Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
A turbocharged, all-wheel-drive rally-bred sports sedan from Mitsubishi.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution—often called the "Lancer Evo," "LanEvo," or simply "Evo"—is a sports sedan and rally car built by Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 to 2016. It is based on the Lancer and saw ten official versions, typically identified by Roman numerals. Every generation features a two-liter, intercooled, turbocharged inline-four engine paired with an all-wheel-drive system.
Originally designed only for Japan, the Evolution series reached the UK and various European markets around 1997 with the Evolution IV, sold through Ralliart dealer networks due to grey import demand. Mitsubishi began exporting the Evolution VIII to the United States in 2003, following Subaru’s success there with the Impreza WRX the year before.
Until the 2005 Evolution IX, all Japanese-market versions were limited by a gentlemen’s agreement among Japanese automakers to advertise no more than 280 PS. However, sources indicate Mitsubishi had been building cars with higher power but underreporting the figures to comply. As a result, each subsequent version unofficially exceeded the advertised output, with the Japanese Evolution IX reportedly reaching around 320 PS. Some special versions in other markets, particularly the UK, had official outputs as high as 446 PS.
The tenth and final generation, the Evolution X, launched in Japan in 2007 and overseas in 2008. It was produced for nine years until Mitsubishi retired the Lancer Evolution in April 2016.
In certain European markets, the Evolution IV, V, VI, and VII were sold as the "Carisma GT." This was because the standard Lancer sedan was not widely available there at the time, and it helped boost sales of the unrelated Carisma. Initially, only the RS trim was offered in that region for competition, but RS2 or GSR specifications for the Evolution VI and VII eventually became available.
Some Lancer Evolutions were also homologated by the FIA for Proton, which used them for rally activities with their own badges. The Evolution II and III were rebadged as the "Proton Wira 4WD Turbo," while the V, VI, and VII were renamed the "Proton PERT."
**Evolution I**
The first Lancer Evolution used the 2.0-liter turbocharged DOHC engine and all-wheel-drive system from the Galant VR-4, placed in a Lancer chassis. It came in two models: the base GSR Evolution and the GSR Evolution RS.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Mitsubishi Motors
- Production
- 1992–2016
- Assembly
- Japan: · Okazaki, Aichi (Nagoya Plant: first to ninth generations) · Kurashiki, Okayama (Mizushima Plant: tenth generation)
- Class
- Sport compact car
- Layout
- Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (S-AWC)
- Engine
- 2.0 L I4 turbo · 4G63T (1992–2007) · 4B11T (2008–2016)
- Transmission
- 6-speed TC-SST (2007–2015) · 5-speed automatic (2002, 2006–2007) · 5-speed manual (1992–2016) · 6-speed manual (2003–2008)
- Predecessor
- Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
- Related
- Mitsubishi Lancer · Mitsubishi Lancer WRC · Mitsubishi Racing Lancer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Lancer Evolution 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 1997 with the Evolution IV. Mitsubishi decided to export the Evolution VIII 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 280 PS. 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 320 PS. Various special versions available in other markets, particularly the UK, have official power outputs up to 446 PS.
In certain markets in Europe, the Evolution IV, V, VI and VII were sold under the "Carisma GT" name. This decision was made because the regular Lancer sedan was not widely sold in that region at the time and also to boost the sales of the unrelated Carisma. Some of the Lancer Evolutions were also homologated by FIA for Proton, which bore their emblems for their rally activities.
Reader's Guide
The Lancer Evolution's significance lies in its continuous evolution across ten generations, each refining the formula of a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and all-wheel drive. Originally a Japan-only model, it gained international fame through grey imports and later official exports, notably to the United States in 2003. The series is notable for the gentlemen's agreement that capped advertised power at 280 PS for Japanese-market cars, though actual outputs were often higher, with the Evolution IX allegedly reaching 320 PS. Special versions in markets like the UK offered up to 446 PS. The Evolution X, the final generation, was produced from 2007 until 2016. The car's rally heritage is underscored by its use in competition and its homologation for Proton, which rebadged several generations for their rally activities. The Evolution IV introduced Active Yaw Control, a system that computer-hydraulically controlled torque split to the rear wheels, becoming a hallmark of the series.
Did You Know?
- The Evolution I was sold in both GSR and RS models, with the RS weighing about 70 kg less than the GSR.
- The Evolution IV was the last model considered 'compact' under Japanese dimension regulations.
- The Evolution X was produced for 9 years until Mitsubishi retired the Lancer Evolution in April 2016.
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