Press Release
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX : Engine
· MIVEC variable valve timing technology introduced to combine improved performance at high engine speeds with better fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions.
· Redesigned turbocharger diffuser boosts low-end torque and improves the engine’s response by 10% across the rev range.
· FQ-320 features upgraded breathing apparatus developed by Mitsubishi Motors UK’s Ralliart division in conjunction with HKS.
· FQ-340 includes FQ-320 breathing apparatus and adds a supplementary ECU, which controls the ignition timing and air/fuel mixture.
· Detail refinements further enhance the 4G63 engine’s legendary reputation for durability and reliability.
The Evolution IX continues to use Mitsubishi’s world-renowned 1997cc 4-cylinder 4G63 twin scroll turbo engine, which originally made its debut in the Galant VR-4 of 1987. Since then the engine, like the car, has progressed through a series of evolutions and has been refined once more for its application in the Evolution IX. With more torque at low speeds coupled with improved throttle response and top-end power, it is the ideal tool for both road and track use.
The most significant development for this model is the introduction of Mitsubishi MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control System). MIVEC is a variable valve timing system that constantly matches the inlet valve timing to the engine speed and load. At higher engine speeds, the system improves the engine’s air-supply to ensure that it doesn’t run out of breath. At lower engine speeds, it helps to stabilise the combustion process, reducing both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The end result is an engine that combines improved top-end performance with a three per cent improvement in fuel consumption.
As a by-product of the reduced emissions, Mitsubishi’s engineers were able to revise the catalytic converter flow capacity and reduce the back pressure, resulting in improved throttle response at low engine speeds.
And the engine’s response is further improved by revisions to the design of the turbo diffuser. Exploiting knowledge garnered in the ultra-competitive World Rally Championship, the diffuser has been lengthened, which has the dual effect of boosting low-end torque and achieving a 10% improvement in the engine’s response throughout the rev range. Such changes are at the heart of Mitsubishi’s desire to maximise the car’s "overall driving quality".
Three versions of the engine are available in the Evolution IX. The entry-level variant – if such an expression is appropriate – is the FQ-300, which boasts 305bhp at 6950rpm and 297lb ft of torque at a lowly 4400 rpm. The combination of generous low rev pull and explosive top-end power – the FQ-300 will sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.7 sec (est) – is the key to this car’s personality. The performance is now much more accessible, not just to the novice but also to the experts - Mitsubishi’s test drivers found that the Evolution IX FQ-300 was able to lap the famous 20.4km long Nurburgring Nordschleife several seconds faster than its predecessor.
The mid-range FQ-320 model is fitted with an upgrade kit developed by Mitsubishi Motors UK’s Ralliart division in conjunction with the tuning specialists HKS. This upgrade concentrates on the engine’s breathing apparatus and includes an induction pipe, revised intercooler piping and a new exhaust and down pipe. The result is a hike in power to 326bhp at 6700rpm and torque to 305 lb ft at 4300rpm. The FQ-320 will sprint from 0-62mph in 4.5 sec (est) and achieve a 157mph top speed. Gas discharge headlamps are also fitted as standard to the FQ-320.
Customers demanding the ultimate Evolution IX are offered the FQ-340. The FQ-340 builds on the FQ-320’s specification with a supplementary ECU, which is hard-wired to the car’s existing engine management system and controls the ignition timing and air/fuel mixture. It produces 345bhp at 6800rpm and 321 lb ft of torque at 4600rpm. From rest, the FQ-340 will reach 62mph in 4.3 sec (est). This is a genuine supercar – the Porsche 911, which is almost twice as expensive, requires 5.0 sec to sprint from 0-60mph.
Detail improvements to the engine have also sought to enhance the 4G63’s reputation for durability and reliability. The addition of temperature and pressure sensors in the intake manifold has improved the precision of both the air/fuel charge flow and the ignition timing. Enlarging the cylinder head water galleries and switching to long reach spark plugs has reduced the wall surface temperatures in the combustion chamber. The change from three- to two-piece piston rings has reduced oil consumption by around 10% and the cylinder head cover is now made of a more heat resistant material. The FQ-320 and FQ-340 are covered by the same warranty package as the rest of the Mitsubishi range.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX : Dynamics
Suspension
· Bilstein suspension system, introduced on the VIII MR range, further enhanced for use in the Evolution IX.
· MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension.
· New rear springs improve rear-end stability and allow the Super AYC* system to operate more effectively.
For the introduction of the Evolution VIII MR in 2004, Mitsubishi’s engineers comprehensively overhauled the Lancer’s suspension system with the introduction of Bilstein shock absorbers, which were honed at the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife racing circuit in
The effect of these shorter springs is to lower the body slightly, which enhances rear-end stability by increasing the grip available to the rear tyres. The revision also allows the Super AYC* system to operate more effectively. The improvement is so marked that it feels as if the Super AYC’s torque transfer facility has been increased.
The revisions are true to Mitsubishi’s philosophy of delivering "overall driving quality." This concept, which began with the Evolution VII, has been further developed by Mitsubishi Ralliart and Bilstein engineers for the VIII MR and now for the IX.
The use of different damping rates for the single-tube front and rear shocks, together with the shape optimisation of the rear bump stop, has led to significant improvements in traction and roadholding. Vehicle stability is enhanced during cornering or braking manoeuvres, and the Bilstein system has also had a beneficial effect on the ride quality. Put simply, the Evolution is now more ‘driveable’ than ever before.
