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The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, popularly referred to as the 'Evo
',
is a
sports sedan
A sports sedan (also known as sports saloon in British English) is a subjective term for a sedan car that is designed to have sporting performance or handling characteristics.
History
The term was originally introduced in the 1930s an ...
and
rally car
Rally is a wide-ranging form of motorsport with various competitive motoring elements such as speed tests (often called ''rally racing),'' navigation tests, or the ability to reach waypoints or a destination at a prescribed time or average speed. ...
based on the
Lancer
A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by Persia, India, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...
that was manufactured by Japanese manufacturer
Mitsubishi Motors
is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.[Roman numeral
Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, eac ...](_blank)
. All generations use two-litre
intercooled
An intercooler is a heat exchanger used to cool a gas after compression. Often found in turbocharged engines, intercoolers are also used in air compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration and gas turbines.
Internal combustion engines
Most ...
turbo
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
inline four-cylinder engines and
all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
systems.
["Development of Center-Differential Control System for High Performance Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles"](_blank)
, Mitsubishi Motors Technology Review 2001, no.13, pp. 61–66
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
Ralliart is the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models ...
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
( or ; ) is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first ...
had in that market the previous year with the
Subaru Impreza WRX
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gene ...
.
All
domestic market
A domestic market, also referred to as an internal market or domestic trading, is the supply and demand of goods, services, and securities within a single country. In domestic trading, a firm faces only one set of competitive, economic, and market ...
versions, until the release of the Evolution IX in 2005, were limited by a
gentlemen's agreement
A gentlemen's agreement, or gentleman's agreement, is an informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically oral, but it may be written or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or th ...
between Japanese car manufacturers to advertise no more than . However, sources say Mitsubishi had already been producing cars with more power but had been underrating the official power outputs in order to comply with the agreement. Therefore, each subsequent version has unofficially evolved above the advertised power figures, with the Japanese-market Evolution IX reaching an alleged output of around . Various special versions available in other markets, particularly the UK, have official power outputs up to .
The tenth and final generation of the Lancer Evolution, the Evolution X, was launched in Japan in 2007, and overseas markets in 2008. The Evolution X was produced for almost 10 years until Mitsubishi retired the Lancer Evolution in April 2016.
__TOC__
Evolution I
![Mitsubishi EVO - Flickr - dave 7 (2)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Mitsubishi_EVO_-_Flickr_-_dave_7_%282%29.jpg)
The first Lancer Evolution used the 2.0 L
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...
engine and AWD drivetrain from the original
Galant VR-4 The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (Viscous Realtime 4WD) was the range-topping version of Mitsubishi Motors' Galant model, available in the sixth (1987–93), seventh (1993–96) and eighth (1996–2002) generations of the vehicle. Originally introduced to ...
in a Lancer chassis, and was sold in GSR and RS models. This engine was also used in the
Mitsubishi RVR
The Mitsubishi RVR is a range of cars produced by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1991 to 2002 and then from 2010 until present. The first two generations were classified as compact multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), and the model intr ...
with the Hyper Sports Gear trim package, and the
Mitsubishi Chariot Resort Runner GT. The RS was a stripped-down version that lacked power windows and seats,
anti-lock brakes
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti-skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintainin ...
, a rear wiper, and had steel wheels to weigh approximately less than the GSR, ready for racing or tuning. The RS version was released with a mechanical plate type rear
limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic tr ...
(LSD). The GSR came with all of the conveniences of a typical street car, including a digital screen climate control system. It came with Mitsubishi's ''
4G63
The Mitsubishi Sirius or 4G6/4D6 engine is the name of one of Mitsubishi Motors' four series of inline-four automobile engines, along with Astron, Orion, and Saturn.
The 4G6 gasoline engines were the favoured performance variant for Mitsubishi. ...
'' engine producing at 6,000 rpm and at 3,000 rpm. 5,000 of the first generation Evolutions were sold between 1992 and 1993.
Top speed was . The GSR version of the Evolution I was the only Evolution Lancer released with a viscous limited-slip rear differential (
VLSD). The subsequent Evolution Lancer models all featured rear mechanical plate type LSD's.
Evolution II
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution II IMG 4256 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_II_IMG_4256_%28cropped%29.jpg)
The Evolution II was upgraded in December 1993, and was produced until February 1995. It mainly consisted of handling improvements, including minor wheelbase adjustments, lighter front swaybar that connected via swaybar links to the front struts, bodywork tweaks including a larger spoiler, and tires that were wider.
This Evolution also has a fuel tank. Power output was increased to from the same engine and torque was unchanged for both GSR and RS models. Most cars came with 15-inch
OZ 5-spoke wheels from the factory, although some RS models sold to privateer racing teams left the factory with steel wheels.
Evolution III
![Mitsubishi Evolution III rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Mitsubishi_Evolution_III_rear.jpg)
February 1995 saw the arrival of the Evolution III, following a pre-release in 1993 which had several improvements over the previous models. New, more aggressive styling and a new nose moulding improved the air supply to the radiator, intercooler and brakes. New side skirts and rear bumper moldings and a larger rear spoiler were added to reduce lift. The engine was improved and had a higher compression ratio than before, and a new turbocharger compressor (65 mm to 68 mm), which resulted in a power output of at 6,250 rpm, at 3,000 rpm.
A black Evolution III was featured in ''
Initial D
is a Japanese street racing manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Magazine'' from 1995 to 2013, with the chapters collected into 48 ''ta ...
'' where it was driven by the leader of Team Emperor, Kyoichi Sudo, who was portrayed by
Jordan Chan
Jordan Chan Siu-chun (born Chan Siu-tsun on 8 July 1967) is a Hong Kong actor, singer and dancer, known for starring in the ''Young and Dangerous'' film series and for his role in the 1998 TV adaptation of Louis Cha's novel, '' The Duke o ...
in the 2005 live action movie. An Evolution III was also used in the film ''
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
'' as the car driven by
Jackie Chan
Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...
's character. He drove a yellow Evolution III which was lightly modified performance-wise but heavily modified when it comes to the aesthetics.
Evolution IV
![David's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV (rear)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/David%27s_Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_IV_%28rear%29.jpg)
The Lancer platform was redesigned in 1996, and along with it, the Evolution. The engine and transaxle were rotated 180° to better balance the weight and eliminate
torque steer
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of the ...
.
There were two versions available, the RS and GSR. The RS version was produced as a competition car with a limited-slip front differential and a friction type LSD at the rear. It also came with GLX seats and a choice of either 15-inch or 16-inch
OZ lightweight racing wheels. The RS also had wind-up windows, optional air conditioning in some models, and a few extra brace bars to strengthen the chassis, one behind the front grille and another across the boot floor, and an aluminum rear strut tower brace.
The GSR and the RS shared a new twin scroll turbocharger which helped to improve response and increase power to at 6,500 rpm and torque at 4,000 rpm. Mitsubishi's new
Active Yaw Control
Active may refer to:
Music
* ''Active'' (album), a 1992 album by Casiopea
* Active Records, a record label
Ships
* ''Active'' (ship), several commercial ships by that name
* HMS ''Active'', the name of various ships of the British Royal ...
appeared as a factory standard on the GSR model, which used steering, throttle input sensors and ''g'' sensors to computer-hydraulically control torque split individually to the rear wheels
The Evolution IV can be distinguished by its two large fog lights in the front bumper (option on RS version), and the newly designed tail lights on the rear, which became a standard design to Evolution V, which would become yet another trademark of the Evolution series, note the RS has no light mounts on the boot/trunk for further weight saving.
