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LANCER E V O L U T I O N VII

rally

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Built for the genuinely passionate driving and motor sports enthusiast, the all-new Lancer Evolution VII is a concept in purity: Pure performance technology. Pure exhilaration! Hyper-evolutionary powerplant and drivetrain synergise with advanced aerodynamic body in this realisation of the ultimate sports saloon. WRC (World Rally Car) dominating performance and durability exemplify Mitsubishi's commitment to top competition quality. Free your competitive spirit and leave the world of conformity and compromise far, behind. Own the streets with the boldly stylish GSR(RS-II), or find your limits with the fully race-ready RS.

Snow-covered road: The Evolution VII is the very definition of active safety.

The new ACD (Active Centre Differential) is the Lancer Evolution VII's signature technology. As the name implies, the advanced onboard system automatically adapts the centre differential's lock ratio to the driving conditions and driver input. Let's examine this system closer. A conventinal centre differential used a viscous coupling to limit slippage. Past Evolutios were equipped with viscous LSD's. The Impreza has a similar system. The ACD uses as the slip-limiting machanism a hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch that is built into the centre differential. The steering angle, lateral G, throttle opening, vehicle speed, wheel speeds, and other data are relayed to a computer that uses the information to determine the driver's actions and intentions as well as the car's condition. This superb piece of engineering then selects the ideal lock ratio. The lock radio can hypothetically be controlled in a stepless manner from 0% (completely free) to 100% 'completely locked). The variable ratio creates an effect similar to a torque split. The lock ratio increates to almost 100% when suddenly accelerating from a stop on a slippery surface or when braking to ensure traction or stability. The centre differential is virtually free when turning in on a high-grip surface, such as dry tarmac, to ensure excellent responce.

The ACD offers three modes that are matched to driving conditions: Tarmac, Gravel, Snow. The driver can choose the mode with a switch. Gravel mode, whitch is for dirt trials, is also effective on a wet road. One racing driver thought that more traction could be gained with the Gravel mode than with the Tarmac mode on a circuit. Obviously there are a variety of interesting ways to use the modes.

The ACD is standard on the GSR and is controlled together with the AYC and Sports ABS to driver both excellent stability and handling. It is an option for the RS.

The first Lancer to compete in the WRC appeared back in 1993 at the Monte Carlo Rally. It was then driven by Armin Schwarz and Kenneth Eriksson. This first version was soon to be followed by the Evolution II of the Lancer which made its debuts at the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally no longer than a year after the initial version was introduced. The celerity with which the next generation was introduced denotes both the determination of the Japanese company to be as competitive as possible very quickly as well as the seriousness of the involvement of Ralliart the company that is responsible for building the rally cars. Ralliart, an England based company, is run by Andrew Cowan. The Evolution II was driven by Kenneth Eriksson and Isolde Holderied. Next came the famous Lancer Evolution III which debuted at the Corsica Rally in 1995, a year and a half after the introduction of the Evolution II. This version (the evo III) is, to this date, a hard to beat contender in the GroupN class. The evo III was driven by Andrea Aghini at its debut rally.

By the end of the 1995 season the FIA regulations authorized the WRC class cars to compete. Mitsubishi did not find any particular interest in this formula and continued to produce GroupA rally cars. The company's reply to WRC cars was the Lancer RS Evolution IV. This was an awesome car that contained some of the most bewildering technology ever to be available on sale on any manufacturer's catalogue. The evo IV was introduced at the 1997 Monte Carlo Rally, driven by Tommi Mäkinen and Richard Burns.

After running alongside the WRC cars for almost a year and allowing Tommi Mäkinen to be the World Rally Champion, the Lancer Evolution IV was replaced by the Evolution V at the beginning of 1998. By then it was difficult to differentiate the Lancer Evo V from a WRC car. It had the same width as WRC cars had and some of the modifications applied to the Evo IV, in order to produce the evo V, clearly put the evo V in the WRC class. The Lancer Evo V was still a GroupA class car though which means that at least 2500 Evo V had to be produced in order to comply with the FIA rules. This was very good news for rally car amateurs since it meant they could, theoretically, buy a Lancer Evo V. The bad news was that all evo V cars were reserved to the Japanese market and although they could still be purchased from other countries this could only be done through personal import channels.  Personal import procedures are very dependent upon the country of import and span from easy to impossible passing from complex and extremely expensive.

