Technically, the first Mitsubishi car was sold in the United States was in 1971. Thanks to a partnership with Chrysler, the Mitsubishi Colt was shipped to and sold in America, though the car was rebadged as a Dodge. It would be another 11 years before Mitsubishi Motor Sales America was formed (since changed to Mitsubishi Motors North America), and a collection of dealers filled their lots with cars carrying the manufacturer's name.

That initial introduction focused on the Mitsubishi Tredia, the Mitsubishi Cordia, and the Mitsubishi Starion (also sold as the Chrysler and Dodge Conquest). These were followed by the Mitsubishi Eclipse, a hatchback that drew admiration not only for its style but also its available turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive system. The trusty Mitsubishi Colt served as the predecessor to the Mitsubishi Mirage, which was available in sedan and coupe forms. That entry-level slot was eventually taken over by the Mitsubishi Lancer, a small sedan that has served as the backbone of the world renowned Mitsubishi Evo. Filling the voids for larger sedans have been the Mitsubishi Galant and the more luxurious Mitsubishi Diamante. Like the Evo, the Galant has worked to satisfy enthusiasts over the years, namely via the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 and the more recent Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart. However, no version of that sedan could hold a candle to the company's most exotic car to date, the Mitsubishi 3000GT. Sold throughout the 1990s, the 3000GT was available in trims to attract all types of drivers, from the plain-Jane base variant to the twin-turbocharged VR-4.

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The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Evo, is a high-performance sedan manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral. All use two liter, turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive systems.

The Evolution was originally intended only for Japanese markets, but demand on the grey import market led the Evolution series to be offered through Ralliart dealer networks in the United Kingdom and in various European markets from around 1998. Mitsubishi decided to export the eighth generation Evolution to the United States in 2003 after witnessing the success Subaru had in that market with their Impreza WRX, a direct competitor in other global regions. For more info, reviews, and photos visit Edmunds.com

Japanese-spec cars were limited by a gentlemen's agreement to advertise no more than 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp), a mark already reached by Evolution IV. Therefore, each subsequent version has unofficially evolved above the advertised power figures, with the Japanese-spec Evolution IX reaching an alleged output of around 321 PS (236 kW; 317 hp). Various versions available in other markets, particularly the UK, have official power outputs up to 411 PS (302 kW; 405 hp).