Mitsubishi 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 versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a Roman numeral. All generations use two-litre intercooled turbo inline four-cylinder engines and all-wheel drive systems.
The Lancer was originally intended only for Japanese markets, but demand on the "grey import" market led the Evolution series to be offered through Ralliart dealer networks in the United Kingdom and in various European markets from around 1998. Mitsubishi decided to export the eighth generation Evolution to the United States in 2003 after witnessing the success Subaru had in that market the previous year with the Subaru Impreza WRX.
All domestic-market versions, until the release of the Evolution IX in 2005, were limited by a gentlemen's agreement 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.

Evolution I

The first Lancer Evolution used the 2.0 L turbocharged DOHC engine and AWD drivetrain from the original Galant VR-4 in a Lancer chassis, and was sold in GSR and RS models. This engine was also used in the Mitsubishi RVR 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, a rear wiper, and had steel wheels to weigh approximately less than the GSR, ready for racing or tuning.
As with the previous Galant VR4, a lightweight RS version was available which omitted electric windows, A/C and other luxuries. Mechanically identical to the GSR aside from a mechanical plate type rear limited-slip differential. 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 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. The subsequent Evolution Lancer models all featured rear mechanical plate type LSD's.

Evolution II

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 the RS models left the factory with steel wheels.

Evolution III

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, which resulted in a power output of at 6,250 rpm and torque of at 3,000 rpm. As per the previous Evolution II, an RS model was available.
8,998 GSRs were built, along with 1,082 RS models, making for a total of 10,080 examples of the Evolution III.

Evolution IV

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.
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 3,000 rpm. Mitsubishi's new Active Yaw Control 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. Mitsubishi had planned to produce only 6,000 Evolution IVs, which were completely sold out just three days after its release.
The Evolution IV can be distinguished by its two large fog lights in the front bumper, 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 .
Much of the technical improvements for this generation were also used in the second-generation Mitsubishi RVR 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.
  • 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, manual windows and mirrors.
  • GSR – "Gran Sport Racing" – 5-speed manual transmission, AYC, anti-lock brakes, black-red Recaro front bucket seats, Driver and Passenger-side Airbag, full auto air conditioner, Single DIN AM/FM/Cassette Stereo player 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, 5-inch Double DIN TV Tuner/CD Player head unit.

    Evolution V

Many aspects of the car were changed such as:
  • The interior was upgraded in the GSR version with a better class of Recaro 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..
  • The track was widened by, the wheel offset changed from ET45 to ET38 along with the wheel diameter which rose from 16 inches to 17 inches to accommodate Brembo 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 turbocharger as the Mitsubishi Evolution IV.
Furthermore, the turbocharger was again improved. Torque was increased to at 3,000 rpm. Power officially stayed the same, at.
  • RS – "rally sport" close-ratio 5-speed manual transmission, minimal interior, rally suspension, 1.5-way limited-slip differential,.
  • GSR – 5-speed manual transmission, gauge pack, AYC, anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger-side airbags, Recaro front bucket and rear seats, auto air conditioner, single DIN AM/FM/cassette stereo player, power windows, and Brembo 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, the first in a production car. Output was rated at at 6,500 rpm and maximum torque 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 big 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 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 who had won Mitsubishi four WRC drivers championships. It featured a different front bumper, Red/Black Recaro seats, 17-inch white Enkei wheels, a leather Momo steering wheel and shift knob, a titanium turbine that spooled up more quickly, front upper strut brace, lowered ride height, and a quicker steering ratio. Amongst other colours, the Evo VI came in either red, 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.