This new generation was slightly heavier than previous Evo's—the GSR in particular due to the added technology systems—but to counter this, the car produced even more power—the weight of the RS being and the GSR being (Sunroof model ).
Much of the technical improvements for this generation were also used in the second generation
Mitsubishi RVR
The Mitsubishi RVR is a range of cars produced by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1991 to 2002 and then from 2010 until present. The first two generations were classified as compact multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), and the model intr ...
originally sold only in Japan but since exported to Australia and New Zealand. The Evolution IV was the last model to be considered "compact" according to Japanese
dimension regulations.
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (6823268087)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_IV_RS_%286823268087%29.jpg)
*RS – "Rally Sport" – Shortened close-ratio 5-speed transmission, minimal interior, front worm gear LSD and rear 1.5-way LSD, front end crossbar, 15-inch steel rims, Lancer GLXi Front Seats (non-bucket seats), manual windows and mirrors. (Optional: manual air conditioning, PIAA front fog lights, anti-lock brakes, Lamco-Mitsubishi boost gauge.)
*GSR – "Gran Sport Racing" – 5-speed manual transmission, AYC (Active Yaw Control), anti-lock brakes, black-red
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
front bucket seats, full auto air conditioner, double-din audio with rear windscreen integrated antenna, PIAA front fog lights, power windows, 16-inch
OZ Racing F1 wheels, rear windscreen wiper, optional: sunroof, Lamco-Mitsubishi boost gauge.
An Evolution IV was used in the anime series Initial D as well as appearing in the film
Who am I? as the car driven by
Jackie Chan
Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...
's character.
Evolution V
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V (39479663724) (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_V_%2839479663724%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Many aspects of the car were changed such as:
*The interior was upgraded in the GSR version with a better class of
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
seats.
*The body kit had flared arches at the front and rear and a new aluminum rear spoiler replaced the IV FRP version and gave an adjustable angle of attack to alter rear downforce. (In process of doing so, the Evolution V onwards was no longer considered "compact" according to Japanese
dimension regulations, requiring Japanese owners to pay an increased annual tax as the car was now wider than regulated limit of ).
*The track was widened by , the wheel offset changed from ET45 to ET38 along with the wheel diameter which rose from 16 in to 17 in to accommodate
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes.
*The brake master cylinder bore increased by .
*The engine was strengthened in a few areas and the cam duration was increased. The pistons were lighter with a smaller skirt area. 510 cc injectors were replaced with 560 cc injectors for better engine reliability due to more electrical "headroom" and the ECU was changed to include a flash ROM, allowing more boost pressure to the same TD05-HR as the Mitsubishi Evolution IV.
Furthermore, the
turbocharge
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
r was again improved. Torque was increased to at 3,000 rpm. Power officially stayed the same, at .
* RS – "rally sport" close-ratio 5-speed transmission, minimal interior, rally suspension, 1.5-way LSD, auto air conditioner, Enkei wheels,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
bucket seats,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, power windows are available as an option).
* GSR – 5-speed, gauge pack, AYC (Active Yaw Control), anti-lock brakes,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
front bucket and rear seat, auto air-conditioner, double-din audio, power windows,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes.
Evolution VI
The Evolution VI's changes mainly focused on cooling and engine durability. It received a larger intercooler, larger oil cooler, and new pistons, along with a titanium-aluminide turbine wheel for the RS model, which was a first in a production car. Output was rated at at 6,500 rpm and maximum
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
of at 3,000 rpm. The Evolution VI received new bodywork yet again, with the most easily noticeable change being within the front bumper where the huge fog lights were reduced in size and moved to the corners for better airflow. A new model was added to the GSR and RS lineup; known as the RS2, it was an RS with a few of the GSR's options. Another limited-edition RS was known as the RS Sprint, an RS tuned by
Ralliart
Ralliart is the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models ...
in the UK to be lighter and more powerful with .
Yet another special edition Evolution VI was released in December 1999: the Tommi Mäkinen Edition, named after Finnish rally driver
Tommi Mäkinen
Tommi Antero Mäkinen (; born 26 June 1964) is a Finnish racing executive and former driver.
Mäkinen is one of the most successful WRC drivers of all time, ranking fifth in rally wins (24) and third in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkune ...
who had won Mitsubishi four WRC drivers championships. It featured a different front bumper, Red/Black
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
seats (with embossed T. Mäkinen logo), 17-inch white
Enkei wheels, a leather
Momo
Momo may refer to:
Geography
* Momo (department), a division of Northwest Province in Cameroon
* Momo, Gabon, a town in the Woleu-Ntem province of Gabon
* Momo, Piedmont, a town in the province of Novara, in northern Italy
* Joffrey Tower, in ...
steering wheel and shift knob, a titanium turbine that spooled up more quickly, front upper strut brace, lowered ride height (with tarmac stages in mind), and a quicker steering ratio. Amongst other colours, the Evo VI came in either red (Tommi Mäkinen Edition only), white, blue, black or silver with optional special decals, replicating Tommi Mäkinen's rally car's colour scheme. This car is also sometimes referred to as an Evolution 6, Evolution 6.5, or TME for short. 4,092 units were produced in total and exterior styling was similar to that of its predecessor, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 5.
Standard models
* RS – "rally sport" minimal interior, rally suspension, rear 1.5-way LSD as opposed to AYC, shortened close-ratio 5-speed transmission, optional Enkei wheels, optional
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
Seats, optional air conditioning, optional
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, optional power windows.
* GSR – 5-speed, gauge pack, AYC (Active Yaw Control), anti-lock brakes,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
front bucket and rear seat, auto air-conditioner, double-
DIN audio, power windows,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes.
Tommi Mäkinen Edition models
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Ralliart](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_VI_Ralliart.jpg)
* RS – same as standard RS with close-ratio 5-speed transmission, lowered ride height, Tommi Mäkinen Edition front bumper, and titanium turbine (option with standard RS).
* GSR – same as standard GSR with lowered ride height, Tommi Mäkinen Edition front bumper, Red/Black/Green
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
seats (with embossed T. Mäkinen logo), 17-inch Enkei white wheels and titanium turbine.
Evolution VII
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (38361358685) (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evo_IX_%2838361358685%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 2001, Mitsubishi was forced by the
FIA
FIA is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (English: International Automobile Federation), the world's governing body for all forms of motor sport where four or more wheels are used.
Fia or FIA may also refer to: People
* Fia Backst ...
to run in the
WRC
WRC may refer to:
Broadcasting stations
* WRC-TV, a television station (virtual channel 4, digital channel 34) licensed to Washington, D.C., United States
* Several radio stations in the Washington, D.C. area:
** WTEM, a radio station (980 AM) l ...
using WRC rules for building a car instead of the Group A class rules, and this did not need to follow homologation rules. The Evolution VII was based on the larger Lancer Cedia platform and as a result gained more weight over the Evolution VI, but Mitsubishi made up for this with multiple important chassis tweaks. The biggest change was the addition of an active center differential and a more effective limited-slip differential, while a front helical limited-slip differential was added. Torque was increased again to with engine tweaks that allowed greater airflow, and horsepower officially remained at .