Lancer Evolution: A winning tradition in the WRC.

1973/02		Mitsubishi Lancer debut!
1993 Evolution I		The 1993 Monte Carlo Rally marked the auspicious WRC debut of the Lancer Evolution. Ina field traditionally dominated by large-boodied saloons, the compact Lancer was an immediate stand-out, with its powerful 4G63 engine and cutting-edge activedifferential drivetrain technology. By putting previous rally expertise as well as ongoing experience to the best use, Mitsubishi had honed its Group A machine into a top-class comperitor by the second halh of the season. The newcomer was already justifiably feared.
1994 Evolution II		After placing second overall in the Safari Rally, the Lancer Evolution(I) passed the torch mid-season to the Lancer Evolution II, with its aerodynamically refined body and retuned suspension. The new model's successful debut included a second place in the Acrooilis Rally as well as a third in New Zealand. Drivers of the noticeably more competitive Evolution II became a familiar sight on the winner's podium, heralding the start of the Mitsubishi era in the WRC.
1995 Evolution III 1996		Delivering on its full potential as a top competitor and marking its first WRC victory, the Lancer Evolution II swept the top two places at the Swedish Rally. Its successor, the powerful and aerodynamically superior Lancer Evolution III, garnered a third in the Safari Rally before easily winning both Finnish and Australian rallies. Mitsubishi also captured the Manufacturers' Title in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, with drivers Kenneth Erickson and Tommy Makinen finishing first and second, respectively.
		Mitsubishi began the 1996 season with its Lancer Evolution III honed to perfection. Ace-driver Makinen responded to his team's undivided support by winning the first two races on his way to dominating the entire series. Tommi ultimately won five of the nine races, giving Mitsubishi its first WRC title. While winning over half of the WRC series was unprecedented, it marked only the beginning of what appears likely to become an unbeatable record.
1997 Evolution IV		1997 saw the debut of the World-Rally cars; Mitsubishi, however, elected to stay with Group A, countering with the Lancer Evolution IV. Adding to its competitive adge were a redesigned body and engine, plus a powerful new twin-scroll turbocharger. The active differential was made more compact, and a sequential added. Using his greatly improved competitiveness, Makinen won four races en route to his second drivers' title.
1998 Evolution V		Mitsubishi accepted the challenge of the wide-track World-Rally cars by introducing the upgraded Lancer Evolution V with its elegant new body design. Due to its enhanced performance on tarmac, as well as its superb all-round capabilities, this vesion is still active in motor sporting events. Mitsubishi captured an incredible 7 of 13 races en route to its first WRC Manufacturers' Title. Makinen added still more laurels, capturing an unprecedented third consecutive drivers' championship.
1999 Evolution VI		In spite of its domination, the Lancer Evolution V was refined aerodynamically, and its suspension improved, becoming the Lancer Evolution VI. A front bumper design that enhanced engine room cooling and a twinwing rear spoiler were just two of the improvements that took the car to new levels and helped Mitsubishi continue its supremely successful WRC run. By season's end, Makinen had won four races to cap his fourth consecutive drivers' title.
2000 Evolution VI Tommy Makinen edition.		Just when it seemed like the Evolution VI could not be improved in any way, the Tommi Makinen edition debuted featuring an enhanced suspension ideal for use in tarmac. Introduced in the second half of the 2000 season and entered as the Mitsubishi Works machine for the first half of 2001, the new version was an important testing bed for the Mitsubishi World-Rally car, introduced late in the season.
2001/01 Evolution VII		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC World Rally Car debut on 4-7th October, 2001 in 43rd rallye Sanremo-Rally D'Italia.

| Introduction | Engine | Chassis and Transmission | Specifications | Rally | Lancer Evolution Series | Guestbook | Webmaster |