Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX Range
Mitsubishi Evo owners tend to be a fun-loving bunch. On a recent visit to the Nurburgring with the owners club, I was party to behaviour that certainly wouldnt become owners of BMW or Porsche performance cars. Nevertheless, despite their raucous enthusiasm for the Mitsubishi, Evo owners are closet nerds. The differences between different iterations of Evo are lost on most but to an Evo owner, its hard wired knowledge.
People dont buy cars like this on a spur of the moment whim. Buying an Evo is a big involvement decision and doing the homework is almost as involving as driving the resultant purchase. Is the classic status of an Evo VI Tommi Mak really worth forgoing the existing warranty on a low mileage Evo VIII MR? Deep jargon to most of us, but the basis for an enjoyable nights discussion to a bunch of Evo owners. The latest model to roll from the factory gates is the Evo IX and it promises to be the last of the current line of Evo models, the Evo X due in 2007 being based on a radically different hatchback platform.
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"The Lancer Evo IX is a polished evolution of a very long line"
Although the IX looks superficially similar to the VIII, there is a huge array of changes. The most fundamental is the engine, now incorporating MIVEC variable valve timing. Although the old Evo powerplant was massively superior to its key rival, the Subaru Impreza STi, in the way it deployed its torque low down, the MIVEC engine further widens that gulf, improving throttle response low down and disguising the minimal lag of the turbocharger. A lengthened turbo diffuser also helps low end tractability.
A three per cent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions are also offered. The styling has evolved too. The front end beak of the Evo VIII has been ditched, the latest car returning to the WRC-lookalike grille of the old Evo VII albeit with a redesigned front bumper assembly with additional cooling ducts. A rear diffuser also features as do lightweight five-spoke Enkei alloy wheels.
In the interests of saving weight, even the rear wing is hollow. There was never too much to provoke complaint about the Evo VIII interior, being functional if not overly stimulating. The IX continues this theme, offering a roster of standard equipment that could shame many sports cars costing twice the price. If youre a little broad in the beam, the figure hugging leather and alcantara Recaro sports seats may feel a little constricting, but its impossible to take a dislike to the leather-trimmed Momo steering wheel, the standard fit air conditioning and electric windows and mirrors, plus the Thatcham Category One alarm and remote central locking.
The range opens with the FQ-300, a 305bhp model priced at £28,141 that will accelerate to 60mph in 4.5 seconds and top out at a claimed 155mph. The FQ-320 is up next. An additional £2,000 buys you another 21bhp and 0.
2 seconds shaved off that sprint to sixty. That variant sits below the FQ-340, a car that will ask £33,141 of you and will hit sixty in a smidgeon over 4 seconds from rest. At the top of the range is the 366bhp FQ-360 at £35,641. Evo owners understand the law of diminishing returns and many of the canniest buyers plumped for the old Evo VIII 260 and took it to aftermarket tuners to boost it to beyond 320bhp for far less than Mitsubishi charged for the stock Evo VIII FQ-300.
This rendered the £6,000 list price difference between the two cars faintly academic. The same will doubtless happen with the Evo IX although Mitsubishi may be a little more wary of offering a budget model that undercuts the rest of the line up so dramatically. Otherwise the formula is much the same. Nudge the gear stick into first, dial around 4,000 revs onto the clock and sidestep the clutch and youll appreciate what the Lancer Evo can do in pretty short order.
There is a slight hiatus as the turbocharger spools up, but keep the engine on song and its almost as if somebody has switched the scenery to fast forward. So incongruous is the rate at which this souped-up saloon gathers speed that youll find yourself laughing in disbelief as the speedometer piles on ever bigger numbers. Mitsubishis top speed figure of 157mph is notoriously conservative. A quiet autobahn, an FQ-340, a Racelogic VBOX satellite data logger and a determined driver will see figures in the 175mph ballpark churn out of the laptop.
The story may be familiar and the incremental changes lost on some, but to those who know their onions, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX will be just the latest in a line of must have cars. Some owners are deeply suspicious of Mitsubishis plans for the Evo X and view the IX as possibly the last of the greats. Time will tell. One suspects Mitsubishi have a trick or two up their sleeve that will be painting grins on our faces for a long time yet.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX range
PRICES: £28,141-£35,641 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: [Evo IX MR FQ-320] 334 g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Evo IX MR FQ-320) Max Speed 157mph / 0-60mph 4.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Evo IX MR-FQ320) (combined) 21mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, ABS, EBD, AYC
