After much consideration, we are sure, Mitsubishi have decided to discontinue the Lancer EVO.
The Lancer EVO has been the company’s most iconic set of wheels in the sedan space, gaining immense popularity from the World Rally scene and letting people have as close a feel of a competition-spec race car as possible. From the first EVO to the EVO X, which delivered 295 PS from its 2.0-litre four, there have been various states of tune, including a limited number FQ400 with 405 PS. Now, though, Mitsubishi plan to have the best possible send-off for the Lancer: a Final Edition. And not just another 300-400 PS number.
Mitsubishi and HKS have worked together to fettle with the engine and turbochargers. What that means is, we have a new name at the top of the 2.0-litre four-pot power chain. The first was Mercedes-AMG with 360 PS, then Volkswagen with the 400-PS Golf R, Audi with the 420-PS TT S and then Volvo with the 450-PS supercharged-twin-turbo four, and Mazda with their 450-PS 2.0-litre Wankel rotary in the barely-seen Furai. So where do Mitsubishi stand? The number is 480 PS – the same as the old Porsche 911 Turbo! Add four-wheel drive and a lot of torque and you just know that Mitsubishi have given the world a Lancer EVO no one would ever forget.
The Lancer EVO X, dare we say, like the BMW M cars, gives hope to the family man with an unquenched thirst for speed and power, to go ahead and buy that four-door, five-seater saloon car his wife wants him to buy for the kids and dog, but yet, not have to compromise on performance, or the aforementioned speed. Now, those Recaro bucket seats may be a bit too much for the Mrs, but they’re their, and they’re always very supportive.
If you think about it, this is straight out of Need For Speed. Take a Lancer EVO, bump up the power with HKS turbochargers and kit out the car. For those genuinely interested, the prospect just got very, very real!
Story: Jim Gorde
Image Courtesy: Electronic Arts / Need For Speed Underground 2