The introduction of the Evolution VII also marked the first time an automatic drivetrain was included within the model lineup—the GT-A. Nicknamed the 'Grand Touring Automatic' version of the visually similar VII GSR and the RS2, the GT-A model was only produced in 2002 and had the following distinguishing interior and exterior specification: GT-A-only diamond cut finish alloy wheels, clear rear light lenses and all-in-one style front headlights (later used on the Evolution VIII). The GT-A had the option of either no spoiler, the short spoiler (as per the
Lancer Cedia; and later used on the Evolution VIII 260) or the thunder spoiler as used on the standard Evolution VII models. The most distinguishing feature was a smooth bonnet with no air-grills on it at all and the revised front bumper. Although offering inferior cooling capabilities, the bonnet was designed to give a cleaner line through the air with less air resistance at motorway speeds.
Interior could be specified with factory options of a deluxe velour interior, full leather or the
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
sports seats. The GT-A interior was different in that it had chromed door handles, a different instrument panel (to show the gear selection) and chrome edged bezels around the speedo and tach. The GT-A also had additional sound deadening installed from the factory and the engine manifold and downpipe had been engineered to be quieter.
The 5-speed automatic gearbox had what Mitsubishi called "fuzzy logic", which meant that the car would learn what the driver's driving characteristics were like and would adapt the gear change timings and kick down reactions accordingly. The gears could be manually selected as with most Tiptronics via steering wheel + and – buttons (a pair both sides) or via selecting the tiptronic gate with the gear lever. Power was down a little from the standard manual cars with . The GT-A gearbox did not appear again in the Evolution VIII but has been installed in the estate version of the Evolution IX Wagon. It was replaced by the
Twin Clutch SST
Twin Clutch SST (Sport- or Sportronic Shift Transmission) is the brand name of a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, developed by Getrag for Mitsubishi Motors. gearbox since the introduction of Evolution X. For a time,
Proton
A proton is a stable subatomic particle, symbol , H+, or 1H+ with a positive electric charge of +1 ''e'' elementary charge. Its mass is slightly less than that of a neutron and 1,836 times the mass of an electron (the proton–electron mass ...
entered a rebadged version called the Proton PERT.
* RS – "rally sport", close-ratio 5-speed, minimal interior, rally suspension, LSD, Enkei Wheels,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
bucket seat, AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sports ABS (Anti-Lock braking system),
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, double-din audio, power window are available as option.
* GSR – 5-speed, gauge pack, AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sports ABS,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
front bucket and rear seat, double-din audio, power window,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes,
Momo
Momo may refer to:
Geography
* Momo (department), a division of Northwest Province in Cameroon
* Momo, Gabon, a town in the Woleu-Ntem province of Gabon
* Momo, Piedmont, a town in the province of Novara, in northern Italy
* Joffrey Tower, in ...
sports steering wheel.
* GT-A – Same option with GSR with 5-speed automatic transmission, gauge pack, deluxe velour interior, full leather or the
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
sports seats, GT-A-only diamond cut finish alloy wheels, clear rear light lenses and all-in-one style front headlights, and short spoiler option.
An Evolution VII was used in the film ''
2 Fast 2 Furious'' as the car driven by
Paul Walker
Paul William Walker IV (September 12, 1973 – November 30, 2013) was an American actor. He was known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the ''Fast & Furious'' franchise.
Walker began his career as a child actor in the 1980s, gaining recogniti ...
's character. He drove a yellow Evolution 7 which was lightly modified performance-wise but heavily modified when it comes to the aesthetics. However, one of the producers claimed that they used a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer O.Z. Rally edition instead of an Evo as the car used for production and stunt scenes.
Evolution VIII
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 1 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_VIII_1_%28cropped%29.jpg)
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII appeared in 2003 this time sporting 17-inch grey
Enkei wheels,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes and
Bilstein shocks to handle
traction and a 5-speed manual gearbox with (approx. to the wheels). Originally a one-off model, sales were so successful in the U.S. that by 2005 it was available in four trims. The standard GSR model was available in Japan. The RS model was provided with a 5-speed manual gearbox and standard wheels (lacking excess components, such as interior map lights,
power window
Power windows or electric windows are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by pressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a crank handle.
History
Packard had introduced hydraulic window lifts (power windows) in fall of ...
s/doors, and radio). The SSL trim package came with a sunroof, trunk mounted
subwoofer
A subwoofer (or sub) is a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low-pitched audio frequencies known as bass and sub-bass, lower in frequency than those which can be (optimally) generated by a woofer. The typical frequency range for a subwoofer is ...
, and leather seats. All of these trim levels also included chrome headlight and taillight housings. To round out the lineup, the MR came with a revised front
limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic tr ...
, aluminum MR
shift knob
A gear stick (rarely spelled ''gearstick''), gear lever (both UK English), gearshift or shifter (both U.S. English), more formally known as a transmission lever, is a metal lever attached to the transmission of an automobile. The term ''gear sti ...
, handbrake with
carbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
handle, 17-inch
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
wheels, aluminum roof, and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Additionally, the Evolution MR's taillights and headlights sported a new black housing.
![Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 - 49324987801 (2)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_8_-_49324987801_%282%29.jpg)
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR used slick-response
Bilstein shocks for improved
handling. The aluminium roof panel and other reductions in body weight lowered the
centre of gravity
In physics, the center of mass of a distribution of mass in space (sometimes referred to as the balance point) is the unique point where the weighted relative position of the distributed mass sums to zero. This is the point to which a force may ...
to produce more natural roll characteristics. Detail improvements have also been made to Mitsubishi's own electronic
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
, to the ACD 5 + Super AYC 6
traction control
A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...
, and to the Sports
ABS systems. The Lancer Evolution VIII displayed at the
2003 Tokyo Motor Show took the MR designation traditionally reserved for Mitsubishi Motors high-performance models (first used for the Galant GTO). Other parts on the MR include
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
alloy wheels, the aforementioned
Bilstein shocks, and an aluminium roof. In the United Kingdom, many special Evolutions were introduced, including the 260, FQ300, FQ320, FQ340, and FQ400 variants. They came with 260, 305, 325, 345, and 405 hp (194, 227, 239, 254 and 302 kW), respectively.
["Mitsubishi Evo VIII"](_blank)
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...
, ''The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'', July 25, 2004
The FQ-400, sold through
Ralliart
Ralliart is the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models ...
UK, produced at 6,400 rpm and maximum
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
of at 5,500 rpm, from its
4G63
The Mitsubishi Sirius or 4G6/4D6 engine is the name of one of Mitsubishi Motors' four series of inline-four automobile engines, along with Astron, Orion, and Saturn.
The 4G6 gasoline engines were the favoured performance variant for Mitsubishi. ...
inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
, the result of special modifications by United Kingdom tuning firms Rampage Tuning, Owen Developments, and Flow Race Engines. The "FQ" name stands for ''F——ing Quick'', although it is not officially recognized by Mitsubishi due to the vulgarity behind the abbreviation. With a curb weight of , it achieves 0– in 3.5 seconds, 0– in 9.1 seconds,
in 12.1 seconds at , and a top speed of while costing £48,000.
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
's television series ''
Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' demonstrated that the stock FQ-400 could keep up with a
Lamborghini Murciélago
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a sports car produced by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship V12 of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. ...
around a test track.
