New-for-2010 Mitsubishi Evo MR Touring pricing announced, starts at $40,990

Mitsubishi finally posted pricing information on its new top-of-the-Evolution-ary-chart MR Touring model, and it definitely isn't cheap. A bargain to some maybe, but definitely not cheap. We had first seen this uplevel MR at a local car gathering that seems to attract just about every bit of new enthusiast candy, but back then, they were referring to it as the Limited. Now, it's called the MR Touring and with a base MSRP of $40,990, the top dog Lancer finally cracks the 40K barrier, pushing the definition of "bargain." If you go Sharpie-mad and check every box on the order form, the bottom line might make you think you're actually at an Audi dealer. The full boat 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Touring would retail for – wait for it – $52,728. Yep, a fifty-plus-thousand-dollar-Lancer. (Editor's note: After checking over the list again, we see that some of the options are indeed redundant. Best we can tell, a Touring would run around $47,000, tops. Still quite a hefty sum though.)

For all those greenbacks, however, you'll get a wonderfully chuckable, largely-aluminum-bodied supersedan with a 291-horsepower turbo four-cylinder, a paddle-shifted dual clutch six-speed transmission, Brembo brakes, 18-inch BBS wheels wrapped in sticky Yokohama Advans, all working through Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel-drive system to propel you along in any conditions on virtually any surface at alarming speeds. But all of that could be said for the regular Evo as well. So what makes the Touring so dear?

What the Touring adds are creature comforts that make the 40-grand price tag potentially less alarming, turning the car into something that can genuinely be cross-shopped against BMW, Audi, Mercedes and the like with few excuses. It's an Evo for grown-ups.

Standard on the Touring are things like a new higher-res info display between the gauges, an Evo-first moonroof, and genuine leather-covered heated Recaros. The car gains a few pounds with the extra equipment and additional soundproofing – even though it saves a bit by dropping the rear wing in favor of a small lip spoiler. The full list of standard and optional features can be found after the jump along with full pricing information. We've also added a new gallery of high-res pics so you can see all of the detail changes for yourself. At $40,000-$50,000 Mitsubishi is entering highly competitive waters, but we think they will find plenty of buyers. After all, the Evo has never been afraid of a little competition.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Base Price
$40,990 + $720 destination

Standard Features

• 291-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC engine
• 6-speed Twin Clutch Sportronic® Shift Transmission (TC-SST)
• Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC)
• BREMBO® Braking System
• 2-piece front brake rotors with alloy hats
• Aluminum roof, hood and front fenders
• Enhanced interior noise reduction
• 18" x 8.5" BBS® Forged Alloy Wheels with 245/40R18 Yokohama ADVAN® tires
• Power glass sunroof
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets
• Color keyed rear lip spoiler (Replaces large rear spoiler)
• Sports ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
• RECARO® semi-bucket racing seats with fixed head rests
• Heated front seats and side mirrors
• Full leather seating surfaces
• Magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters
• FAST-Key electronic keyless entry and starting system
• 710-watt (max.), Rockford Fosgate® performance audio system with nine speakers, including a 10-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer
• 40GB HDD Navigation with Music Server
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice command recognition
• Seven-airbag safety system including a driver's knee airbag*

Options

Packages
$1999 Navigation System

Accessories
$84 All Weather Floor Mats
$297 Aluminum/Leather Parking Brake Grip
$281 Aluminum / Leather Shift Knob (TC-SST)
$425 Back Up Sensors
$60 Cargo Organizer
$96 Carpet Floor Mats
$456 CD Changer - 6 Disc and Tuner
$107 Chrome Side Mirror Covers
$34 Cigar Lighter
$625 Front Air Dams
$125 Front Brake Air Guides
$515 Front Strut Brace
$319 Intercooler Pipes
$37 "Lancer Evolution" License Plate Frame
$244 Mud Flaps
$2499 Navigation System and Install Kit
$142 RALLIART Spline-Type Wheel Locks
$440 Rear Corner Air Dams
$110 Rear Spoiler Extension
$515 Rear Strut Brace
$506 Rear View Backup Camera
$900 Side Skirts
$85 Side Wind Deflectors
$85 Sunroof Deflector
$32 Wheel Locks

Genuine Mitsubishi accessories are all covered by the limited warranty. Installation labor is not included. See your Retailer for details.

Vehicle Warranty

Bumper to Bumper
3-year/36,000-mile, Bumper-to-Bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty

Powertrain
5-year/60,000-mile, Powertrain New Vehicle Limited Warranty

Anti-Corrosion
7-year/100,000-mile Anti-Corrosion Perforation Limited Warranty

Roadside Assistance
5-year/Unlimited miles Roadside Assistance

*Airbags can cause serious injury or death to anyone too close to an airbag when it deploys. To decrease the risk of injury from a deploying airbag, all occupants must be properly restrained and seated well back, upright and in the middle of the seat. Do not lean against the door. Always place children 12 and under in the rear seat and use appropriate child restraints. Never place a rear-facing infant restraint in the front seat. See your Owner's Manual and instructions provided with your child restraint for more information.

†See retailer for limited warranty and roadside assistance terms and conditions.

*iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.