Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Edition lands from $53,700

It doesn’t get any more resolute than this – the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Edition will close off 10 generations and 23 years of rally-bred sports sedan.

It also doesn’t get any more powerful and torquey, because the Lancer Evo X Final Edition arrives with 226kW and 414Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Increases of 9kW/48Nm are partially down to sodium-filled valves that increase cooling efficiency, permitting higher outputs. We’ve achieved a 5.59-second 0-100km/h in the Evo X manual that launched locally in 2008, so expect a low-five-sec time for the Evo X FE.

Mitsubishi has taken its time boosting the performance of the Evo X, saving the gruntiest-ever version right until the fat lady warbled out a tune. With an old-school five-speed manual transmission the only choice, the $53,700 Evo X FE costs $710 more than the regular version.

Only 150 units will make the trip across from Japan, individually numbered from AU0001 to AU0150. Other unique distinguishers for this farewell special include Final Edition exterior badging/colour screen start-up/floormats and two-tone exterior colours (white, grey, red with black roof; or black with gloss black roof).

Equipment that seven years ago was reserved for the $72,000 Evo X MR variant is now standard on the Evo X FE, including 18-inch BBS wheels, Brembo brakes, Bilstein shocks with Eibach springs and leather-trimmed Recaro buckets.

Seven years is a long time for even a fine sporting player like the Lancer Evo X to compete, however, and the fresh Ford Focus RS and new-ish Subaru WRX STi means this Mitsubishi is leaving the game under duress.

For fans of the Lancer Evo X that won’t matter, and the powered-up Final Edition is likely to boost an already brilliant corner-carver. Mitsubishi says its all-wheel drive technology will live on in future sporty SUV models, but it’s unlikely to be the same for the die-hards.

“While the Lancer Evolution has reached full maturity as a high-performance four-wheel drive sedan, Mitsubishi Motors will continue to apply technology honed from the Lancer Evolution like Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) four wheel drive system, to other vehicles, as with Outlander PHEV,” commented Mitsubishi Motors executive director marketing Tony Principe.

“The Lancer Evolution is integral to Mitsubishi’s notable motoring heritage and we are proud to round off this chapter with such a fitting tribute”.