2001 Mitsubishi Evolution VI 'Tommi Makinen Edition' UK Specification

• A genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A / SNGF2) SCP car (1 of 212)
• It is also an official UK-market example, Number #047 of just 50
• Imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated 'Ralliart UK', finished in Ralliart Passion Red
• First registered in the UK as a new car on 14-6-2001. Four former keepers
• 59,958 miles from new supported by a comprehensive and detailed history
• Highly collectable, these original rally homologation icons continue to generate serious interest

By mid-1996, Mitsubishi"s rallying success began to really reflect in Lancer Evolution sales. The 1996 WRC season brought Mitsubishi, together with a blisteringly quick Finn named Tommi Makinen, its first World Rally Championship drivers" title. The fiercely competitive Makinen borrowed the phrase "maximum attack" and used it to devastating effect.

By 1997, rallying had captured the imagination of petrol-heads all over the world and Mitsubishi sold 6,000 Evolution IVs in the first three days of its launch! In quick succession, the Lancer Evolution VI came to be and in the latter-half of 1999, Mitsubishi unleashed a special edition to celebrate its favourite son"s four consecutive WRC drivers" titles from 1996-1999 – the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI "Tommi Makinen Edition" (TME). The Evolution VI was already a technological tour de force, but the TME had a more responsive titanium turbocharger, uprated and lowered suspension ("tuned to give improved initial response on tarmac surfaces"), quicker steering, a different exhaust, a new ECU, beefed-up transfer case internals, a redesigned front bumper for even better cooling and authentic 17-inch WRC Enkei alloy wheels. Plus there was a special interior, featuring embossed Recaro seats, a MOMO steering wheel and red stitching. The performance upgrades saw the 0-60mph sprint obliterated in 4.4 seconds and a maximum top speed of 150 mph. Power was rumoured to be over 300bhp, rather than the 276bhp "agreement".

Widely regarded as the finest Lancer to wear the Evolution badge, it was now available in five colours, with Passion Red and Canal Blue joining Scotia White, Pyrenean Black and Satellite Silver. Only 250 TMEs (across the five colours) were officially imported into the UK, with 100 examples going to Australia, and the rest sold domestically in the Japanese Market. Official figures show that of the UK"s allocation, only 50 examples were in Passion Red. According to Mitsubishi, it was these Passion Red cars that automatically received the renowned racing decals, known as a "Special Colour Package" (SCP), meaning these cars were factory-fitted with black door handles (so as to not break the line of the long profile decal). In the world of Mitsubishi aficionados, the consensus is that there were just 212 official factory SCP examples of the TME produced.

The car presented here then is very special indeed. Not only is it a genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A / SNGF2) SCP car (i.e.1 of 212), but it is also an official UK-market example. This means it was officially imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated 'Ralliart UK', hence it would have been professionally SVA'd and is supplied with UK service books, a calibrated speedometer, an unleaded-spec fuel restrictor, cold-climate battery and an alternator, plus it is individually number with a plaque in the cabin - in this case Number 47.

This Evo VI 'TME' was first registered in the UK as a new car on 14-6-2001 and has covered 59,900 miles from new in the hands of four former keepers. Finished in the traditional and original Ralliart Passion Red, it looks magnificent today and still performs as well as it looks. In need of some new discs in the near future, it is offered in otherwise exceptional condition by our late and much respected vendor. The early history is all neatly put in to sections for each year right the way from 2001 to 2012, and all subsequent bills and receipts are filed separately . They all confirm the mileage as genuine and the car retains its original and unmodified engine and gearbox. The MOT is valid until 24/09/2022.

Highly collectable today, this twice award-winning car represents a real opportunity to both own and enjoy, safe in the knowledge that interest and demand continues to grow for these original rally homologation icons.