performance." EXACTLY the look I was going for!

John just called the Eclipse a fatso! *i googled it.