Get to know the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: history and its generations

Who does not know the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution? A legendary car that also exists in Indonesia.

Autos.id – Mitsubishi Lancer is one of the famous and legendary sedans in Indonesia. This car was one of the flagship products of Mitsubishi Motors in 1970. The popularity of Mitsubishi Lancer is also undoubted because this car was selling well in the Indonesian market and also worldwide with sales reaching seven million units in that moment.

The initial success of the Mitsubishi Lancer also went a long way towards strengthening Mitsubishi’s reputation in the global automotive industry. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, which helped grow the name of Mitsubishi in the WRC (World Rally Championship) event, was first launched in October 1992. This high-performance sports sedan directly participates in the WRC competition, where each manufacturer or participant must produce at least 2,500 automobile units of their rides for sale to the public.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution begins an extraordinary journey in the global automotive industry by launching 10 Evolution models that have become legendary. Here is the journey of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution from generation to generation.

Evolution of the first generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo I. (Source: Mitsubishi)

Having achieved the Lancer Evo’s goal of 2,500 units, the Lancer Evo I began to enter the automotive world during its production period from October 1992 to January 1994. The body design of the first generation Lancer Evo was designed to be more Lightweight and compact, equipped with Galant VR-4’s 4G63T turbocharged engine and 4WD drive system.

Lancer Evo I is equipped with a powerful 250hp engine, which is 10hp more than the Galant VR-4. Since its launch, Lancer Evo I has sold 2,500 units in just a few days.

At that time, there were two models available, namely GSR and RS. The first batch of Lancer Evo I only produced a total of 5,000 units destined for sale in Japan.

Evolution of the second generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II. (Source: Carvaganza)

In January 1994, Mitsubishi Motors introduced the second generation Lancer Evolution, the Lancer Evo II. This generation features several improvements over its predecessor.

The handling and stability department was updated by replacing the limited differential with a plate, which made the car very agile when cornering. The car’s stability is enhanced by extending the wheelbase and increasing the track.

In terms of power, this second generation has an advantage over the previous generation, even though both use the same 4G63 engine. Lancer Evo II is capable of generating 260 HP, an increase of 10 HP compared to the previous generation. The most obvious difference lies in the platform used, i.e. Lancer Evo II uses a CE9A coded platform.

The third generation of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III. (Source: Otoblitz)

The third generation Lancer Evo was introduced in February 1995 with a focus on aerodynamic concepts and engine cooling improvements. This update is done to maintain ever tighter competitiveness in the WRC event which continues to grow every year. This car achieved success by winning the world rally championship in 1996 from Tommi Makinen.

The design of the front, side and rear bumpers as well as the spoiler of the Lancer Evo III have been modified to support increased engine cooling. The engine used is also capable of delivering more power than the previous generation. There is a 10hp increase, with total power output up to 270hp.

Fourth generation Mitsubishi Lancer evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV. (Source: Pinterest)

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV was introduced in October 1995 with two complete models, namely the RS and the GSR. The Lancer Evo RS model was specially designed for rallying with the specifications and features suited to the needs of the WRC team of the time. Meanwhile, the Lancer Evo GSR model is aimed at sports car enthusiasts.

Lancer Evo IV has been equipped with Active Yaw Control (AYC) technology which acts as a balance controller between the left and right side tyres. This feature is very effective in maintaining the stability of the car during high-speed maneuvers using the all-wheel drive system. As for the engine, the Lancer Evo IV has once again increased its output by 10hp, bringing its total power output to 280hp.

Evolution of the fifth generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V. (Source: Auto Data)

The fifth generation Lancer Evo arrived in January 1998 with a number of significant changes and modifications. This happened because the FIA ​​gave car manufacturers the freedom to make extensive modifications to their cars.

The Lancer Evo V has undergone several changes from the GSR model, including the use of Recaro sports seats in the interior. While power is still the same as the previous generation, turbo performance is improved with increased torque reaching 373Nm.

Evolution of the sixth generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. (Source: Carvaganza)

The Lancer Evo VI was introduced when the Lancer was at its peak. This sixth generation was launched from January 1998 to March 2001.

In this generation, the aerodynamic design has been developed with great care without neglecting the cooling system and durability. Lancer VI uses a CP9A coded platform and is equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The evolution of the seventh generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII. (Source: Forza Forum)

Lancer Evo VII was introduced from March 2001 to January 2004. There were some changes in dimensions compared to the previous generation.

If the previous generation had a length of 4,350 mm, a width of 1,770 mm, a height of 1,405-1,415 mm and a weight of 1,260-1,360 kg, the seventh generation has increased to a length of 4,455 mm, a width of 1,770 mm, a height of 1,450 mm and a weight of 1,320 to 1,400 kg. Also, a new automatic transmission was introduced in this generation.

The eighth generation of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. (Source: National Modifier)

The Lancer Evo VIII underwent changes in the eighth generation, launched in 2003. The GSR and RS models use a steel roof and are equipped with a 5-speed gearbox.

This modification aims to reduce the weight of the car. Also, a 6-speed transmission has been added in this generation.

Evolution of the ninth generation Mitsubishi Lancer

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. (Source: Torque GT)

The Lancer Evo IX was presented on March 3, 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show in Japan. This ninth generation is equipped with a 4G63-encoded 2.0-litre engine using variable valve timing technology. With this addition, this car offers higher performance, with power ranging from 276 HP to 287 HP, depending on the version available.

The tenth generation of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. (Source: Autonetmagz)

Lancer Evo X was presented to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. This generation was initially called Concept-X, designed by a European design company. Two years later, a second concept car was presented under the name Prototype X at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

The engine used in this 10th generation is engine code 4B11T, with a turbocharged 2.0 liter capacity and uses an all aluminum inline 4 engine. The power delivered by the Lancer Evo X engine varies according to the country of destination, with a minimum power of 280 HP. For example, in England, the Lancer Evo X car has between 200bhp and 360bhp.

Source: various sources