Mitsubishi Evolution IX, a class apart
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution first arrived in 1992 originally to give Mitsubishi a path into the World Rally Championship’s Group A class and the SCCA Pro rally Championship. The debut Evolution’s were only for sale in Japan originally and were crafted on the standard Mitsubishi Lancer saloon.
The car soon developed a cult following and started to enter the european market as a sought after grey-market import. The keen interest soon triggered official imports to the UK in 1998.
The very first model had a 5 speed gearbox and a powerful 2.0 litre engine, brought together with a four wheel drive system, this car could bump out 244bhp which was pretty meaty stuff for a saloon. This was the president which was set for future standards for the Evo, and Mitsubishi didn’t come off the gas at any point giving us many different and powerful versions of a classic motor car.
The Evo was built alongside the more family orientated Lancer Saloon, like a hot headed big brother, and though the evo got heavier, the power and the handling got better and better until Mitsubishi had literally evolved a cult classic. The Evolution developed respect amongst speed freaks and rally drivers alike and although the car wasn’t a real eye opener to look at, under the bonnet punch was key to a long and successful life.
The Evolution IX was introduced in 2006 and was the final box edged Evo to grace us before a replacement model was drafted in. This model was a very different beast to the original and sported a lightweight aluminum roof and larger carbon fibre rear wing for better weight ratio and snake control. The engine was still a 2.0 litre turbo with variable valve control, and really kicked in with 345 bhp controlled by a 6 speed sports box.
This car could hit a top speed of 158mph and find its way to 60mph within 4.2 seconds, which is a real thrill, pressing you hard into the back of your bucket seat. So we know the Evo can shift, but it was popular for more than just the meaty engine. Rally drivers loved the Evo because of the fantastic handling system, very smooth, maybe one of the top handling hot saloons developed.
Due to the characteristics of the Evo there were not many cars that could beat it from A to B on a winding roads or track, mainly because of the four wheel drive and a very low centre of gravity. The awesome handling was due to the super active yaw control and Bilsten Dampers, so if you can get your hands on one, enjoy it to the max, don’t hold it back.
Mitsubishi hinted quite heavily at what the future Evolution X may look like when they unveiled the Concept X show car in 2005. The visuals had changed with smoother lines and modern bodystyle to entice the changing market trends, gone are the squared edges. All this aside, the car remains true the Evo traditions, but fresher and sexier. The Evolution has once again evolved.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 11:14 am and is filed under Auto Insurance News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.