Mitsubishi Evo: the heritage and history

The Evolution name remains a core influence for Mitsubishi even to this day. Find out more about the Mitsubish Evo and its history and hertiage here.

Well, what can we say about the Mitsubishi Evo? Also, know as the Lancer Evolution, the Evo might have reached the end of its production life, but it’s a saloon that’s progressed and has a heritage that many of us will never forget.

Launched in October 1992, the Evo was the next step in taking the Lancer further, which was already a car with nearly 20 years of heritage. The Evolution added to this and really set the scene for the rally world.

Its reputation of being hard-hitting and relentless has been built up over the years and it’s fair to say that it has proven to be a success since the day it was born. When it was born, all 2500 models were sold out in Japan, in just three days after its launch, mind-blowing!

Evo body and engine

Powered by the Japanese carmaker’s 4G63 2.0-litre turbo engine, it successfully produced 244bhp at 6000rpm and 228lb-ft at 3000rpm, which is plenty. The 0-60mph was all taken care of in just 5.1 seconds, the Evo was able to hit top speeds of 143mph pretty quickly, which is cracking.

The standard lightweight and compact typical Lancer body had evolved, making it more rigid and reducing its weight. Therefore, its aerodynamics improved and the suspension was also given a bit of a tweak too. All of these little things made the Evo an even tougher bit of kit and it was the car to beat.

Without a doubt, you could tell that the Evo was a car that was built both on the inside and out, for racing. Just to give it that boost, the lightweight rally machine was also given extra power by using the 4G63-type intercooler turbo engine delivering torque through one of the best 4WD systems out there. Of course, it wouldn’t be a racing car without some little additions to make it that little bit more competitive, which is why the engine was modified to produce 250 PS (246bhp), giving it an extra 10 PS.

After a few years, along came the Lancer Evolution III, which had a few body tweaks, such as new side skirts and a large rear spoiler, giving the Evo that more bullish aura as some like to call it. Kicking out 270bhp at 6250rpm, with a 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 149mph, the Evo had so much going for it.

Evo and rally wins

We can’t talk about the heritage and history of the Mitsubishi Evo without talking about the World Rally Championship. Just to give you a bit of background; for the Evo to be officially categorised, the model of car had to have an annual production volume of at least 2,500 units. Thank heavens that the initial production of the Evo did produce this number of units, even if they were sold out in just three days.

So what now? The Evo was fast on the track and lived up to its status. The Evo was living it up after the 1996 Rally Championships when it won its first drivers’ title, thanks to Tommi Makinen. Makinen then went on to win four championship drivers’ titles driving the Evo from 1996-1999. What a legend.

Then in 1999, to celebrate Mitsubishi’s wins, they produced the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition. Imagine having an Evo produced thanks to your rally wins?

Evo legacy

Over its lifetime, the Evo has progressed incredibly and has featured some great innovations, wouldn’t you agree? For example, the Evo IV was the first car to feature Active Yaw Control or AYC for short, this means that it had active control over the driving and braking forces between the wheels. These smart differences can direct the car’s torque to any wheel at any moment, which is what makes it so great. This helps with cornering at high speeds without flying off the track.

We also saw some improvements just after the first model was launched with Evolution II. Its handling was next level and its increased wheelbase of 10mm and wider front and rear track was needed to accommodate those larger wheels and tyres. Power was also up to a whopping 252bhp from the same car, but the Evolution II was 10kg heavier than its predecessor.

Since the Evo launched in the UK back in 2000, it’s safe to say that the Evo went down a treat and in just a few weeks they were all gone, even with their price tag of £32,995. It’s been a love affair between British rally fans and the Evo for donkeys that will last forever, long after its production.

If you fancy testing the waters with an Evo and seeing what all the hype is about, why not let us help you get rid of your current car first? With just a click of a button and entering your reg number, you can find out just how much your car is worth and be on the road to selling it to one of our trusted car buyers in just seconds. If that sounds likes something you’re up for, or maybe you just want to see how much your car is worth, just head over to our online valuation tool today and let us help you sell your car for the best price possible.

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