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| Photo Credit: Mitsubishi Motors North America |
At noontime eastern time on September 15th, a 1600th and final vehicle in Mitsubishi Motor's performance lineage in North America was sold. For a week, a 303-horsepower 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition was the focus of a monumental event capping the 11-year history of the car in North America.
Through an Ebay charity auction aiding Feeding America Riverside & San Bernardino Counties and Second Harvest Food Back of Orange Country, bidding for the last 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution sport sedan resulted in a victory for the party that agreed to pay $76,400 US ($100,412.56 Canadian). Over $30,000 US above the retail sticker assigned to the Lancer Evolution Final Edition, the 60 bids used within the Ebay auction were devoted to a well-dressed Diamond White Pearl coloured car wearing significant US1600 numbering on an interior plaque.
Speaking in regards to the active contest for the last of the last for a sport compact legend, Don Swearingen, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Mitsubishi Motors North America commented, "It's a fitting and deserving finality to the Evolution nameplate to go out with so much excitement and make an impact that is sure to last a very long time to drive out hunger." The vehicle auction also highlighted September's ongoing National Hunger Action Month activities. "Thousands of hungry men, women and children will benefit from Mitsubishi's commitment to the people in our community and the funds will help drive out hunger in our local communities this holiday season." said the Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino Bill Carnegie representing one of the organizations helped by the 1600th Lancer Evolution's auction.
The sale of the US1600 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition is not the first time the auto company has handed keys of an end-of-the-line high-performance vehicle in the name of charity. In October 2011, Mitsubishi auctioned off the final Eclipse sport coupe to benefit the Japan Red Cross as the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami the previous March necessitated a massive recovery effect. In that occasion a special 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe SE (given the GT model's 265-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 making it a one-off trimmed model), sold at Mecum Auctions for $35,000. Mitsubishi also sold the first example of the 2015 Lancer Evolution Final Edition to help the MS Society last year. On that occasion, $46,200 was generated through bidding.
With the auction saying farewell to the last Final Edition model for the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi has officially put 10 generations of automotive heritage to rest. Immediate plans for the brand to champion a more economical vehicle lineup may not instantly invoke the same stimulation as a high-powered turbocharged, all-wheel drive compact sedan. However, as surreal as it would be to believe the production existence of a 300-plus horsepower small road rocket, Mitsubishi has the opportunity to garner a new level of future automotive recognition.
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