Mitsubishi sold its final Lancer Evolution in the United States market, and a pristine example just crossed the auction block on Bring a Trailer. The 2015 model year marked the end of a 16-year run for the iconic sport compact that defined a generation of performance enthusiasts.
The tenth-generation Evo X arrived in 2008 and survived until 2015 in America, despite Mitsubishi abandoning the model years earlier in Japan. This particular example represents the absolute last hurrah for a nameplate that once rivaled the Subaru WRX as the gold standard for affordable, turbocharged rally-bred excitement.
Mitsubishi's decision to exit the compact performance segment reflected broader industry trends. Rising safety and emissions regulations made building a sub-$35,000 turbocharged sedan economically difficult. The manufacturer pivoted toward crossovers and SUVs where margins proved healthier. By 2015, the Lancer Evo had become a relic competing against newer WRX generations and the Ford Focus RS.
The final Evo X carried the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 291 horsepower and 308 pound-feet of torque. Super All-Wheel Control remained standard, offering drivers the rally-derived all-wheel-drive system that made the model legendary. Prices hovered around $34,000 for base models, though they'd risen significantly from the original 2003 launch.
Sport compact cars effectively died in the mainstream market after 2015. The WRX soldiered on, but with each generation it drifted further upmarket and away from the raw, visceral experience buyers craved. The Focus RS vanished from American dealerships. Hot Civics and Mazdas filled the gap,