With the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, fans had to say goodbye to a JDM
icon in style and racing. Mitsubishi's unique and memorable sports car had a unique history that began with being exclusive to Japan before spreading across the globe. While fans may miss it, the last edition of the Evo, as it is commonly known, was one to remember.
Besides displaying the signature rally car style that made the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo famous, Car and Driver
states that it produced an impressive 303 horsepower. However, to truly understand the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, we need to go back to its humble beginnings. Early Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models gained fame in racing
According to Car and Driver,
the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution debuted in 1992 and started as almost a backup plan. Mitsubishi built the Galant to break into rally racing, but its large size held it back from the competition. Instead of giving up on the Galant, Mitsubishi combined the engineering of the Galant with the body of their Lancer sedan to create the Evo.
Early generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution gained a reputation for their fun handling, but drivers outside of Japan didn't get to drive them. The legend of the Evo only continued to grow, though. Its performance in the World Rally Championship contributed a great deal to this.
During the 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 seasons, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution won the WRC championship. The Evo's championship-winning driver, Tommi Mäkinen made the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution into a legend.
When did the Evo finally come to the United States?
Even though Tommi Mäkinen's WRC run made the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo into a household name, it would still take a few years for Mitsubishi to bring it to the States. The Evo had one last big break before its American debut, as Paul Walker drove an Evo in 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003.
The first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution to be sold in the United States was the Evo VIII, a sports car that produced 271 horsepower. It was known for its aggressive speed and overall fun driving experience. The Evo was essentially a street-legal rally car, and while it wasn't for everyone, the fans loved it.
Subsequent generations of the Evo included new technology and slight variations, but the overall design and experience of the car stayed the same. There was no reason to fix the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution if it wasn't broken.
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The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was the end of an era
This takes us to the final generation of the Lancer Evolution, the Evo X. Car and Driver described the Evo X as a sports car made up of some of the best features of previous Evo models. Mitsubishi first introduced the Evo X in 2007, and this generation continued until the final model year in 2015.
The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo went out with a bang as a final model year. Continuing the tradition of power, this Evo could get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds. Why did Mitsubishi end the production of the Evo then?
The 2015 Evo did not fail spectacularly, but by this time the Evo was not a new sports car. Its days of dominating the World Rally Championship were long behind it, and newer sports cars had been introduced. It was simply time for Mitsubishi to focus on other cars.
MORE: Paul Walker Made This 2000s Car Iconic
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