AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY
90s Muscle
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
In the 90s, there was little that could match a rally derived, four wheel drive sedan with a turbocharged engine. European brands dominated the scene with icons such as the Audi Quattro, Ford Sierra Cosworth and the Lancia Delta Integrale. So what made the Lancer Evolution, affectionately referred to as ‘the Evo’, stand out?
“In the world of high performance cars, having a polarizing image isn’t always a bad thing.”
Well for a start, just look at it. The bulging bumpers, spoiler and cartoonish styling may not have been to everyone’s taste, but it sure made it unique. In the world of high performance cars, having a polarizing image isn’t always a bad thing. Sure some will hate it, but those who took to the rally-bred Mitsubishi absolutely loved it. It wasn’t only about the looks either; as Audi, Ford and Lancia sobered up and abandoned the road car scene to pursue World Rally Championship results, Mitsubishi kept on building road car spin offs.
“The Evo V was a ‘techno- fest’ for it’s time”
The result? A breed of increasingly complex high-performance street machines, which proved to be huge showroom hits in the home market. The Evo V was a ‘techno- fest’ for it’s time, offering sophisticated (yet very tough) engineering and electronics that meant it was near impossible to crash — even if you tried. Sharp suspension and brakes (developed specifically for the car by Brembo) ensured drivers stayed on the right side of hedges, whilst the massive front air dam housed a large inter-cooler and two giant spot lamps. The front wings were specially made to clear the wide wheels, and the bonnet was treated to a pair of huge mesh grilles to aid cooling the turbocharged engine. An alloy bladed spoiler mounted on the boot lid was also functional and adjustable.
So was the Evolution really as fast as it looked? Yes — and how! The 2.0-litre turbocharged power-plant produced 280bhp (perhaps a conservative figure, especially on Japanese Domestic Market models) and a whopping 274lb/ft of torque. It could sprint from 0–60mph in a shade over 5 seconds; a figure even contemporary Ferraris would struggle to beat. Today, the Evo holds it’s place within a line of fast Evolution models. It is a cult classic among enthusiasts, and arguably set one of the strongest cases for electronic driver aids in the reals of performance cars.
Holloway, H. and Buckley, M., 1999. The A-Z Of Cars. Godalming, Surrey: Colour Library Direct.
Daniel is a writer, senior teacher, and geographer based in Malta. His main passion is empowering students to fulfill their aspirations and reach their goals.