Electronically-Controlled 4WD System
Mitsubishi’s electronically-controlled 4WD system was comprehensively retuned for its application in the Lancer Evolution VIII MR and the system is retained for the IX.
In developing the Mitsubishi Racing (MR) range, the Ralliart engineers retuned the 4WD in response to feedback from competition drivers. Their revisions made the system even more pro-active. On the original Evo VIII, the All-Wheel Control (AWC) unit had given priority to the Super ABS* system in order to stabilise the car under heavy braking. The Active Centre Differential (ACD)* and Super Active Yaw Control* (AYC) modules were effectively disengaged.
But a competition driver does not just use the brakes to slow the vehicle – they will also employ brake power to alter the balance of a car and to prepare it for a change of trajectory. With this in mind, the AWC system has been revised so that the driving force is still controlled actively, even when the Sports ABS is operational. Through a series of high-speed bends, for example, the system will continue to control the yaw moment of the car, even if the driver is applying braking force. The car’s agility and stability are both improved, and the car responds more accurately to steering input on the entry to a corner.
The Lancer Evolution remains one of the few cars on the road in which the four-wheel drive system is employed to improve the handling, rather than simply as a means of increasing traction. Super AYC* acts like a limited slip differential to optimise the Lancer’s handling during hard driving. This is the only electronic system anywhere that enhances cornering performance by transferring torque between the rear wheels. It also works harmoniously with the Active Centre Differential (ACD*), which was introduced on the Evolution VII.
Steering and Brakes
· Rack-and-pinion steering system
· Brembo braking system front and rear.
· Sports ABS and EBD systems fitted as standard.
· Steering and brake pedal feel optimised for sports driving.
The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system is carried over unchanged from the Evolution VIII MR. Critically acclaimed as one of the world’s finest systems, it has been tuned to combine linear response with excellent driver feedback. The system allows the driver to place the car accurately on the road.
The Evolution IX’s brakes are a development of the Brembo system that debuted on the Evolution V; 17in ventilated discs with four piston callipers at the front and 16in ventilated discs with two-piston callipers at the rear. Mitsubishi’s Sports ABS system is employed to enhance the steering control during hard driving, while the Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) function automatically regulates the front and rear braking force to match the vehicle load and driving conditions.
Mitsubishi’s engineers have also worked hard to optimise the ‘feel’ of the pedal and to ensure that its response remains consistent at all times.
Wheels and Tyres
· New design five-spoke Enkei alloys
· ADVAN AO46 235/45ZR17 tyres fitted as standard.
· Space saver rear tyre replaced by tyre inflation kit
The Evolution IX rides on specially developed Enkei 17 x 8J five-spoke alloys wheels that minimise the unsprung mass of the car while remaining strong enough to withstand the massive cornering loads it generates.
ADVAN AO46 235/45ZR17 tyres are fitted as standard and combine a stiff carcass construction with a high-grip compound. They have been tailored to the unique demands of the Lancer Evolution IX and have been tuned to perform well in both wet and dry conditions.
The space saver spare wheel fitted to the Evolution VIII MR has been deleted in favour of a tyre inflation kit, which saves weight and liberates additional luggage space.
* See glossary
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX : Warranty
· Full warranty and highly-trained network of dealers
· 3-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, 3-year Pan European Recovery Service and 6-year Anti-Corrosion Perforation Warranty
· 4,500 mile/12 month service intervals
In 2003, Ralliart, Mitsubishi’s motorsport and performance car division, became a premium sub-brand of the Mitsubishi Motors UK operation. As a result, pricing is now extremely competitive and customers are reassured that the product is supported by product liability cover, a full warranty and a highly-trained network of Mitsubishi Ralliart dealers. Mitsubishi Motors is the
Mitsubishi has a tradition of providing exceptional after-sales support, and the Lancer Evolution models are no exception. The Evolution is supplied with a 3-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, a 3-year Pan European Recovery Service and a 6-year Anti-Corrosion Perforation warranty.
Glossary
Active Centre Differential (ACD) – incorporates an electronically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch. The ECU regulates the differential’s operation according to the conditions, and can function in a free or locked state where torque is split 50:50 front/rear.
ACD works to improve steering response and traction and automatically switches between three modes – tarmac/gravel/snow – to optimise the car’s performance on varying surfaces. The driver is also able to select these modes manually using a fascia-mounted switch.
Super Active Yaw Control (Super AYC) – uses a torque-transfer mechanism in the rear differential. Controlled by the ECU, Super AYC adjusts the torque transfer between the rear wheels in order to control the yaw moment acting on the car body. This reduces understeer and extends the car’s cornering limits.
Compared with the standard AYC system, Super AYC uses a bevel- instead of a planetary-gear differential, which allows more torque to be transferred between the rear wheels. Both Super AYC and the ACD are controlled by a single ECU, which harmonises their operation.
Sport Anti-lock braking system (Sport ABS) – the Sport ABS ECU uses inputs from steering angle, lateral G and vehicle speed sensors to individually apportion braking pressure to each of the four wheels. This results in improved steering response under braking.
The Sport ABS system also incorporates Mitsubishi’s Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system, which optimises the allocation of braking force between the front and rear wheels. By increasing the braking pressure applied to the rear wheels during heavy braking, EBD reduces the load acting on the front wheels and so maximises the anti-fade performance of the brakes. The system also compensates for changes in surface and vehicle load conditions to provide predictable and consistent stopping performance at all times.
