The Mitsubishi brand is relatively new to Canadians, having entered the local market in 2003, but its history dates back to 1917 when it introduced the Mitsubishi Model A, making them the first automaker in Japan. Over the next two decades Mitsubishi established itself as an innovator and actually developed Japan’s first diesel engine. In 1970 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was created.

The 70s also saw Mitsubishi enter international rallying events with great success, showcasing the car’s performance and reliability, two characteristics the vehicles are known for today. The next twenty years the Mitsubishi vehicles were winning more and more events and in the 90s started to dominate rally events, including the Dakar Rally, which it has won seven times, the latest in 2007

“Rally racing is really a huge part of our history and a big part of who we are today,” said Cathie Clark, marketing director for AutoPark in Burlington. “We’ve won twelve of them in the last 25 years and that’s far more than any other carmaker in the world.”

Now the automaker has taken its rally car and adapted it to the Canadian market. The result is the Lancer Evolution. “We’re trying to imbue the spirit of the Dakar Rally into our passenger vehicles,” Clark said. “It’s been long-awaited. It really is a rally vehicle made road-friendly for Canadian drivers and has added features like Super All-Wheel Drive.”

Mitsubishi also offers better warranty coverage than any other consumer vehicle available today with a 10-year, 160,000 km power train warranty and a five-year 100,000 km comprehensive warranty, thus its slogan, “Best Backed Cars in the World.”

Since many Mitsubishi buyers are families, the vehicles are equipped with extra safety features like RISE, which means Refined Impact Safety Evolution.

“That’s something you’ll only find in Volvos and Mitsubishi vehicles,” Clark adds. “It’s a safety feature that disperses any impact to the front and rear zones keeping the passengers inside the vehicle safe.”

For more information about the Lancer Evolution or about any other Mitsubishi vehicle visit www.autoparkmitsubishi.ca.