Mitsubishi ends Lancer Evolution production with ‘Final Edition’ model

It’s been official for some time, but the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution really is going away, and Mitsu Canada is celebrating its flagship car’s long run by importing 350 examples of a Final Edition model for the 2015 model year.

Based on the GSR Premium trim, the Final Edition will come with all of that car’s goodies–Brembo brakes, Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs, 18-inch BBS wheels, large (understatement of the year) rear spoiler, power sunroof, Recaro seats in leather/suede, 710-watt stereo, automatic xenon headlights, intelligent keyless entry, and rain-sensing wipers–plus a serial number plate on the console, a “Final Edition” animation in the trip computer display, and special badging.

But that’s not all!

The Final Edition’s 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gets heat-reducing, sodium-filled valves that allowed engineers to squeeze another 12 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque from it, for totals of 303 hp and 305 lb-ft. These Final Edition cars all come with the five-speed manual transmission offered in the GSR. Naturally, all are all-wheel drive, and benefit from Mitsu’s active centre differential, yaw control, and drive mode selector. We’d have liked to see Mitsu stick the trick self-shifter in these cars, as it’s well-suited to this car’s monster motor.

Mitsu is pricing the Evo’s last hurrah at $49,498, which works out to a pricey $2,500 for 12 horses and some badging; an Evo GSR fitted with the Handling and Premium packages that add all the stuff listed up top would normally go for $46,998. Mitsu Canada told us there are still other Evos in inventory, but the special edition models are the only ones being produced now. Final Edition cars go on sale across Canada this month.