The Stig
The Stig is a character from the British motoring television show ''Top Gear''. Created by former ''Top Gear'' presenter Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman, the character is a play on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, wit ...
recorded a
Top Gear Power Lap Time of 1 minute and 24.8 seconds (damp track), 1.1 seconds slower than the Murciélago's time of 1 minute 23.7 seconds (dry track). In a similar test conducted by
''Evo'' magazine, the Evolution was able to lap the
Bedford Autodrome
Bedford Autodrome is an autodrome based on the former site of RAE Bedford, in the village of Thurleigh, Bedfordshire. It is owned by former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation.
The autodrome
It is built on the n ...
faster than an
Audi RS4
The Audi RS 4 is the high-performance variant of the Audi A4 range produced by Audi Sport GmbH for AUDI AG, a division of the Volkswagen Group. It sits above the Audi S4 as the fastest, most sports-focused car based on the A4's "B" automobile pl ...
and a
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.
The Lancer Evolution VIII was also the first Evolution to be sold in the United States,
["Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for the U.S. Market Debuts at 2003 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show; Mitsubishi's Expanding Motor Sports Program to Dominate in 2003; Ralliart Comes to the U.S.; and Mitsubishi Goes 'Fast and Furious' Too."](_blank)
PR Newswire, January 3, 2003 spurred by the success of the
Subaru Impreza WRX
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gene ...
which had been released there just the year prior.
["2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution"](_blank)
Michael Frank, ''Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' The Evolution VIII found its true competition in the
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Subaru Leone, Leone, with the predecessor's Subaru EA engine, EA series engines replaced by the new Subaru EJ ...
model the same year as the Evolution VIII's US introduction. With its 2.0 liter, engine, the 2003 Evolution VIII was capable of achieving a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of 5.1 seconds. However, the internal components for the American versions were largely stripped-down versions of the specifications for the Japanese Lancer Evolution VIII. No US-spec Evolution model prior to the Evo X has
active yaw control
Active may refer to:
Music
* ''Active'' (album), a 1992 album by Casiopea
* Active Records, a record label
Ships
* ''Active'' (ship), several commercial ships by that name
* HMS ''Active'', the name of various ships of the British Royal ...
, including the 2006 Evolution IX. The American 2003 and 2004 GSRs are without the helical limited-slip front differential and 6-speed manual transmission. The 2004 US spec RS models, however, do have a front helical limited-slip differential. All 2003, 2004 and 2005 RS and GSR models have the Japanese Evolution VII's 5-speed transmission. The MR edition was introduced to the US in 2005, with ACD and the only model with a 6-speed manual transmission. The 2005 US spec RS and GSR have the ACD standard, and the front helical limited-slip differential is now standard on all models. The boost, timing, and tuning are also significantly lower than its Japanese counterpart, allowing it to adhere to the strict emissions regulations of the United States. Starting in 2005, the US model Evolutions were also fitted with a 5,500 rpm limit on launching in first gear to protect the drivetrain.
Most Evolution VIIIs have a
carbon fiber
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
rear spoiler with matching body-color endplates. Furthermore, the US versions of the Lancer Evolution VIII 2003–2005 were given bulkier rear bumpers than their Japanese counterparts to accommodate US safety laws in the form of the metal rear crash bar. All Evolutions have lightweight aluminum front fenders and hoods.
The basic RS Edition does not come with power windows, locks, or mirrors, an audio system, rear wing, sound deadening material, map lamps or an anti-lock braking system. All Evolution VIII RS models sold in the US are equipped with air conditioning.
The 2005 MR/RS editions came with an aluminum roof.
Additionally, Evolution VIII MR Editions come equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission,
Bilstein shocks, optional graphite grey color (unique to the Evolution VIII MR), optional
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
wheels and an optional vortex generator. The MR Edition also received engine updates and reliability changes, the engine updates include larger turbo diameter mouth, updated cam profiles, lighter balance shafts and changed from single wastegate solenoid to dual solenoid. Exterior changes included HID headlights, updated taillights, and MR rear
badging. Interior updates included black
suede
Suede (pronounced ) is a type of leather with a fuzzy, napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, fabrics, purses, furniture, and other items. The term comes from the French , which literally means "gloves from Sweden". The term was fir ...
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
seats with higher side
bolster
A bolster is a long narrow pillow or cushion filled with cotton, down or fibre. Bolsters are usually firm for back or arm support or for decorative application.Von Tobel, Jackie. "Neck Rolls and Bolsters." The Design Directory of Bedding. La ...
s, carbon look
dash trim, and MR badging on center console. Mechanical changes saw S-AWC rear diff changes, a larger oil cooler core, ion coated piston rings, reinforced cylinder head and 5-layer head gasket compared to the 3 layer.
According to Mitsubishi Motors of North America (info from evolutionm.net) the total production sales in the U.S. for the Evolution VIII (2003–2005) was 12,846. In 2003, the production sales for the GSR was 7,167 which was the only 2003 model year. In 2004, production sales for the GSR was 1,254 and for the RS was 263 for a total of 1,517 for the 2004 model year. In 2005 production sales for the GSR was 2,880, for the RS was 282, and for the MR was 1000 for a total of 4,162 for the 2005 model year.
Standard models
* RS 5-Speed – "rally sport", revised 5-speed, minimal interior, rally suspension, LSD,
Enkei wheels,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
bucket seats, SAYC (Super Active Yaw Control)(Not available on USDM models), Sports ABS (Anti-Lock braking system),
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes, double-din audio, power window are available as option. Color options for U.S. model: (2004) Rally Red and Weightless White. (2005) Rally Red and Wicked White.
* RS 6-Speed – same as RS 5-Speed with Enkei wheels as standard and a 6-speed manual transmission (6MT not available on USDM RS model)(with same option available as RS 5-Speed).
* GSR – 5-speed (Some 2003 and later GSRs imported from Japan came with factory 6 speed out of the MR Variant as standard) The manufacture plate will state what transmission the vehicle has from factory. gauge pack, SAYC (Super Active Yaw Control)(Not available on USDM models), Sports ABS, Enkei wheels,
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
front bucket and rear seat, double-din audio, power windows,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes,
Momo
Momo may refer to:
Geography
* Momo (department), a division of Northwest Province in Cameroon
* Momo, Gabon, a town in the Woleu-Ntem province of Gabon
* Momo, Piedmont, a town in the province of Novara, in northern Italy
* Joffrey Tower, in ...
sports steering wheel. Color options for U.S. models: (2003–2004) Apex Silver Metallic, Blue By You, Lightning Yellow, Rally Red, Tarmac Black Pearl, Weightless White. (2005) Apex Silver Metallic, Electric Blue Metallic, Lightning Yellow, Rally Red, Tarmac Black Pearl, Wicked White.
MR Models
* MR RS 5-Speed – same as RS 5-Speed, with aluminium roof, MR Badging, carbon fibre spoiler, gauge pack, grey interior color dashboard (same option as RS 5-Speed with
Bilstein suspension, carbon look dash trim, black suede
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
fabric seats,
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
alloy wheels, Vortex Generator).
* MR RS 6-Speed – same as MR RS 5-Speed with Enkei wheels as standard, engine and reliability updates, SAYC (Super Active Yaw Control)(Not available on USDM models), and 6-speed manual transmission (with same option available as MR RS 5-Speed).
* MR GSR – 6-speed transmission,
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
wheels, carbon look dash trim,
Bilstein suspension, black suede
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
fabric seat, MR Badging, optional graphite grey color, Vortex Generator, engine and reliability updates.
Color options for U.S. model: (2005) Apex Silver Metallic, Graphite Gray Pearl, Rally Red, Wicked White.
