During a recent online Q & A session with Don Swearingen, executive vice president at Mitsubishi Motors North America, Swearingen confirmed that a US-exclusive final edition of the sport sedan is on its way next June.
We are now into the tenth generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and we at Winding Road consider it to be an excellent driver’s car. We’ve driven on the road, on the track, and in the snow, and its combination of power and handling make it terrifically engaging and fun to drive.
We recently had the opportunity to drive the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, courtesy of Jim Russell Racing Drivers School. Our instructor was the hilarious and talented Paul Gerrard, who, besides knowing a thing or two about bending an Evo around a track, is able to eloquently and anecdotally describe the high-cost addiction that is racing (if you meet him, ask him about the driver who funded his automotive lust by robbing banks). Your author, never having driven a track on par with the famed course formerly known as Sears Point, was understandably thrilled at this opportunity.
We just took delivery of a slightly frostbitten Evo today. We will see just how enjoyable 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque is on our freshly snow covered roads. This is the MR Touring and is supposed to be more tolerable on a day to day basis compared to the other members of the Evolution family.