In HKS’s never ending quest for time attack dominance it has prepared a special version of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. This Evo X has been renamed the CZ200S and is a purpose built time attack machine. A time attack car has only one purpose: complete a single lap around a circuit faster than any other competitor.
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If someone tries to see you a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, make sure they’ll take your unicorn in trade. Mitsubishi announced that since there are still plenty of Lancer Evolutions from the 2008 model year still available, there will be no 2009 model.
According to Mitsubishi spokeswomen Christine Jew, there were no changes planned for a 2009 Evo, and there is enough inventory to last until the 2010 model is released later this year. This is also not yet a sign that the Evo is in danger. Mitsubishi says the model’s sales were up 50.9% for 2008.
Ings, the Japanese tuner, revealed new images of the Lancer Evolution X N-Spec car. It gets a new front bumper with new canards, brake ducts, and intercooler shrouds. It also features a Z-Power adjustable carbon rear wing. This is more than just vanity, but a body kit built for functionality.
There are no featured performance upgrades in this package, but Ings already offers other suspension, exhaust and braking modifications for the Evo X. We have no information yet on pricing, but if anything interesting comes up we’ll pass it along.
Good news for hatchback fans, sorta. The long awaited by few Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback will only come in top of the line Ralliart and GTS trim levels in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency has only certified the top two engine choices of the five-tier Lancer family to be dropped into the five-door car. This is not a bad idea considering hatchback are not always popular in the U.S., especially cheap/slow ones.
Just like the sedan, the Sportback GTS will get a DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 168 hp, with a choice of five-speed manual (EPA rated at 20/27 mpg) or CVT (21/27 mpg). The Ralliart version will get a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder making 237 hp and rated at 17/25 mpg. It also comes with a six-speed TC-SST paddle sift transmission and all-wheel drive.
From the ‘It’s Better in Europe’ file comes the Mitsubishi Evo X FQ-400. While the hottest Mitsubishi Evo model on the U.S. market is the 291 hp Evo X MR, Mitsubishi U.K. has been making some serious improvements for the home market. For the last three generations of the Lancer Evo models, Mitsubishi U.K. has offered various models known as "FQ" (rumored to stand for F***ing Quick), and the FQ400 is the fastest of them all.
Mitsu teamed up with ADR Motorsport to tweak the standard 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine. It’s boosted with revised ECU programming and a new exhaust to produce around 405bhp. The peak torque will be 400lb ft. The car gets new cooling intakes and vents, including a larger bonnet (hood) intake and cooling slots for the rear brakes, upgraded brakes, six-pot calipers at the front, and new 18-inch alloy wheels. The 0 to 60 time is expected to be about 3.5 seconds.
Price? Between £45,000 and £50,000 (about $67,000 to $74,000), but you don’t need to concern yourself with that. Since it’s not available in the U.S., it only hurts to think about it. Maybe a 305 hp Subaru Imprza WRX STI may help ease the pain?
