Last and most powerful Mitsubishi Evo in ‘limited numbers’ for NZ

The most powerful street-legal Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution sedan ever produced will go on sale in limited numbers in New Zealand this year. It has just been unveiled publicly in Tokyo as the ‘Evolution X Final Concept’ (above) and Mitsubishi has confirmed it will be the last Evo model it will build. Mitsubishi Motors NZ marketing head Daniel Cook said the final edition Evo will be here later in the year. “Numbers will be strictly limited,” he said. No word on price either.

Reports in the US say worldwide production will be limited to around 2500 models, each costing around $US70,000 ($NZ90,000). The last in a series of go-faster sedans that began in 1992 with the Evo I, the final edition will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine generating around 350kW – or roughly 120W more than the stock Evo X – and driving all four wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox and Mitsubishi’s advanced torque vectoring system. The four-cylinder MIVEC unit has been developed by Japanese tuning house HKS. Go-faster bits and pieces also include advanced intake, exhaust, cooling, and fuel delivery systems, all managed by a special Engine Control Unit (ECU). HKS was formed in 1973 to design and build high-performance engines and components that original Japanese equipment manufacturers left alone. The final evolution started out as the standard all-wheel-drive GSR Lancer. HKS has also added an adjustable Hipermax Max4 SP suspension and 19-inch lightweight alloys wrapped in Yokohama tyres.

Inside, the final edition is pretty much standard Evo X, apart from contrasting red stitching on the trim. Outside, it’s pretty much all matte black except for a black gloss roof and rear spoiler.