Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX: First Look

By Feann Torr - 8/03/2005

News: We road test Mitsubishi's banzai Evo IX right here. Check out what Feann Torr thought of the car after hammering it for a full week through the Australian alps.

For more than a decade Mitsubishi's rally-bred Evolution cars have been scaring drivers witless with their stupefying grip levels, balanced chassis dynamics and stomach-wrenching levels of acceleration.

The basic recipe for Evo success involves a stiff and durable chassis, a small footprint for rapid turn-in and a banzai turbo motor hooked up to an AWD transmission.

Et voila - viva la Evolution!

In 1992, the original Evo made a cautious debut, and now, more than a decade later, the new Evolution IX (Evo 9) has hit the domestic market in Japan, creating the next chapter in the history of Mitsubishi's almost-mythical hero car.

Mitsubishi's ninth Lancer Evolution takes the story to a new place, not so much in terms of appearance, but certainly performance.

As you can see from the photos, it doesn't appear as though the new Evolution's sheet metal has been altered greatly, though the die-hard Evo aficionados are sure to pick up on some the nuances here and there, such as the small fog lights up front and the disappearance of Olivier Boulay's bold triangle in the grille.

One of the most obvious visual changes to the giant-killing turbocharged small car is at the rear, where a race car inspired diffuser adds contrast to the colour scheme (unless you buy a black one), while at the same time reducing the turbulence in the airflow underneath the car for better high speed stability.

Mitsubishi made the subtle changes to the exterior of the car to better reflect the current WRC Rally car, with the abovementioned fog lights located either side of the front-mount intercooler forming part of the new front bumper section.

This front end may may look similar to the Evo VIII, but in fact is all new and includes a number of changes to improve performance.

The lower air dam's opening has been increased to "raise engine cooling efficiency" by providing the intercooler with greater volumes of air, and in Japan you can even specify your brand-spanking Evo IX with an air dam extension and rear wing Gurney flap that help to improve the Mitsubishi's aerodynamics.

New-look alloy wheels also form part of the Evo IX's exterior upgrade, and inside the car things have been tizzied up as well, but like the exterior the alterations are not exactly what you'd call dramatic and most people probably won't care, with the changes limited to the dashboard finish and the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, while better acoustic damping works its magic unseen.

Having driven an Evo VI TME and an Evo VIII, it must be said that their flamboyant appearances certainly do garner a bit of attention on the road, but of far more import to most enthusiastic drivers as well as for me is the way in which these turbocharged cars go about their business.

And in 2005, we can expect even more fireworks.

Perhaps the biggest new feature to the Evolution's 1997cc powerplant is the adoption of variable valve timing on the intake system, or MIVEC as the Japanese car maker calls it (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system).

The MIVEC system helps the 16-valve 4G63 engine liberate more power at higher revs and more torque at lower revs, with peak torque of 400Nm @ 3000rpm and maximum power of 206kW (280hp) @ 6500rpm.

Mitsubishi also made changes to the exhaust-gas driven turbocharger "that result in higher torque and produce better response for improved engine performance across its full rev range" to use Mitsubishi's own words.

Such increased engine performance puts the 0-100km/h sprint time at 5.9 seconds according to the Japanese figures, with top speed at just over 230km/h.

In Japan, the Evolution IX is offered in three trim levels, with the GSR benefiting from all of Mitsubishi's rally-derived gadgets for the ultimate road-going ride, giving drivers grip and handling levels that would make Lamborghini Gallardo owners take notice.

The GSR gets ACD (Active Center Differential), Super AYC (Active Yaw Control), customised ABS (Sport ABS braking) and an electronically controlled all-wheel control component system, not to mention a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Next up is the RS, the motorsport model that was created to cater for the rally motorsport market, which incorporates a lighter body, a new titanium-magnesium turbocharger compressor wheel (instead of aluminium alloy), a 5-speed close ratio gearbox plus ACD and a mechanical rear LSD all-wheel control. It tips the scales at just 1320kg, lighter than the GSR and GT, weighing 1410kg and 1390kg respectively.

The third model is the GT, a new model for the Evolution series, which features the best of the GSR and RS models, which "brings together RS's turbocharger and drivetrain specification and GSR's comfort-bias body with its enhanced sound deadening," according to Mitsubishi. As a result of the lighter turbo compressor wheel, the RS and GT models make 407Nm @ 3000rpm, up 7Nm on the GSR model.

All Mitsubishi Evolution IX models feature new rear springs that reduce the vehicle's height somewhat, a move that the Japanese automaker says improves rear end stability in the RS and GT models and for the GSR enables the Super AYC to work a little more effectively at high cornering speeds.

The aluminium roof panel first seen on the Evolution VIII MR model has been fitted to all models for 2005, and other features include freshly tuned Bilstein shockers in addition to big Brembo brakes on the on GSR and GT models.

Whether Australian-specification Evolution IX models pack the full 400Nm, 206kW experience remains to be seen, and particularly when Japan has higher quality fuel on offer (meaning de-tuning to suit local fuel grades), but the new Evolution IX is without doubt one of the most powerful cars Mitsubishi has ever released.

And let's not forget about the Evo IX's contemporary new look either, with the aggressive rear end and new look front combining to create an even more athletic and appealing image than before. Going up against Subaru's perennially popular WRX STi will be no cake walk, but the new 2005 Evolution IX is packing more power and more features than before, and you can be sure we'll be on the blower to Mitsubishi booking our test drive in the new model when it arrives Down Under later in year, expected to be September or October.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation