Mitsubishi says goodbye to the Lancer Evo
This is the final year of production for roadgoing rally car.
Last year for Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution,
After 23 years and 10 generations, Mitsubishi’s legendary Lancer Evolution is fading into the sunset.
This is the final year of production for the road-going rally car, made famous by the Fast and
Furious films, World Rally Championship wins and a long-running rivalry with the Subaru WRX STI.
While the Lancer compact sedan that the Evolution is based on will return in 2016 after a much-needed revamp, the Evo trim level will not.
In addition to existing 2015 models on dealer lots, Mitsubishi says 1,600 Final Edition cars will be sold in the U.S. They’ll feature numbered plaques, a boost to 303 horsepower and unique exterior accents.
I didn’t get a chance to drive a Final Edition, but I did spend some time with one of the last brand-new Evos ever sold. In base GSR trim, the Octane Blue model I drove sold for just under $35,000, which is an absolute steal for a car with 291 horsepower and Mitsubishi’s Super AllWheel Control (S-AWC) system — a setup that combines full-time 4-wheel drive with a host of electronics to keep the car heading nose-first on the road in even the most extreme conditions.
However, $35,000 is also a lot of money for a souped-up economy car that hasn’t seen an update in eight years. Though the exterior has aged fairly well, the Lancer’s flimsy interior and aged infotainment system betray its Lancer roots.
The robust 5-speed manual transmission (a twin-clutch 6speed automatic is available) has close gear ratios designed for racing, but the lack of a sixth gear makes for lousy highway fuel economy of just 23 mpg. Combine that with a tiny tank, and you’ll be filling up frequently — with premium.
And even though the car I drove had been meticulously maintained during its time in an automotive press fleet, the car’s intrinsic squeaks and rattles were a constant companion. Not that you’d notice: The tires are under- standably harsh, wind noise is ever-present, and the exhaust makes the whole car feel like someone put a quarter in a Magic Fingers bed.
There’s one more disappointment: The Evo used to come with Recaro sport seats, but 2015 models now feature standard Lancer front seats due to updated safety regulations. Unfortunately, the stock seats lack enough support for a long highway slog, let alone time spent on the track.
For Evo aficionados, though, none of those complaints matter. Yes, it’s loud, harsh and garish, but the rewards it offers are immense.
Unlike more modern performance cars that need their wild sides coaxed out by eager drivers, the Evo begs to be driven hard. It grips any road surface like a needle on a record, and the heavy, short-throw shifter is made for heel-and-toe shifting on a hillclimb, not slipping subtly into third while commuting to work.
The Evo nameplate may someday return — rumors abound that a hybrid electric drive train may replace the current Evo’s turbocharged 4-cylinder engine — but for now, Mitsubishi is concentrating on affordable cars for everyday use.
In addition to the updated Lancer, the Japanese company currently sells the inexpensive Mirage subcompact, plus the pleasant Outlander Sport and recently redesigned Outlander crossovers.
Mitsubishi’s 2016 lineup might be the best the company has offered in the U.S. since the heady days of the 3000GT, Montero, Diamante and Eclipse.
New cars may help the automaker gain much-needed market share, but absent an Evo, Mitsubishi has lost a bit of its soul.