Evolution of the Evo

Evolution I, II and III
Launched in October 1992 as a homologation requirement so that Mitsubishi could finally retire its long over-worked Galant from rallying, the first iteration of the Evolution featured the 4G63 engine and AWD drivetrain from the Galant VR4 on a modified Lancer chassis. It would go on to launch Mitsubishi's race for dominance in WRC. With improved handling and driving dynamics, as well as more power, the second generation of the Evolution (produced from January 1994) looked almost the same, but was a more well-rounded performer both on the rally course and on the street. Aggressive bodywork and even more power (270+ bhp) was included in the Evo III, produced from February 1995 onwards.

 

 

Evolution IV, V and VI
The first design change of the Evolution accompanied the design change of the base model Lancers in August 1996, and Mitsubishi probably took inspiration from Samurai Shoguns in designing the bodywork, which was a visceral mix of fender flares, spoilers, and vents. Combined with the high tech Active Yaw Control sensors and better weight distribution, the Evo IV cemented the reputation of the Lancer Evolution name as a seriously high-performance machine for the relative price of almost peanuts. The Evo V, launched 2 years after the IV in 1998, had a few minor performance improvements, but the major changes were mostly on the outside. Featuring better cooling and a bigger intercooler for more horsepower, the Evo VI is a favourite for most people because it was the final iteration of the most aggressive line of Evos (IV, V and VI). The front was facelifted with sleeker headlights and hood, as well as smaller foglights and bumper inlets for better airflow.

 

 

 

Evolution VII, VIII, IX
The modern generation of the Evolution was available worldwide due to a massive demand for the four door rocketships, as opposed to the Japanese market only Evos of past years. The VII had an all new design, sleek, modern, and eventually, iconic. The VIII and IX all had similar designs, except for different bumpers and light clusters. The car still used the same basic engine since the Evo I, the 4G63, but through an entire decade of refinement and tweaking, the engine reached its peak performance in these generations. The downside? Post 2000 Evolutions were heavy and burdened down with modern safety requirements, mandatory additions without which they wouldn't be allowed to sell in North America and Europe. Even then, the Evolution kept its fearsome agility and turbocharged power on the tap, and took on supercars worth three times its value.

 

 

 

Evolution X
The first ever all-new Evolution, the 10th generation car was powered by an engine which immediately put off the purists, who claimed it would be the end of the Evolution as a choice of the typical “tuner-crowd” member. They couldn't have been more wrong about it. The 4B11 engine was snapped up by tuners like JUN and HKS, who tuned it to an inch of its life, easily squeezing out more than 500 hp with basic modifications. Even the twin-clutch SST gearbox was welcomed with wide-open arms by Mitsubishi loyalists. Sadly, with the Evo X came Mitsubishi's announcement that they would not be competing in the WRC anymore, making the Evo X a super-fast street car with no official motorsport variant.
What's next for the Evolution? Mitsubishi has broken the cycle of introducing an improved Evolution every three years or so, with the Evo X remaining relatively unchanged since its launch in 2007. However, we haven't given up hope, and we cant wait to see what Mitsubishi brings us next.

2 liter, turbocharged 4 cylinder engines, all-wheel drive, massive spoilers and an incredibly loyal fan following; Mitsubishi's wonder car took the definition of “performance sedan” to a whole new level. The Lancer Evolution is so much more than a roman numeral stuck to the back of a very fast car; it could convince a hardcore Catholic priest of the virtues of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Before denouncing God and living the life of turbocharged lunacy, however, lets take a step back and take a look at the Evolution's glorious history.