Arguably the most beloved Mitsubishi production vehicle of all time is the Lancer Evolution. It offers great hardware under the hood, while keeping the interior minimalistic. There were just three Mitsubishi Evo generations sold within the U.S. between 2003 and 2015. We’ll focus on those imported models in the rest of this article.
The Mitsubishi Evo: Supreme Performance at a Great Price
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is quite a unique import vehicle. Anyone who owns one surely loves driving one. The extremely affordable vehicle offered incredible power and precise handling. Evos also have amazing potential as a tuner vehicle, thanks to the wonderful engines they are equipped with. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi Evolutions are very rare to find nowadays, especially in original and un-modified. This makes them a perfect candidate for a Mitsubishi Evolution service manual to keep them in optimal running shape.
Mitsubishi Evos were originally exclusive to Japan, but they gradually reached import markets. In the U.S., it served as a direct competitor (and upgrade) to the Subaru Impreza WRX. The Evo had comparable horsepower, but the biggest difference was that it was just downright faster. If an Evo has any real weakness, it is in the bare-bones interior that it sports.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Generations
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution first appeared in Japan during 1992. It was not until 2003 that the Evo 8 entered production for the America. The Lancer Evo was then imported to the U.S. for all future models. This makes the Evo 7 the last model that was not available to the U.S. market.
Mitsubishi Evos were manufactured through 10 different generations between 1992 and 2016. Each new generation was marked with a roman numeral. This corresponds to the number in which the car was produced. Since the Evo I through Evo VII were not imported to the United States, we’ll only discuss the Evo VIII through Evo X below.
Evolution VIII
The Evo 8 first appeared in early 2003. It was originally only available to the U.S. as a GSR (Gran Sport Racing) model. This was an upgrade over the more basic RS (Rally Sport) variant found in Japan. A year later, the RS was also available in the U.S., but it was nowhere near as popular as the GSR version.
Evo 8 GSR and RS model that you can find in the United States are equipped with a 5-speed transmission. Both have an impressive 2.0L turbocharged 4G63 four-cylinder engine that creates 271 HP. This allows for a 0-60 MPH time of right around 5 seconds.
The biggest difference between Japanese versions and U.S. imports is the lack of active yaw control (AYC), which makes the U.S. models less powerful. AYC is Mitsubishi’s signature torque vectoring system that distributes torque based on whichever wheels have the best grip. They also have larger rear bumpers for U.S. crash safety laws.
In 2005, the Evo 8 entered a final year of production. During this year, the Evo VIII MR (Mitsubishi Racing) was also imported to the U.S. and introduced a 6-speed transmission. The Evo MR features Mitsubishi's new limited-slip differential and new cosmetic upgrades. This includes luxury wheels and a variety of chrome and carbon touches. They also received slight engine upgrades for better performance.
The other trim level available to the U.S. market was the SSL, which is essentially a decked out GSR. Features of the Evo 8 SSL included leather seats, a sunroof, and a subwoofer in the trunk.
Evolution IX
Early 2005 introduced the ninth generation of Lancer Evo, the Evo 9. This new generation features a new design for the engine turbocharger. As a result, the Evo 9 is stronger with output increased to 287 HP. This also allows for a quicker 0-60 MPH time of around 4.4 seconds, with a tenth of a second difference depending on the trim level.
Another change included the addition of MIVEC. This is Mitsubishi’s signature system for variable valve timing. With this new technology, the Evo 9 actually has better fuel consumption than its predecessor.
Beyond these improvements, there were just a few cosmetic differences between the Evo 9 and Evo 8. These include a front end that was redesigned for better air flow and the addition of Enkei wheels.
Additionally, the SSL trim was replaced with the SE (Special Edition). The RS still serves as the bare-bones model, while the GSR is the standard. The SE is the GSR with more conveniences and the MR is the most powerful of the four.
Evolution X
In late 2007, the Evo 10 began production. This version is quite different from the Evo 9 due to being built on a different platform. The Evo X also featured a new engine, a 2.0L turbocharged 4B11T four-cylinder engine. This boosted overall power to 291 HP. The generation includes a new four-wheel drive system known as Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC). This varies the amount of torque supplied to the vehicle’s rear wheels.
With the new generation, only two trim levels were imported to the U.S. The SE and RS were dropped, but the GSR standard and upper scale MR trims remained. The GSR was only available as a 5-speed manual, while the MR included a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. At the end of the production cycle, a Final Edition model was created in limited run to honor the vehicle’s life.
Mitsubishi Evo 101
How fast is a Mitsubishi Evo? Evos are actually very fast, but the exact timing depends on which Evolution number you’re talking about. The Evo 8 0-60 MPH time is right around 5 seconds flat. On the other hand, the Evo 9 is significantly faster at around 4.4 seconds. This varies by about a tenth of a second depending on the trim. The Evo X has more variance, with the faster GSR at 4.3 seconds and the MR at 5.2 seconds.
How much is a Mitsubishi Evo? This all depends on the condition, trim style, and model year. The Evo 8 is worth around $15,000 on the low end and as much as $25,000 on the higher end. For an Evo 9, $15,000 to $25,000 should be expected. There is much more variance with the Evo X because it was sold for longer. A 2008 Evo X would be worth between $14,000 and $18,000. Newer years like a 2015 Evo X can range from $28,000 to $35,000.
Does Mitsubishi still make Evo? Mitsubishi does not currently make Evos. The last Lancer Evo was the Final Edition version released in late 2015. Only 1,600 Final Edition Lancer Evolutions were manufactured. Mitsubishi has previously held the stance that they would not continue the Evo lineup. However, there have been rumors during mid 2019 that the Evo might make a return in the next decade.
Preserving Your Mitsubishi Evo
Whether you have an Evo 8, 9, or an X, then you can appreciate the superb performance the powerful import is capable of. The Lancer Evolution did not cease production due to lack of interest. Instead, it came as a result of Mitsubishi changing their focus towards SUVs like the Mitsubishi Outlander. This means that owning an Evo means that you can drive an iconic vehicle that will never be in production again. Make sure to pick up a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo repair manual so you can keep your car running great and for several years to come.
Get a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution repair manual right here today.