EVOLUTION OF A LIFETIME : MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO IX

MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION IX (2006 – 2007)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

One of the most favorite JDM cars on earth today, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX is not a normal car – it’s a deadly weapon! The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution(commonly known as “Evo”) is Japanese brand’s flagship sports car. Based only on the unibody of the domesticated Lancer sedan the Evo is a rally inspired, turbocharged, all wheel drive, durable and finely tuned automobile. Mitsubishi introduced the Lancer Evolution IX in Japan in 2005. The Lancer Evolution IX has 4 models: standard (Grand Sport Rally or "GSR" in some markets), RS (Rally Sport), SE (Special Edition) and MR (Mitsubishi Racing) which vary slightly in their performance capabilities. Each model varies in acceleration, handling and top speed.

PERFORMANCE

The 2.0 L 4G63 engine has MIVEC technology (variable valve timing), and a revised turbocharger design boosting official power output at the crankshaft to 286 bhp and torque to 392 Nm. It is capable of reaching 250 kmph 0-100 kmph time for standard Evo IX is 4.7 seconds. All models use the same 286 hp engine. All models use a front and rear LSD (Limited Slip Differential), and an ACD (Active Center Differential). The RS is the purist here, reaching 60 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds, compared to 4.5 for the slightly heavier IX and MR models (which have power windows, rear spoilers, and Xenon lights). Weight savings of over 60 pounds give the RS a subtly sharper handling responsiveness but the lightest RS did not succeed in outperforming heavier SE and MR models because of the lack of rear wing. The RS model was produced for rally and racing teams who wanted a platform to build a race car from. It is stripped of all the creature comforts, and other upgrades that drive the price up for features that the race teams would not require.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR

The Evo IX MR keeps all the Evolution VIII MR specs like Bilstein shocks, a 6-speed manual transmission, vortex generators, BBS alloy wheels, Recaro bucket seats, Brembo brakes, MOMO steering wheel, and an aluminium roof. Additional revisions from 2005 include a closer gear ratio for the 5-speed transmission, new lighter Enkei wheels on non-MR models, a redesigned front end, a more efficient air dam (the most noticeable feature are the two small oval ducts to cool the intercooler pipes) and new rear bumper with a diffuser undersurface to smooth out the airflow coming out of the car.

APPEARANCES

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI was featured in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX in "Fast and Furios : Tokyo Drift"

It has appeared in many racing video games like Need For Speed : Carbon, Pro Street, Shift, Shift 2 Unleashed, Forza Horizon series, Forza Motorsport 4,5 & 6, Project cars and Gran Turismo 5 & 6.