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rela ...
(NHTSA) has determined crash test ratings of Lancer of different model years:
Evolution IX
Mitsubishi introduced the Lancer Evolution IX in Japan on March 3, 2005, and exhibited the car at the
Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by th ...
for the European market the same day. The North American markets saw the model exhibited at the
New York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Su ...
the following month. The
4G63
The Mitsubishi Sirius or 4G6/4D6 engine is the name of one of Mitsubishi Motors' four series of inline-four automobile engines, along with Astron, Orion, and Saturn.
The 4G6 gasoline engines were the favoured performance variant for Mitsubishi. ...
Inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
has
MIVEC
MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) is the brand name of a variable valve timing (VVT) engine technology developed by Mitsubishi Motors. MIVEC, as with other similar systems, varies the timing of the intake and ex ...
technology (
variable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing (VVT) is the process of altering the timing of a valve lift event, and is often used to improve performance, fuel economy or emissions. It is increasingly being used in combination with varia ...
), and a revised
turbocharger
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
design boosting official power output at the
crankshaft
A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating shaft containing one or more crankpins, that are driven by the pistons via the connecting ...
to and
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
to .
![2007 Mitusbishi Lancer Evolution IX MR FQ-360](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/2007_Mitusbishi_Lancer_Evolution_IX_MR_FQ-360.jpg)
The
USDM Lancer Evolution IX models: standard (Grand Sport Rally or "GSR" in some markets), RS (Rally Sport), SE (Special Edition) and MR (Mitsubishi Racing) varied slightly in their performance capabilities. Subtleties unique to each model accounted for variations in acceleration,
handling and top speed. The RS excluded features that came standard on the SE and MR models (stereo system, power windows and locks, rear wiper, rear wing, trunk lining and sound insulation). The result is a weight savings of over . The
fuel capacity remains the same as the Evo VIII at .
Although the RS is the lightest of the group, the RS did not manage to outperform the standard IX and the MR around a road course (even if only by fractions of a second). This was purported to be due to the lack of a rear wing on the RS. In a
drag race
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
, the three models are all about even. They are all capable of 0- times between 4.2 and 4.5 seconds, and can run
times ranging from 12.6 to 13.3 (12.7–13.0 USA versions) seconds depending on the model/driver. The RS model was produced for rally and racing teams who wanted a platform to build a race car from. It is stripped of all the creature comforts, and other upgrades that drive the price up for features that the race teams would not require.
The IX MR retained the features of the Evolution VIII MR, like
Bilstein shocks, a 6-speed manual transmission, a rooftop
vortex generator
A vortex generator (VG) is an aerodynamic device, consisting of a small vane usually attached to a lifting surface (or airfoil, such as an aircraft wing) or a rotor blade of a wind turbine.[BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...]
forged wheels, HID
xenon
Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. It is a dense, colorless, odorless noble gas found in Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts. Although generally unreactive, it can undergo a few chemical reactions such as the ...
headlights,
foglight
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted to or integrated into the front, rear, sides, and in some cases the top of a motor vehicle. They illuminate the road ahead for the driver and increase th ...
s, accessory gauge package, "zero lift" kit, special
badging and an aluminum roof. All models continued to sport
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
bucket seat
A bucket seat is a car seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from a flat bench seat designed to fit multiple people. In its simplest form it is a rounded seat for one person with high sides, but may have curved sides that partially enclose ...
s,
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes and
Momo
Momo may refer to:
Geography
* Momo (department), a division of Northwest Province in Cameroon
* Momo, Gabon, a town in the Woleu-Ntem province of Gabon
* Momo, Piedmont, a town in the province of Novara, in northern Italy
* Joffrey Tower, in ...
steering wheels as well. Additional revisions from 2005 included a closer
gear ratio
A gear train is a mechanical system formed by mounting gears on a frame so the teeth of the gears engage.
Gear teeth are designed to ensure the pitch circles of engaging gears roll on each other without slipping, providing a smooth transmission ...
for the 5-speed manual transmission, new lighter
Enkei wheels on non-MR models, a redesigned front end with a more efficient air dam (the most noticeable feature are the two small oval ducts to cool the
intercooler
An intercooler is a heat exchanger used to cool a gas after compression. Often found in turbocharged engines, intercoolers are also used in air compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration and gas turbines.
Internal combustion engines
Mo ...
pipes), and a new rear bumper with a
diffuser
Diffuser may refer to:
Aerodynamics
* Diffuser (automotive), a shaped section of a car's underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties
* Part of a jet engine air intake, especially when operated at supersonic speeds
* The channel betw ...
undersurface to smooth out the airflow coming out of the car for non-US models. HID headlights were no longer standard equipment on the base IX (nor were they standard on the 2005 VIII), and were available only in the SSL package (Sun, Sound, and Leather), SE (Special Edition) and MR
trims.
The US versions of the Lancer Evolution IX did not come with the AYC but the ACD was still present. The drivers can select from three different driving modes, "Tarmac", "Gravel" and "Snow", and the car's computer system relatively promotes the active center
differential to change the differential locking which, despite popular belief, does ''not'' change the torque split. The differential is geared at 50:50 and cannot be changed by the push of a button. What this switch actually does is quite simple. Each setting determines how long the ACD will delay in freeing the center differential after a steering input is made. In addition, it will determine how much locking force the ACD will exhibit on the
clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...
pack and center differential.
Tarmac Tarmac may refer to:
Engineered surfaces
* Tarmacadam, a mainly historical tar-based material for macadamising road surfaces, patented in 1902
* Asphalt concrete, a macadamising material using asphalt instead of tar which has largely superseded ta ...
is the setting to be used in dry, paved conditions. In this setting, the ACD will almost immediately allow the center differential to go into a free state upon detecting a steering input. Additionally, this mode provides the strongest limited-slip clamping force of the three modes. Although the US versions did not come with the AYC, it did come with a rear 1.5way clutch type LSD (
limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential that allows its two output shafts to rotate at different speeds but limits the maximum difference between the two shafts. Limited-slip differentials are often known by the generic tr ...
), which limits the
slip
Slip or SLIP may refer to:
Science and technology Biology
* Slip (fish), also known as Black Sole
* Slip (horticulture), a small cutting of a plant as a specimen or for grafting
* Muscle slip, a branching of a muscle, in anatomy
Computing and ...
from both rear wheels causing less
traction loss of the rear wheels. The most common setup is the 1.5 way LSD, locking on
throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by constriction or obstruction.
An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ...
and partially locking on braking. In racing, Lancer Evolutions are not equipped with AYC or ACD because it is believed that better lap times are achieved by pure driver skill without any computer based assistance systems.
One of the changes from the previous iteration of the Lancer Evolution, was the change in the engine, the new 4G63 came with MIVEC, Mitsubishi's variable valve timing technology, which drastically improves the
fuel consumption
A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chemical energy but ...
by changing the valve timing on the intake cam. The MIVEC system is similar to
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
's i-
VTEC
VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) is a system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, resulting in higher performance at high RPM, and lower fuel consumption at low ...
system only that it doesn't change
valve lift
A poppet valve (also called mushroom valve) is a valve typically used to control the timing and quantity of gas or vapor flow into an engine.
It consists of a hole or open-ended chamber, usually round or oval in cross-section, and a plug, usual ...
, only intake valve timing.
