GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

New models - Mitsubishi - Lancer

First drive: Wild new Evo IX is a bargain!

Competitive: Evo IX is just $150 more expensive than Subaru's STi.

Ballistic new Lancer Evo IX rally-rocket joins Mitsubishi Australia range full-time

24 Aug 2005

FANS of road-going rallycar clones rejoice, for the legendary Evolution nameplate goes on sale as a full-time member of the Mitsubishi family within a month.

Lighter, more powerful, quicker, more refined, dynamically superior, better equipped and packing a high-tech new security tracking system, the new-look Evo IX sedan will be available in unlimited numbers at the unexpectedly low price of $56,789.

That's just $150 more than the Evo's fiercest traditional rival in Subaru's Impreza STi and about $5000 less than its unhomologated, limited-edition Evo VIII predecessor - 100 examples of which were made available from June 2004 at $61,990.

Importantly, the sub-$57,000 sticker price puts the first full-time Evo under the luxury car tax threshold.

As such, Mitsubishi is confident Evo IX will be as successful as Subaru's popular STi by selling between 40 and 50 per month or around 500 examples annually.

Apart from a cleaner, more frugal, more flexible and more powerful new engine and six-speed manual (see engine breakout), Evo IX benefits from new inverted MacPherson front struts, a slightly lower ride height, Sports ABS with EBD, 200 extra spot welds, double-sealed weather strips and extra dash sound proofing.

A new underfloor aero package is claimed increase stability and brake cooling by reducing lift to near negative up front and actually creating downforce at the rear.

New Enkei 17x8.0-inch five double-spoke alloys are each 150g lighter (the $3700 Bilstein/BBS Performance Pack wheels are 1.1kg lighter again), while Super AYC further improves on Evo's active yaw control system by splitting torque left to right and employing planetary, rather than bevel, gears.

Evo IX employs the same electronically controlled active centre differential with standard 50/50 torque split and switchable tarmac/gravel/snow modes, and the same 320/300mm front/rear brake discs with four/twin-piston front/rear Brembo callipers.

Evo IX's new look comprises a new mesh grille with floating triple-diamond logo, new bumpers, darker headlights, new wheels and an aggressive rear air diffuser.

Evo IX is equally new inside, where there's a new dashboard with carbon-look trim, titanium-look console highlights, climate control, six-CD/six-speaker audio, aluminium pedal covers, leather-bolstered Alcantara sports seats (leather was formerly optional).

21 center imageAlong with a new, locally-developed telematics-based tracking system dubbed Diamond Trac, which mounts discreetly on the A-pillar and provides 24/7 call centre service and remote disabling technology, Evo IX comes with Mitsubishi's five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty/roadside assist and 10-year drivetrain warranty.

Throw in Datadot vehicle identification and what Mitsubishi calls "a holistic Evo experience" - via a full Evo accessories range, merchandise, Ralliart and Evo owners' club website access and forthcoming drivedays - and the new Evo represents outstanding performance car value.

Evo XI bristles with new tech

Launched at Phillip Island last week, the Evo IX sedan gains substantial updates over the Ralliart Evo VIII.

Powered by an upgraded, MIVEC-equipped and Euro4 emissions-compliant version of Mitsubishi's 2.0-litre 4G63 turbocharged and intercooled inline four-cylinder, Evo IX produces 206kW at 6000rpm and 355Nm of torque from 3000rpm.

That's up 11kW on Evo VIII (195kW/355Nm), but down 18Nm on its Evo VI forebear (206kW/373Nm) launched here in May 2001.

The new MIVEC engine features a three-jet intercooler (previously two-jet), a revised turbo with extended diffuser, longer sparkplugs, a two-piece oil ring (was three), a quieter rocker cover and bell housing cover, higher-flow fuel pump, stronger timing belt and a larger catalytic converter.

Mated to a six-speed manual transmission (previously five-speed) and the same short 4.583: final drive ratio, the result is more midrange driveability thanks to MIVEC, with 80-120km/h acceleration dropping from nine seconds to just 6.6 in fourth gear.

Improved top-end power from reduced reciprocating mass and a harder-punching turbo - as well as a 60kg kerb weight reduction from 1470 to 1410kg thanks to a 4kg-lighter aluminium roof and side intrusion bars plus lighter wheels - have reduced Evo's 0-100km/h acceleration time by almost half a second, from 6.1 to 5.7 seconds.

Mitsubishi claims Evo has the best power-to-weight figure in its class at 146kW per tonne (206kW/1410kg), compared with Evo VIII's 133kW/tonne (195kW/1470kg) and the STi at 132kW/tonne (195kW/1475kg).

Despite the extra performance, average fuel consumption drops from 10.9 to 10L/100km.

GoAuto can help you buy a new Lancer

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

Mitsubishi models

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here