Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo or Evo, is a sports saloon built by Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 to 2016. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral. All uses two-litre, turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive systems. The saloon is directly competitor to Subaru Impreza WRX STi as both compete in WRC.
From first to nineth-gen uses a 4G63T version, by the introduction of fourth generation model the engine and transaxle were rotated at 180 degrees for better weight balance and to overcome the torque steer, also this was the earliest car to equipped with torque vectoring differential or known as the AYC (Active Yaw Control) which became standard on the GSR-trim model in all generations.
With the introduction of the last generation the engine was replaced the newer version the 4B11T, with an additional of Twin-Clutch SST flappy paddle gearbox includes the newer version of 4WD system the S-AWC. Manual gearbox reverted to 5-speed.
Evo was originally intended only for Japanese markets, but demand on the "grey import" market led the Evo 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 with their Impreza WRX, a direct competitor in other global regions. A re-badged version of the car has appeared in Malaysian markets as the Proton PERT, alongside Proton range of modified Lancers under the Proton Wira nameplate.
Mitsubishi released a limited-edition to commemorate the success of Tommi Mäkinen with 4 consecutive rally driver's championship from 1996 to 1999 as "Tommi Mäkinen edition" or Evo 6.5 comes with special stripe vinyl and red colour. Although, this is the only single manufacturer win in 1998 World Rally Championship.
UK-spec trim model was simply badging as "FQ" model with the Evo VIII to X. but adds the "MR" for 400-hp version. FQ-series are the exact horsepower (e.g. FQ-260, FQ-360, etc.).
Evo has been used many times on Top Gear for several challenges and tests.
In 2016, Lancer Evolution ceased production with the last trim as Final Edition.
Appearances[]
- In Clarkson: Head to Head, Jeremy pits the Evo VI against the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, the BMW Z3M Coupe and the Alfa Romeo GTV6. He praises the Evo's handling and grip.
- In Clarkson's Top 100 Cars, Jeremy ranks the Evo VI in 15th place, for similar reasons as the Impreza.
- In Clarkson: At Full Throttle, Jeremy reviews the latest Evo VII. He praises the car's handling, grip and ease of driving.
- In Clarkson's Car Years (How Japan Took Over The World... And Then Lost It episode), Jeremy recalls the Evo VI for astonishing performance along the GC8 Impreza coupe.
- In Series 2, Episode 6, Jeremy heads to Scotland to pit the latest Evo VIII FQ300 against the latest Subaru Impreza WRX STI. While he praises the Evo's handling, sharpness and responsiveness, he and Richard ultimately prefer the Impreza for being an easier car to live with. At the hands of the Stig, around the Top Gear Test Track, it sets a time of 1:28.9 being over a second faster than the Subaru.
- In Clarkson: Shoot-Out, Jeremy compares the latest Evo VIII FQ300 against the latest Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the Audi S4. He praises the Evo's handling, sharpness, responsiveness and excitement, with it winning the category of AWD Saloons. Ultimately it loses to the Vauxhall VX220 for overall fun car of 2003 due to it's harshness in living with and embarrassment.
- In Series 4, Episode 4, Richard pits the Evo VIII FQ320 against the latest Subaru Impreza WRX STI WR1 with times set by the Stig, around the Top Gear Test Track. The Evo ends up improving massively with a time of 1:26.0 making it nearly 3 seconds faster than the FQ300 and substantially faster than the Subaru.
- In Clarkson: Hot Metal, Jeremy pits an Evo VIII FQ340 against an Evo I in a slalom test, with both cars completing it in exactly the same time.
- In Series 5, Episode 2, Richard conducts an experiment racing a world champion all-terrain skateboarder against Ben Collins in a Mitsubishi Evo VII world rally car.
- In Series 5, Episode 7, Jeremy reviews the Evo VIII FQ400 to see if it can keep up with a Lamborghini Murcielago around the Top Gear Test Track. He praises the car's acceleration, speed, handling, brakes and ease of driving, proving it can keep up with the Lambo driven by James Kay, who ends up spinning it. After this, Jeremy slates the Evo for it's clutch, interior quality, turning circle, ride, stereo and turbo lag in failing to keep up with a 1.2L Fiat Stilo, ultimately concluding it to be terrible car and that one would be better off with a cheaper Evo. At the hands of the Stig, it sets an impressive time of 1:24.8.
- In Series 5, Episode 8, James along with Henning Solvig in an Evo VI WRC lose to Richard and a team of bobsleighers as they race in Norway. This sequence was later repeated in the Winter Olympics Special. That same episode, an Evo VIII manages to beat an Audi Quattro in a race around the Top Gear Test Track.
- In Clarkson: Heaven and Hell, Jeremy in a Vauxhall Monaro VXR fails to keep up with an the Stig in an Evo VIII FQ400 in a short race. He then introduces the Evo IX.
- In Series 11, Episode 2, Jeremy compares the new Evo X FQ360 to the latest Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Top Gear Test Track. He massively prefers the Evo stating it to be better looking, sharper, more powerful, way nicer to drive, and to be one of the best handling cars in the world. However he ultimately states he'd have the FQ300 model as the latest model had a "pipette" for a fuel tank. To make the comparison fair, the Stig takes the FQ300 round which sets a time of 1:28.22 making 0.02 seconds slower than the Impreza.
- While going against the D Motor in Series 11, Episode 6, James gives presenter Carston von Ryssen the Evo X FQ360 as a representation of Japan. Ultimately it comes fifth in the race.
- In Top Gear Australia, S2E1, Morrisson reviews the Evo X FQ360 comparing against the BMW M135i driven by Pizzati. The Evo then sets a time of 1:14.28 around their track.
- In Series 13, Episode 4, Jeremy tries to outrun the British Army in a game of British Bulldog in an modified Evo VII. Although he made it 3/4s of the way the Evo was gunned down and destroyed by the British Army. It was later revealed that the Evo belonged to a drug dealer and was due to be scrapped but Jeremy opted for the car to have a heroic fighting chance.
- In Top Gear USA "Blind Drift" Foust races an Evo X against some skiers, which he wins. Later the car sets a time of 1:29.2 around their track.
- In Series 17, Episode 3, an Evo VII is spotted amongst the other £6995 cars.
- In A Scandi Flick, May chose a Evo VIII GSR as the ultimate Rally Car against Hammond in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI V Limited and Clarkson in an Audi RS4. The car had a slight body modification includes canards and front splitter. During filming the May crashed the Evo into a wall at 75mph, suffering with a bloodied’ head, pain in his back and neck and ‘at least one broken rib’. Unfortunately, his car got stuck and covered with the thick snow including the engine as he pops-up the bonnet, thus he's unable to race his Evo