Three trims were available for Japan, Asia and Europe. Although all models used the same engine, the torque differed from one model to another. In Europe, however, the Evolution IX was advertised to have . The GSR produced of torque, while the RS and GT produced .
Standard models
* RS – "rally sport", revised 5-speed, aluminium roof, gauge pack, minimal interior, LSD and a titanium-magnesium turbine,
left hand drive
Left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT) are the practices, in bidirectional traffic, of keeping to the left side or to the right side of the road, respectively. They are fundamental to traffic flow, and are sometimes referred to ...
option available.
* GT – revised 5-speed, LSD, titanium-magnesium turbine, and Recaro fabric seat, with some of the GSR's features (mainly interior pieces).
* GSR – 6-speed, Bilstein monotube shocks,
auto-air conditioner, Recaro leather with
Alcantara bucket seat, aluminium roof, gauge pack, SAYC (Super
Active Yaw Control
Active may refer to:
Music
* ''Active'' (album), a 1992 album by Casiopea
* Active Records, a record label
Ships
* ''Active'' (ship), several commercial ships by that name
* HMS ''Active'', the name of various ships of the British Royal ...
), and double-din radio (this is roughly equivalent to the USDM MR).
MR Models (Mitsubishi Racing)
* MR GSR – same as GSR with
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
17-inch alloy wheels, Lowered Bilstein suspension, and MR colored front lip spoiler.
* MR RS – same as RS with MR colored front lip spoiler (auto air-conditioner, Recaro leather with Alcantara (material) bucket seat, double-din radio, Bilstein monotube shocks with lowered suspension, and SAYC (Super Active Yaw Control) are available as an option).
*MR Tuned by Ralliart – Based on Lancer Evolution VI
Tommi Mäkinen
Tommi Antero Mäkinen (; born 26 June 1964) is a Finnish racing executive and former driver.
Mäkinen is one of the most successful WRC drivers of all time, ranking fifth in rally wins (24) and third in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkune ...
Edition, The Japanese Lancer Evolution IX was exclusively
tuned by
Mitsubishi Ralliart
Ralliart is the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models ...
features the almost same as the civilian Evo IX MR GSR except for
carbon fiber
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
front lip Spoiler, Official Ralliart
livery
A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery will often have elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...
, Ralliart RA04 17-inch Black forged aluminum wheels.
In the United Kingdom, the Evolution IX used a different model scheme based on the car's
horsepower
Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are the ...
. There were initially three models available: the FQ-300, FQ-320 and FQ-340 each with around , respectively. An FQ-360 model was subsequently released as a successor to the Evolution VIII FQ-400. While the new FQ-360 produced at 6,887 rpm (less horsepower than its predecessor), although it had more
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
at at 3,200 rpm. All four models were designed to run on
super unleaded petrol only. The MR FQ-360 was also released in limited numbers (only 200) in the last year of production.
* FQ-300, 320, 340 – 6-speed, Bilstein monotube shocks, AYC (Active Yaw Control), super unleaded petrol only.
* FQ-360 – 6-speed, Bilstein monotube shocks, AYC (Active Yaw Control), Ralliart Sports Meter Kit, carbon front splitter, Speedline alloy wheels, super unleaded petrol only.
* MR FQ-360 – New turbo with titanium aluminium alloy turbo fins, Speedline Turini alloy wheels, Privacy Glass, lowered Eibach
coil spring
A selection of conical coil springs
The most common type of spring is the coil spring, which is made out of a long piece of metal that is wound around itself.
Coil springs were in use in Roman times, evidence of this can be found in bronze Fib ...
s ( at the front/ at the rear), IX MR interior, super unleaded petrol only.
Four models were available in the US. All models used the same engine.
* Standard – revised 5-speed, standard model
* RS – ralli sport, revised 5-speed, aluminum roof, gauge pack, minimal interior, also no radio
* SE – Special Edition, aluminum roof/hood, and front fenders, split seven-spoke forged aluminum
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
wheels in "diamond black" finish, HID headlights with integrated fog lights, red-stitched Recaro seats
* MR – 6-speed, Bilstein monotube shocks, split seven-spoke forged aluminum BBS wheels, aluminum roof, hood, and front fenders, gauge pack, HID headlights with integrated fog lights, vortex generator, front brake cooling ducts and custom MR badging.
All of the American models are the same in power, but may differ in performance. The only thing that sets them apart is the Evo RS, which is lighter than the MR and SE models.
To the standard model, the Sun, Sound and Leather package added a power sunroof, HID xenon headlamps with integrated fog lights, a slightly different stereo head unit (with no integral
amplifier
An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost the v ...
), slightly upgraded speakers in the front doors and
parcel shelf, a 4.1-channel amplifier under the driver's seat, a powered, trunk-mounted Infinity
subwoofer
A subwoofer (or sub) is a loudspeaker designed to reproduce low-pitched audio frequencies known as bass and sub-bass, lower in frequency than those which can be (optimally) generated by a woofer. The typical frequency range for a subwoofer is ...
, black leather seating surfaces, leather-trimmed door panels, slightly revised center armrests in the front and rear, and separate rear side headrests. This model deleted the GSR's headliner-mounted sunglass holder to make room for the sunroof.
The Philippines had the Evolution IX until in August 2008, which was offered in two trims, the entry-level RS offering a 5-speed manual transmission, Brembo 17-in.
ventilated discs (4-Pot),
Brembo 16-in ventilated drum-in-disc (2-Pot) and almost the same features as to that of the GSR trim in the international version. Some RS models had the SAYC option, while some did not. The MR was the top-of-the-line segment, which offered almost the same features as to that of the MR trim in the international version. All of them are powered by the same
4G63
The Mitsubishi Sirius or 4G6/4D6 engine is the name of one of Mitsubishi Motors' four series of inline-four automobile engines, along with Astron, Orion, and Saturn.
The 4G6 gasoline engines were the favoured performance variant for Mitsubishi. ...
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
MIVEC
MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) is the brand name of a variable valve timing (VVT) engine technology developed by Mitsubishi Motors. MIVEC, as with other similar systems, varies the timing of the intake and ex ...
Inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
.
Evo Wagon
Mitsubishi also released an Evolution IX
wagon
A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people.
Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...
in GT, GT-A models and a MR special versions. Variants came in 6 speed manual (GT, MR) or a 5 speed automatic (GT-A). The automatic variant uses a non-MIVEC 4G63 sourced from the Evo VIII with a smaller turbo for increased low down torque. It was only sold in Japan and imported to other countries as grey imports. Only 2,500 Wagons were produced.
VIN searching on epic-data.com has shown there was a total of 2924 Lancer Evolution Wagons created. This includes all GT, GT-A & MR versions even though Mitsubishi's 2005 Press Release said they intended to make 2500 Evolution Wagons.
Rarity: Approximately 50% of these cars had the 6 speed manual transmissions combined with the Evo IX MIVEC engine whilst the remaining wagons were GT-A versions.
The most common colours were Silver, Black, Blue, Grey. White is rare and Red was very rare.
The manual transmission GT Evolution Wagon didn't weigh much more than the Evo IX sedan but the additional approx was due to its Steel turret, steel
anti-intrusion bar An anti-intrusion bar or beam is a passive safety device, installed in most cars and other ground vehicles, which must protect passengers from side impacts.
Side impacts are particularly dangerous for two reasons: a) the location of impact is very ...
s in doors and the heavier foldable rear seat, along with extra weight in the tailgate and extra side glass. Evo Wagon GT-A are heavier (approx ) due to their automatic transmission and the additional weight described above in the GT wagon. Even though the Evo Wagon was made exclusively for the Japanese market some of these cars have found new homes in Europe, UK, Russia, Asia and Australia. Some of these exported wagons have been converted to Left Hand Drive vehicles for use in Germany and Russia. Compared to the Evo IX sedan, the Evolution Wagon received front seat which had lower bolsters for easier entry and exit of the vehicle. These less sporty seat were the OEM standard seats in the Australian delivered Evo IX sedan.
Evolution X
In 2005, Mitsubishi introduced a concept version of the next-gen Evolution at the 39th
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by ...
named the Concept-X, designed by
Omer Halilhodžić
Omer Halilhodžić (born 1963 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a Bosnian automotive designer.
Halilhodžić was previously a member of the famous designer team of Ferrari.
A graduate of the University of Sarajevo with a degree in indu ...
at the company's European design centre.
["Mitsubishi Concept-X Exterior Design Story"](_blank)
, Mitsubishi Motors Technology Review 2006, no.18, pp. 134–135
![2017-04-19 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR SST 03](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/2017-04-19_Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution_X_MR_SST_03.jpg)
Mitsubishi unveiled a second concept car, the Prototype-X, at the
2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
The Lancer Evolution X sedan features a newly designed
4B11T turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
, all-aluminium alloy ''
GEMA''
Inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
. Power and torque depend on the market, but all versions will have at least . (
JDM version), the
American market version will have slightly more. The UK models were reworked by Mitsubishi UK, in accordance with previous MR Evolutions bearing the FQ badge. Options for the UK Evolutions were expected to be between and .
Two versions of the car are offered in the U.S. The Lancer Evolution MR, with 6-speed ''Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission'' (
TC-SST). The other version is the GSR which has a 5-speed manual transmission system. The car also has a new full-time four-wheel-drive system named
S-AWC
S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) is the brand name of an advanced full-time four-wheel drive system developed by Mitsubishi Motors. The technology, specifically developed for the new 2007 Lancer Evolution, (Super All Wheel Control), an advanced version of Mitsubishi's
AWC system used in previous generations. The S-AWC uses
torque vectoring
Torque vectoring is a technology employed in automobile differentials that has the ability to vary the torque to each half-shaft with an electronic system; or in rail vehicles which achieve the same using individually motored wheels. This method ...
technology to send different amounts of torque to the rear wheels.
It also features Mitsubishi's new 6-speed ''SST''
dual-clutch automatic transmission with steering-mounted magnesium alloy
shift paddle
A paddle is a handheld tool with an elongated handle and a flat, widened distal end (i.e. the ''blade''), used as a lever to apply force onto the bladed end. It most commonly describes a completely handheld tool used to propel a human-powered wa ...
s. It has replaced the
Tiptronic
The modern usage of the automotive term manumatic denotes an automatic transmission that allows the driver to select a specific gear, typically using paddle-shifters, steering wheel-mounted push-buttons, or "+" and "-" controls on the gear select ...
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...
, hence the SST version replaced the GT-A version (which was used in Evolution VII and Evolution IX Wagon). A five-speed manual gearbox will also be available. The new Lancer Evolution will also incorporate Mitsubishi's next-generation ''
RISE
Rise or RISE may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities
* '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world
* Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3''
* Rise Kujikawa, a vide ...
'' safety body.
The Evolution X went on sale October 1, 2007 in Japan, New Zealand & some in Australia also the 07 were rare as only these countries had gotten them January 2008 in the US, February in Canada (as the first version of Evolution in Canada) and in March 2008 in the UK. The Twin Clutch SST version was available in Japan from November 2007. Europe will follow with sales in May, GSR and MR version included premium Package. The introduction of the 2010 MR-Touring moved the car even further upscale. Leather and a sunroof became standard while revising the rear spoiler to just a lip spoiler. For the police car, the
British Police
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most law enforcement is carried out by police officers serving in regional po ...
decided to use these Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Xs as police cars, and the
Royal Malaysia Police (Polis Diraja Malaysia) also use Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X as the Police Highway Eagle (Helang Lebuhraya Polis) patrol team. These patrol car fleet will probably be used by Highway Pursuit / Patrol or VIP Escort.
In 2014, it was revealed that Mitsubishi would discontinue production of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution after the 2015 model year. The company expressed a desire to refocus its efforts on crossover vehicles and electric vehicles.
Discontinuation
In March 2011, rumours of discontinuation of the Lancer Evolution program started when ''AutoCar'' ''UK''
's journalist Matt Prior wrote on his interview with Gayu Uesugi, Mitsubishi's Global Product Director, and quoted him saying '' 'The Lancer Evolution X, Uesugi told me, will be the last Evo. "There is still a demand
or the car" he said, "but we must stop." Eyebrow up.
Mitsubishi Motors would later state that "Further to some comments published in the press recently, production of the current Lancer Evolution continues as planned. As for its successor, regulations and market feedback will dictate its engineering package & architecture. Stay tuned.." Industry analysts would read the statement as indirectly hinting that the Evolution nameplate will remain, but is likely to be an environmentally friendly powertrain (possibly electric or hybrid), inline with increasingly stringent emission and environmental regulations.
'' Autocar'' ''UK'' later updated its blog post, adding references to EV, further confirming what industry watchers originally speculated. Most recent news shows that Mitsubishi has been leaning towards the
Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV
The Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV is a prototype plug-in hybrid crossover utility vehicle, first exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in September 2009. hybrid drivetrain, explaining that the electric motors will act as a turbo for the Evolution. Mitsubishi claims that their more "green" version of the Evolution will be just as good or even better in the performance category.
In October 2011, the President of Mitsubishi Motors,
Osamu Masuko, confirmed to
''Autocar'' that work on the next Evo will start in 2012 and will go on sale within the following three years. It is said that the car will feature electric power from a hybrid drivetrain, maintaining the performance of 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time under five seconds while cutting emissions. Furthermore, it was stated that the next generation of Mitsubishi Evo will be notably smaller than the last version
In late March 2014, it was revealed that the production of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution would end after the 2015 model year. The company plans on concentrating its efforts on crossover vehicles and electric vehicles instead. This was confirmed by Mitsubishi spokeswoman Namie Koketsu, who issued a press release stating "Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to design a successor with the current concept, as a high-performance four-wheel-drive gasoline-powered sedan. Mitsubishi Motors will explore the possibilities of high-performance models that incorporate electric vehicle technology."
Motorsports
Rally
The Lancer Evolution is unique among its competitors in the
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is the highest level of global competition in the motorsport discipline of rallying, owned and governed by the FIA. There are separate championships for drivers, co-drivers, manufacturers and t ...
in that it was a homologated
Group A
Group A is a set of motorsport regulations administered by the FIA covering production derived vehicles intended for competition, usually in touring car racing and rallying. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, Group A vehicles w ...
car slightly modified to be able to race competitively against the then newly formed World Rally Car (WRC) regulations from the
1997 season. Mitsubishi continued to adhere to Group A regulations until the
San Remo Rally Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally ...
in
2001
The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...
,
World Rally Car
A World Rally Car is a racing automobile built to the specific regulations set by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and designed for competition in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The cars were introduced in 1997 as a repl ...
class cars. Lancer Evolutions were successful in WRC Rallies from
1996
File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
to
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...
