Unfortunately, Mitsubishi quit caring about anything sporty long ago, with the Lancer going a decade without being updated and eventually cancelled. And, let’s not even mention the death of the EVO program a few years back, both of which practically handed business over to Subaru and left the Subaru WRX without a true competitor. Sure, the Lancer will get an extensive facelift and carry on in the Asian market, but it’s discontinued everywhere else with 2017 being the final sales year for what was once an iconic vehicle. Had Mitsubishi cared about the Lancer and gave it a proper update, maybe sales wouldn’t have sucked so bad. Now, just months before it’s discontinued forever here in the U.S., Mitsubishi is dropping one last limited edition in hopes of getting some money from the fanboys that remember what this car was once capable of.

This new “limited edition” model, will slot above the base ES model and includes the usual black accents that every automaker seems to do these days. In other words, you’ll get a gloss black finish on the 16-inch wheels, the roof, the upper grill garnish, fender garnish, and the door mirrors. There is a cool limited edition badge and a sunroof, so there’s that. Inside, it receives black fabric upholstery and red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, brake lever, central armrest, door trim panels, and shift knob. There’s also aluminum pedals and gloss black finishing on some interior trim pieces. A black headliner and a 6.5-inch infotainment display round out the whole interior package. Pricing for the limited edition starts out at $19,795 and will be available through the end of this model year.

Farewell Lancer – You’ll be Missed

Mitsubishi seems to be a little disoriented when it comes to the reality of what happened with the Lancer. Sales of the car sure did plummet, but at the same time, the last-gen model was lackluster at best and 10 years later has yet to receive an update. But, the Executive VP and COO of MMNA – Don Swearingen – said, “The Lancer has a long-standing tradition of providing consumers unparalleled value at an attractive price, so it was only fitting we pay tribute to the sedan with a Limited Edition trim offering. With the addition of updated styling and advanced technology features, the Limited Edition Lancer is set to appeal to consumers who prioritize aesthetics and enjoy a connected car experience.”

Seriously? So Mitsubishi now says it sees the Lancer’s “long-standing” tradition, and that’s why this limited edition model is being released. If they all knew about that tradition, then why is the Lancer one of the most outdated models on the market and sitting on death row? You kill off the EVO program and one of the best vehicles you’ve ever made, then want to talk about tradition. That’s a little sad if you ask me. On top of that, this limited edition is just plain lazy. It’s no more than a few painted trim pieces, some black wheels, and a sunroof – the same thing every other automaker does with their “special edition” models. Mitsubishi only released one image of this new trim level as well, so we can’t actually show you what the inside looks like either.

What do you think? Are you going to miss the Lancer? Do you miss the EVO program? Let us know in the comments section below.

A Little Tribute

In honor of the Mitsubishi Lancer and the Lancer EVO, here's a small selection of wallpapers to help you remember one of the best rally-bred, road-going cars ever made.

Read our full review on the current Mitsubishi Lancer here.