Lancer Evo X Final Edition due for Oz

Fans of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution may weep with both joy and sadness – the rally-sports sedan is going out of production, but 150 examples of the Final Edition are coming here.

As the name indicates, the Final Edition will make up the last 1000 units built of the Lancer Evolution X and what is all but confirmed to be the last all-wheel drive sports sedan Mitsubishi builds.

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Capping off 10 generations over 23 years, the Final Edition gets a retuned engine management system and new Natrium-injected valves to boost the outputs of its 2.0-litre twin-scroll four-cylinder turbo to 230kW (at 6500rpm) and 429Nm (at 3500rpm).

In Australia, the Lancer Evo is detuned to 217kW and 366Nm, and it is as-yet unclear whether the big output gains will make it across the ocean. Pleasing the purists, no doubt, is the sole availability of a five-speed manual transmission.

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The Final Edition looks similar to the range-topping Lancer Evo MR that retails locally for $58,990 plus on-road costs. However you can only now get the manual in the base Evo for $52,990 plus orc. In essence, then, the Final Edition is a powered-up manual version of the range topper sold in our country.

Mitsubishi engineers have also tweaked the Bilstein shocks and Eibach damper package standard on the MR. The FE gets the same BBS 18-inch wheels and Brembo ventilated disc braking package too, with leather-trimmed Recaro sports seats inside.

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The main change? A numbered Final Edition plaque ahead of the transmission lever, another badge on the bootlid and a two-tone roof.

But if that big, bad-boy 429Nm output comes to Australia when the car arrives this fourth quarter – c’mon Mitsubishi, you really have to for a fitting send-off – then the all-wheel drive system will get as much a workout as the cheek muscles of Evo fans. At least until the brand confirms an SUV Evo replacement as it is expected to do…