Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution gets price cuts up to $8900

By Alborz Fallah
August 23rd, 2012

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The formidable Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X range has scored substantial price reductions and interior technology upgrades as part of the 2013 model year update.

The Evo, as it’s better known, has long struggled to keep up with the sales volume of its arch rival, the Subaru WRX STI, and while there are a number of reasons for this, the Mitsubishi’s performance credentials have certainly never been one of them. The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X carries over the same 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC turbocharged engine that delivers 217kW of power (at 6500 rpm) and 366Nm of torque (at 3500 rpm).

To better compete, Mitsubishi Australia has cut the price of the entry-level Evo X five-speed manual by $5400, bringing it to $56,990 – $3000 less than the price of entry to the WRX STI range. Optioning in the Getrag-built twin-clutch sport shift transmission (TC-SST) will cost you an additional $5000, but you’ll also get an upgraded brake pack and it’s still $5400 less than you were asked to pay before.

The range topping Lancer Evolution MR, which previously carried an excessive price tag of $74,890, has been slashed by $8900, bringing it down to a more affordable $65,990.

Despite the impressive price cuts, Mitsubishi has added equipment across the three variants. The base models gain a new audio system with a 6.1-inch full colour display with iPod/iPhone connectivity as well as Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming capabilities.

The Evolution MR gains the new Mitsubishi Multi Communication System (MMCS), which runs through a 7.0-inch touchscreen and offers sat-nav with 3D mapping.

The base model five-speed manual can be optioned with the $3000 Evolution performance pack (down from $5000), which adds Bilstein front and rear shock absorbers, Brembo two-piece-type front disc brakes, Eibach front and rear springs and 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels.

Mitsubishi Australia currently sells around 10-20 Evo Xs a month, and expects to sell around 120 per year. The Evo X will stick around until at least 2014, when the new Lancer model arrives.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution manufacturer’s list prices:

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 5MT $56,990
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution TC-SST $61,990
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR TC-SST $65,990

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Henry Toussaint

It’s betterly priced now, as the top of the range was about 70k…
- Guest
  
  Betterly? You’re joking right?
  - JJ
    
    Personally I think we need more betterly!
  - Able
    
    Come on, he’s like 13.
    - Noddy of Toyland
      
      No excuse. No remorse.
      - Henry Toussaint
        
        Sorry Everyone, ‘Better Priced’ And yeah i’m 14….and Betterly is not even a word as you all know. I wont Edit that either due to the stupidness of it!
      - http://twitter.com/HornetXR5 JPW
        
        *stupidity of it
  - Henry Toussaint
    
    Thanks you’re so kind !!!!
- James Cortez
  
  Check out the Nort American prices and you’ll realize Mitsubishi rips you off. Oh well all manufacturers downunder.
  - Henry Toussaint
    
    Yeah, especially when cars are over 57k, Stupid Luxury car tax comes with the car…
Noddy of Toyland

The only good car in Mitsubishi’s range…
JJ

Oh… and I don’t like Evo’s.
Kampfer

MR still cost more than IS350. Unless I take my car to track day every weekend I don’t see the point buying EVO over IS350…
- Bluesoup
  
  This is why you purchased an overpriced underdone Lexus instead of real performance sedan! This is why Lexus was popular 2 years ago and consumers now know what a real luxury car is and it is not a Lexus and before you say it it is not Mitsubishi, But least they know how to build a real performance sedan.
  - Kampfer
    
    Overpriced underdone compare to what? Liberty GT? BMW 335? Lexus IS never a “real luxury” car. It’s a junior executives car, same as Benz C and BMW 3. Benz and BMW priced them so high in Australia that make you “think” junior executives car are luxury cars. IS350 bring the it back to a realist level.
    
    On public road in Australia IS350 will keep out/beat EVO 90% of the time, IS350 will beat EVO on most traffic GP as turbo barely kick in before 60km/h. For the same/less money to EVO, IS350 beat EVO on EVERYTHING else expect track day performance.
    
