The finalists in the prestigious annual competition were selected from a group of 23 eligible vehicles from around the world.
"The Lancer Evolution is the only C-segment, four-door sedan that made the top 10 list," observed Dan Kuhnert, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Mitsubishi Motors North America. "The inclusion of the Lancer Evolution speaks volumes about its design, performance and value. The Lancer Evolution, and the entire Lancer family for that matter, has consistently earned its stripes as a rewarding, dependable and daily-driving performance sedan."
Outstanding performance and expressive, intelligent design permeates virtually every aspect of the Lancer Evolution, making it a natural choice among smart, thrill-seeking drivers. The turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 2.0-liter engine belts out 291 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque, which is fed through either a 5-speed manual or the 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic® Shift Transmission (TC-SST) and harnessed by a rally-bred all-wheel drive system with active center differential. Big, vented four-wheel disc brakes with Brembo calipers and Sports ABS make fast work of slowing down.
While Mitsubishi's Lancer family of sport sedans has proven performance credentials, their skills run deeper as evidenced by several important awards already on the shelf, including NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating, IIHS Top Safety Pick and CNET Editors' Choice. Moreover, J.D. Power and Associates recently ranked the Mitsubishi Lancer's factory-installed touch-screen navigation system as an industry leader in customer satisfaction (2008 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction StudySM). This marked the first time since the study's inception that a non-premium model ranked at the top.
The top 10 finalists for the World Performance Car of the Year are:
* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
* Audi RS 6 Avant
* BMW 135i Coupe / Cabriolet
* Corvette ZR1
* Lamborghini LP560-4 Gallardo
* Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
* Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG
* Nissan GT-R
* Porsche 911 Carrera
* Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The World Performance Car of the Year jury's next step is to re-evaluate the top 10 in preparation for a final round of voting in February. They will specifically rate each vehicle in terms of overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal and significance. The top three finalists will be announced on March 9. The overall winner will be announced on April 9 at the 2009 New York International Auto Show.
Press release via Mitsubishi