Skip to main content

Bidding Farewell To Last Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Results In Sizable Charity Auction Bids

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.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition.  It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...