Vehicle Description
PLEASE NOTE THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN SUBMITTED TO BE AUCTIONED ON THE
BRING A TRAILER WEBSITE West Coast Classics are proud to present
the ultimate incarnation of the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer
Evolution "The Evo", and this is the 'Final Edition' model # 6 in
as new condition with under 200 original miles! Collector owned and
stored in a climate controlled garage since new. There have been
ten official versions of the 'Evo" to date, and the designation of
each model is most commonly a Roman numeral. All use two litre
turbocharged inline four-cylinder engines and all-wheel drive
systems. The Evolution was originally intended only for Japanese
markets, but demand on the "gray import" market led the Evolution
series to be offered through Ralliart dealer networks in the United
Kingdom and in various European markets from around 1998.
Mitsubishi decided to export the eighth generation Evolution to the
United States in 2003 after witnessing the success Subaru had in
that market with their long-time direct rival, the Subaru Impreza
WRX STi. Japanese-spec versions of all Evos until the release of
the Evo IX in 2005 were limited by a gentlemen's agreement to
advertise no more than 276HP. However, sources say Mitsubishi had
already been producing cars with more power but had been
underrating the official power outputs in order to be in compliance
with the agreement. Therefore, each subsequent version has
unofficially evolved above the advertised power figures, with the
Japanese-spec Evolution IX reaching an alleged output of around
317HP. Various versions available in other markets, particularly
the UK, have official power outputs up to 440HP.The tenth and final
generation of the Lancer Evolution (Evo X) was launched in Japan in
2007, and overseas markets in 2008. The Evo X was produced for
almost 10 years until it retired in April 2016. The Lancer
Evolution 'Final Edition' was a compact sedan that cost nearly
$40,000 and had no navigation system or backup camera. The sole USB
port is hidden in the glove compartment as an afterthought. The
turbocharged 2.0-liter four is rated at 303 horsepower and delivers
colossal mid-range torque. Each of the five forward gears engages
with the certainty of a guillotine, and the overdrive fifth gear
doesnt slow the engine down much for freeway driving thanks to the
supershort 4.69:1 final-drive ratio. The only way the hydraulically
assisted power steering could be more engaging is if the driver
held the tie-rod ends in his bare hands. This is a full-immersion
automobile; the driver can practically drown in its mechanical
frenzy. Like so many great cars before it, the Evo is awesome
because its a race car. Mitsubishi, consistently confused about
what it wants to be, at one time decided to embrace rallying as a
path to corporate clarity. And in 1987 it built the
four-wheel-drive, turbocharged Galant VR-4 sedan to go hunting. The
iron-block 4G63 2.0-liter engine and its accompanying
four-wheel-drive system were freakishly brilliant, but the Galant
was too large to dominate World Rally Championship. So, in 1992,
Mitsubishi stuffed the Galant VR-4s driveline into the smaller,
agonizingly ordinary Lancer sedan to create the first Evothe
Evolution I. Though it was sold only in Japan, the first Evo was
too good for its legend to stay on the archipelago. With 247
horsepower and a massive intercooler crammed into its nose, it went
on sale shortly after magazines like Sport Compact Car were hitting
newsstands in America. It was the scalded-cat, twerp-monster answer
to the aging, muscle-car orthodoxy of the early 1990s. It was an
anti-style four-door box to cravefrom afar, unattainableand people
born after Woodwards heyday could claim it as the center of their
performance universe. It was a profane digit aimed at Camaros,
Mustangs, Chevelles, and Chargers.As American car freaks made do
with the mechanically similar Diamond-Star (Chrysler, Dodge, Eagle,
Mitsubishi, and Plymouth) coupes and turning the Honda Civic quick,
the Evo legend grew. By the time the Evo II appeared in 1993, the
4G63T was snorting out 256 horsepower, climbing to 266 in 1995 with
the Evo III. Then there was this Finnish guy named Tommi.
Mitsubishis factory Ralliart team had developed the Evo into a
near-perfect rally weapon, with Tommi Mkinen as the trigger. With
an insane instinct for car control, Mkinen used a series of Evo
IIIs, IVs, Vs, and VIs to win the WRC drivers championship for four
straight years, 1996 through 1999. Mkinen could turn an Evo in
mid-flight, carom off berms like pool-table balls, and gain speed
as his cars disintegrated around him. Now the Evo legend was
fortified with achievement. Mitsubishi only won the manufacturers
championship in 1998, but the Evo seemed to be charting an exciting
course for the companys future. As the 21st century arrived, the
Evo legend was massive, and dozens were sneaking into America
through importers. Even Mitsubishi finally got it through its thick
commercial skull that Americans had an Evo appetite. So in 2003,
Mitsu donated several Evo VIIs for Paul Walker to drive in '2 Fast
2 Furious' and finally certified the Evo VIII for sale in
America.With its 271-hp 4G63T, the Evo VIII was raw, brutal, and
punishing in the best possible way. The Evo is not without its
shortcomingsits just that none of them diminishes the ability to
have fun in the car, wrote junior writing drone Daniel Pund in C/Ds
first comparo between the Evo and its perennial archenemy, the
Subaru Impreza WRX STi.Through all the microsliced variations of
Evo that Mitsu has served since thenRS, MR, GSR, SE, and various
FQsthe character of the car has remained intact. Its still a car
that generates analog sensations rather than digital simulations,
and that is ridiculously fast.The 'Final Edition' plays like a
best-of compilation. Based on the current Evolution X GSR, the
hood, front fenders, and roof are aluminum and the 2.0-liter 4B11
turbocharged four has been pumped up 12 horsepower to 303HP. The
only transmission is that quaint five-speed. The front seats arent
Recaros, which says it all. The suspension features Eibach springs
and Bilstein shocks, and those are big Brembo brakes behind each
18-inch Enkei wheel. In compensation for the mechanical mayhem and
coccyx-slapping ride, the Final Edition is the quickest Evo weve
ever tested, running to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Launching takes a
commitment to clutch abuse and faith that 245/40R-18 Yokohama Advan
tires stick as tenaciously in a straight line as they do in
corners.This is an exceptionally easy and satisfying car to go
ridiculously fast in. Theres always power available, the steering
is instinctive and quick, and the brakes keep working no matter how
much abuse is thrown their way. The Evo X had been around since
2007, but its this final edition that brings back the charisma of
its 4G63T-powered ancestors. In late March 2014, it was revealed
that production of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution would end after
the 2015 model year. The company planned on concentrating its
efforts on crossover vehicles and electric vehicles instead. This
was confirmed by Mitsubishi spokeswoman Namie Koketsu, who issued a
press release stating "Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to
design a successor with the current concept, as a high-performance
four-wheel drive gasoline-powered sedan. Mitsubishi Motors will
explore the possibilities of high-performance models that
incorporate electric vehicle technology." and so in 2015 Mitsubishi
imported only 1,600 of these 'Final Edition' Evos. End of an icon.
You will look long and hard to find any Final Edition with these
kind of miles and this must surely be the ultimate example of the
legendary 'Evo'. The best and numbered 'Final Editi...for more
information please contact the seller.