    Most reviewers rated IS350 performance very close to BMW E90 335i, so you going to say the 335i is not a performance sedan?
    - Jober As A Sudge
      
      Yes…IS350 is not a performance sedan!
      - Monk
        
        It’s not intended to be an outright performance car though – it’s pretty snappy still – 5.6secs for 0-100km/h is very respectable.
        
        Evo fanboi – probably used to pick the Evo every time on Sega Rally, right?
      - Jober As A Sudge
        
        IS350 is a great car (have driven one) but it’s not going to beat an EVO as a performance car but is a much better proposition as a daily driver
        As for Sega Rally…yes i did and i rocked!
    - Jerome
      
      Haha how does the turbo not kick in below 60km/h?
      You know cars have gears right?
    - lolnoob
      
      Dear Kampfer, please return to earth soon as you are speakiiiinnnnng shiiiiiiitttt.
    - Bluesoup
      
      Sorry for the confusion either your being sarcastic or just plain onesided the IS350 doesn’t come close to an EVO on any form of perfomance level (on what planet does a turbo start working at 60km/h because on this planet they generally start working @ about 2000rpm.
    - Phil
      
      Wherever the turbo is kicking in on the Evo, it’s doing a far better job of delivering torque than the IS350.
      
      Peak torque in the Evo is at 3500rpm combined with a close ratio manual gearbox.
      Peak torque in the IS350 is a ultra high 4800rpm – and that is further augmented by tall gear ratios and a mandatory auto slushbox.
- DAVIDZ
  
  TOTALLY different market segment, how can u not see that or are you like zyk and trying to be a troll?
  - Kampfer
    
    I call them both mid size performance sedan but in different end of the segment. IS350 is on the premium performance side and EVO on the raw performance side.
    
    Lot of people I know cross shopping between STi and Liberty GT, different between those two Subaru are no less than IS350/EVO.
    
    IS350/EVO are similar size and no big different in everyday performance. As I mention in my 1st post. Unless you do track day weekly, I pick IS350 over EVO for the same price any day.
  - Kampfer
    
    Rather than pointing at other people how about posting something that actually have some meaning?
    
    I find it hard to justify $20k over Ralliart or $40k over the ES on an EVO that have to same cheap interior.
    
    I post in a public forum with my personal opinion, you can disagree with me but don’t say that I’m trolling.
    - Jerome
      
      You are hopeless.
- F1
  
  The IS350 is better than the evo in every way..
  - Phil
    
    Except for performance&handling which is exactly why one would buy a EVO.
    - Guest
      
      And possibly interior room (incl luggage space) as well. There’s a place for IS350 and it’s not in the minds of Evo considerers.
Pedro

“Mitsubishi Australia currently sells around 10-20 Evo Xs a month, and expects to sell around 120 per year.”
Really? Where? I’m calling Mitsu out on this one. I bet currently they are selling 0, none! I live in the biggest city in Australia and rarely ever do I see an EVO X on the road (I do 200-300k’s per day). This car is extremely overpriced and has very poor interior quality (that of a $15,000 Chinese car). Sure it has Recaros but they are cheap and nasty.

With there price cuts it shows how long they’ve been trying to rip off potential customers. Poor sales clearly show this. Now all off a sudden they find a price cut? Who are they kidding! The base model EVO should be no more than $49,999 and also include the performance package as standard! Also it’s 2012 not 2002 GPS should be standard not an option on a vehicle of the price. Wake up Mitsu execs pull your finger out and start doing your job properly! It’s about selling cars, not having them in showrooms collecting dust for well over 12 months!
- DAVIDZ
  
  TLDR
  
  Its a halo model MMA are TOTALLY satisfied with the quantity that they are selling, they dont want it to be like the doofdoof wrx on every corner….fail
- Yetiman
  