, mostly in the hands of Finnish driver
Tommi Mäkinen
Tommi Antero Mäkinen (; born 26 June 1964) is a Finnish racing executive and former driver.
Mäkinen is one of the most successful WRC drivers of all time, ranking fifth in rally wins (24) and third in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkune ...
, clinching
driver's titles in four-consecutive seasons from 1996 to 1999 (in Evolutions III, IV, V, and VI), and with the help of teammate
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns (17 January 1971 – 25 November 2005) was an English rally driver who won the 2001 World Rally Championship, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world ...
in clinching the
constructors' championship for the first, and thus far only time in
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...
. The Evolution however was replaced in late 2001 by the firm's first World Rally Car, named simply the
Lancer Evolution WRC, which was driven by Makinen,
Freddy Loix
Freddy Loix (born 10 November 1970) is a Belgian rally driver.
Career
Loix's career in motor sport began in karting at the age of 15. In 1990, he bought his first rally car, a Lancia Delta group N, though he soon progressed to a Mitsubishi Gal ...
,
Alister McRae
Alister McRae (born 20 December 1970) is a British rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship. He is the son of the five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and the younger brother of the late 1995 World Rally Champion, Col ...
and
François Delecour
François Delecour (born 30 August 1962) is a French rally driver.
Biography
Career in World Rally Championship
François Delecour began rallying in 1981, in the French national championship. He entered his first major event, the Monte Carlo R ...
with relatively limited success, until Mitsubishi took a sabbatical from the championship at the end of
2002
File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...
. It was succeeded for the 2004
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rallye Monte-Carlo (officially ''Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo'') is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco. The rally now takes place along the French Riviera in Monaco and southeast ...
by the
Lancer WRC04
The Mitsubishi Lancer WRC is a World Rally Car built by Ralliart, Mitsubishi Motors' motorsport division, to compete in the World Rally Championship. The previous Lancer Evolution series were homologated for the Group A class, and their competiti ...
. Mitsubishi pulled out of the World Rally Championship after the
2005 season with the
Lancer WRC05 still being driven by privateers including Italian former works driver
Gigi Galli
Gianluigi Galli (born 13 January 1973), better known as Gigi Galli, is an Italian rally driver, best known for his spectacular driving style. He comes from, and lives in Livigno, Italy.
Career
Galli debuted in the World Rally Championship at the ...
and the Swede,
Daniel Carlsson, in the years following. The Lancer Evolution however still competes in the
Group N
In relation to international motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to regulations providing 'standard' large scale series production vehicles for competition. They are limited in terms of modifications permitted to the standard specific ...
category.
In some European markets, the Evolution was sold as the Mitsubishi Carisma GT, and indeed to this effect the works WRC team's second car in the late 1990s, usually driven by Burns and subsequently Loix, was customarily entered as a ''Carisma GT''.
Proton Motors of
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
raced Evolution III's, Evolution V's (most notable with Proton 1784 where Malaysian driver
Karamjit Singh
Karamjit Singh ( pa, ਕਰਮਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Karamajīta sigha; born 29 January 1962), also known as the Flying Sikh, is a Malaysian professional race driver in rallying, and was the first Asian driver to win the Fédération Internati ...
won the 2002 Production Car WRC) and an Evolution VII as the Proton PERT in various
Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
The Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) is an international rally championship organized by the FIA encompassing rounds in Asia and Oceania. Group N cars dominated the championship for many years but in recent years cars built to R5 and S20 ...
and APAC rally series.
Track racing
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution won the
with a trio of Evolution X models.
The Mitsubishi Evo has recently won and made runner-up in the 2011 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.
Most recently, (2005–2006) the CT9A chassis Evolution has been dominant in Time Attack (time trials) throughout the world. CyberEvo's CT9A chassis Lancer Evolution (now retired) previously held the OEM chassis record at Japan's Tsukuba Circuit for Time Attack, as well as the Australian record at Eastern Creek Raceway. Sierra Sierra Enterprise's CT9A chassis Evolution holds the U.S. Time Attack record. The Tilton Interiors CT9A chassis Lancer Evolution held the time attack record at Sydney Motorsport Park until October 2016 where MCA "Hammerhead" Nissan Silvia reset the record.
The Lancer Evolution VIII was used in
Stock Car Brasil
Stock Car Pro Series, formerly known as Stock Car Brasil, is a touring car auto racing series based in Brazil organized by Vicar. It is considered the major Brazilian and South American motorsports series. Starting in 1979 with Chevrolet as the ...
from 2005 to
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
, with
Cacá Bueno
Carlos Eduardo Santos Galvão Bueno Filho, better known as Cacá Bueno (born 24 January 1976) is a Brazilian professional racing driver. He competes full-time in the Stock Car Pro Series, driving the No. 0 Chevrolet Cruze for Crown Racing. He i ...
won the series twice from 2006 to 2007.
The car won the
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
and
2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour
The 2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour was an endurance race for Group 3E Series Production Cars. It was the seventh running of the Bathurst 12 Hour, and the third since the races 2007 revival.
The race was won by defending champions, Rod Salmon's TMR ...
endurance race.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has also been used by professional drifters in countries like Japan, Italy and Poland, with notable results being obtained by driver Naoto Suenaga of Team Orange.
Hill climbing
The Evolution IX won the
European Hill Climb Championship 11 times since 2007, with 13 wins also in the
FIA International Hill Climb Cup
The FIA International Hill Climb Cup is an FIA-run motorsport competition held across World on public roads, created in 2014, resulting form the merge between FIA European Hill Climb Cup and FIA International Hill Climb Challenge
Unlike circuit ra ...
.
Awards
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution won Consumer Search's best Aggressive sports sedan in Best Sports Sedans in June 2006. During 2004–2005 alone it won six major awards, being declared "Sports Car of the Year" in Scotland and France, "''
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
K ...
'' Sports Car 2004" in Poland, "Best New Production Car Under €60,000" in Greece, "Sport Compact Car of the Year" in 2004 and 2005 (''Sport Compact Car'' magazine) and "2005 All-Star" (''Automobile'' magazine) in the United States and ''Motor'' magazine's Best "Bang for Your Bucks" Australia. Also in 2004, the Lancer Evo was presented with the Editors' Choice Award by ''
Grassroots Motorsports
''Grassroots Motorsports'' (GRM) is an American print and digital periodical devoted to hardcore sports cars, driving skill improvement, technical advice, and amateur motorsports such as road racing, autocross and rallying. It was established in ...
''. The Lancer Evolution X was named as the "Best Performance Car under $50K" by Canadian TV show ''Motoring 2009'', and won the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's 2009 "Best New Technology" award. It was also nominated as one of the top 10 "World Performance Car of the Year", won the Automotive Excellence Awards' 2008 "Fun to Drive" category, and took Dave TV's "Sports Car of the Year" award in 2008.
"Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X takes Dave TV's "2008 Sports Car of the Year" award"
, 4wheelsnews.com, November 18, 2008
References
External links
*
{{Mitsubishi Motors timeline (North America) 1980 to date
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, popularly referred to as the 'Evo', is a sports sedan and rally car based on the Lancer that was manufactured by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 until 2016. There have been ten official version ...
Rally cars
Sport compact cars
Sports sedans
Police vehicles
Cars introduced in 1991
Cars discontinued in 2016
2000s cars
2010s cars
Cars powered by transverse 4-cylinder engines
World Rally championship-winning cars
de:Mitsubishi Lancer#Motorsport und Evo-Modelle