2017 will be a sad year for automotive enthusiasts the world over. One of Japans most iconic car names, the Mitsubishi Lancer will officially be discontinued this year.

The Lancer brand name is something that seems to refuse to die. According to news reports from several Chinese automotive publications, the Lancer is returning as a China and Taiwan only model. The new car, called the Grand Lancer gets a new design and a slightly updated interior as compared to the older car. The front nose is now reminiscent of the Outlander while the rear gets a very strange design with boomerang-esque tail lamps. All the sporting credentials that even the base model Lancer (and not the EVO only) seemed to have seem to be replaced by a society conforming approach. The interior does get a touchscreen infotainment and a LCD screen for the instrument cluster.

Mitsubishi, the Japanese carmaker, has unveiled the 2015 Lancer Evolution with minor exterior and interior updates. The sedan, which has been discontinued in most markets across the globe except the United States, will be launched only in the US.