  Don’t forget that our currency is stronger than before.
Phil

A inevitable price cut with the new BMW M135i coming in at $68,690.
DAVIDZ

this car will still outcorner nearly EVERY single car sold in oz, its a cut price gtr
Random

I know it’s a high performance driver’s car but it still looks like a run of the mill lancer.
If I was looking at choosing between this and the STi, I’d take the STi. It’s an icon and easily recognised apart from the standard Impreza.
JamesB

It’s quite surprising people buy the STi at all, when the WRX has 95% of its performance at around 2/3 the price. The Evo X is the ultimate 4WD sedan, and it ought to sell as it should now that appropriate price cuts have taken place.
- Guest2
  
  They just dropped the price of the STi by six thousand pounds to 27k in the UK this week. We should expect Subaru Aus to follow suit with a price cut.
Save It For The Track

Not everyone cares about being ‘recognised’ from a standard model. An Evo certainly couldn’t be described as a ‘sleeper’, and pretty much only Toyota drivers would be dumb enough (or disinterested enough) not to notice the difference between a garden variety Lancer and an EVO.
Nick

Did anyone see the Top Gear USA episode where they were raving about the Performance of the US $36K Car.
- Monk
  
  No
Gairst

Anyone who says the Lexus is better than the evo in ANY situation is a complete dumb dumb.
Ghg

My I brother in law bought a evo x brand new I’ve driven it a few times in the twisty mountain roads. One word incredible. It’s performance can be compared to 150k + cars lol at comparing to is350. The speeds the evo can carry through corners is crazy. The is350 wouldnt have a chance on a mountain road against a evo x
Guest

Ouch! Pre-owned EVO X gonna take a battering on resale prices. Hate it when manufacturers initially overpriced their cars, then rolled back prices when sales are sluggish. Really hurts resale prices for early buyers looking to sell their cars.
How is the Lexus IS350 mentioned in the same breath as the EVO? How is a pseudo luxury barge (Lexus) comparable to a weapons grade heat seeking missile? Kinda stupid to say such things! Next to the Nissan GTR, the EVO X is a premier machine made to cover A to B distances in the shortest time possible. The cheap interior is the consequence of pricing the car for the average joe’s as not everyone can afford Ferraris, Porsches & Lamborghinis.
Wile E Coyote

It’s a rally car and looks like one.
There are better road cars for the money.
Josh

I can’t believe this turned into a EVO vs IS350 thread when the 350 wasn’t even mentioned in the article. These cars are both great but are for different buyers. The EVO wins in performance. The IS350 wins in luxury. The only thing that lets the EVO down is its plastic interior. I’ll be interested to know if the XI EVO diesel/hybrid/whatever will be an exciting car worth buying, or if buying the 2013 EXO X, the last year with a petrol engine would be a better idea.
- Monk
  
  2013 350 will rock – diesel EVO confirmed. Watch this space
  - Josh
    
    Why will the 2013 IS350 rock? It will only be getting minor updates. The new model must be coming in 2014. I can’t say I’m a fan of the new grill design Lexus keep showing off. Do you think the diesel EVO will be a winner?
    - Dominique Vøn Hütch
      
      Diesel EVO…hmm happy to be proved wrong by mitsu, but diesel engines are heavier and produce less power generally than petrol engines of similar displacement, I dare say it is purely to do with euro emissions. If you want an Evo buy this generation, I prefer manual – but all reports say that the TC-SST is amazing and is similar to the PDK in the way it makes the car that much faster, granted we’re still only really talking around a track or in a flat out drag but still.
      - Josh
        
        I’m sure the next EVO will be just as fast if not faster than the X. Mitsu will have some tricks up their sleeve. I have a 370Z which I’ll keep for a while. The problem is there’s too many cars I love
DJ

Is the top spec Evo MR for $65,990 drive away / confirmed? Has anyone inquired if this has taken effect yet as my local Mitsubishi dealership wasn’t aware of this price reduction at all?