Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 or a look through the eyes of the owner

Share

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 - one of the most charismatic sports cars on the planet, first appeared since 2003, replacing the 7th generation. The car is an iconic sports sedan with a four-cylinder engine under the hood. The release of the model was suspended due to the release of a new generation. One of the most significant features of the presented model is that it was the first of the Evo family to sell well in the US automobile market. Naturally, this brought the world-famous Japanese automobile giant many millions in net profit.

Main features of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8

The eighth generation Lancer has an overtly aggressive appearance, which fully reflects its real power capabilities. The exterior was designed over many months until it was approved by the company's senior management. It literally monitored every step of development to avoid errors. This is due to the fact that the car was initially developed to meet the strict requirements of the largest economy in the world - the United States, where the number of car owners significantly exceeds the number of pedestrians.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8

For example, the front bumper contains air ducts that are designed exclusively in a sporty style and clearly reflect the power capabilities of the engine. They also help to air the front brakes, and a technological cutout on the aluminum hood is responsible for full airflow of the 2-liter unit.

The trunk of the car is located at the rear and has a very remarkable element - a huge spoiler on the trunk lid. The latter is not only a sophisticated design element, but also increases the total downforce of the car at high speed. In addition, the carbon fiber wing creates additional downforce.

This significantly increases maneuverability when cornering, making the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 an extremely stable vehicle when driving. The last feature is very significant, as it allows you to save a small amount of fuel every day, because the car literally presses against the road when driving.

If we consider the dimensions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8, then the first thing to note is the following indicators.

1. Moderate total length of the car, which is 4490 mm.
2. Width 1770 mm.
3. Height 1450 mm.

Mitsubishi Lancer 8 Evo dimensions
Such characteristics, on the one hand, make this vehicle on four wheels extremely compact, on the other hand, they allow a person of any size to feel comfortable in the cabin, regardless of his physical characteristics. The mass of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 is 1470 kg (total weight 1885 kg). All this makes the car extremely light and stable under any road conditions, even if you have to overcome off-road conditions, where most wheeled vehicles simply slip.

History of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8

In 2003, the Lancer Evo 7 underwent some changes, and a new generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 . The main feature was the new transmission. Its essence was that a worm-type differential was mounted on the front axle, and a Super AYC differential was mounted on the rear axle, making the transmission more advanced.

The result of the engineers' work was a transmission that could assess the situation on the road and distribute torque with maximum effect.

In terms of external parameters, the car remained similar to the previous generation. Some contours have become softer, but overall the car retains the aggressiveness of a sports car.

The 8th generation Lancer Evo began to be supplied to the USA, but in comparison with the Japanese version, they were less functional. The reason for this conclusion was the conventional transmission. The thinking transmission Super Active Yaw Control was absent there.

Among the innovations of the eighth generation, it is worth noting the rear spoiler and carbon fiber with end supports. Also, the American version had larger rear bumpers, because this was required by safety regulations in the USA.

The MR and RS versions had an aluminum roof. The MR version was also equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The following options were not included in the basic package:

• Electric windows;
• Rear spoiler;
• Navigator;
• Electric mirrors and locks;
• ABS system;

In the US, the RS version was sold with air conditioning. All options can only be obtained by purchasing the Urban package.

Added to the basic package:

• 17-inch wheels;
• Bistein shock absorbers;
• Brembo brakes;

It is worth noting that the Lancer Evolution instrument panel has a button to turn on the climate control.

The secret of the universal interior of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8

The interior of the 8th generation car is made in a rather modest and businesslike style. Inside, everything is exactly the same as in the Lancer 2.0 Sport, but it costs half as much. Only the dashboard attracts special attention. This is a special idea of ​​the designers who sought to create the design of the car interior in such a way that attention was focused on the controls.

Due to the fact that driving the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 is extremely difficult due to its power capabilities, which require constant attention, the dashboard control unit deserves only praise, since it does not contain unnecessary elements. This allows the motorist to concentrate his attention directly on the movement as much as possible.

Salon Mitsubishi Lancer 8

The “saddles” are made of plastic, but their assembly is of very high quality. If desired, they can be additionally covered with leather or other soft-elastic material. True, at the same time, the eighth Evolution will slightly lose its sporting orientation. All seats are adjustable on request depending on the size of the person. This makes the car extremely comfortable and practical.

The luggage space volume is approximately 430 liters, which is quite good if you also take into account the separate space for a spare wheel. It is always necessary, since it is not possible from a practical point of view to predict and prevent an unexpected puncture of rubber.

Owner reviews. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII

5 wheels

Mikhail Milov, 34 years old, head of a service station, 17 years of driving experience

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII. Owner Mikhail Milov © Photo: 5 wheel

My previous car was a Ford Fiesta, and this was due to the fact that I competed in a rally in a similar car. At the same time, I always wanted to have a car that was as close as possible to the sports version. And in terms of racing, I didn’t rule out the possibility of switching to the all-wheel drive class. But, firstly, the possibility of purchasing an all-wheel drive rally car did not fit into my budget, and secondly, I perfectly understood that mastering such a car directly during racing was a bad idea. What was needed was a car that would allow one to acquire the necessary skills in a “civilian” environment.

Initially I intended to buy a new Subaru STi in a hatchback body, especially since I already owned cars of this brand. But friends recommended taking a closer look at the “evolutions” of Mitsubishi. And then an interesting offer turned up. So I became the owner of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII with a 255 hp engine. and very quickly realized that this was exactly the car I had dreamed of. Most modern cars do not have a distinct “face,” but the Lancer Evo clearly has a distinct feel to it. I'm far from choosing a car based only on external features, but I have to like it. In terms of driving performance, this is simply an outstanding car. I don’t have much experience driving sports cars like Porsche or Ferrari, but I think that in the range of up to 100,000 conventional units, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII is the best car. As an athlete, I require sharp reactions, clear controls, good brakes and a comfortable seating position from a car. And most importantly, when driving the Evo VIII, you get incomparable pleasure when driving on slippery surfaces: be it snow, ice or gravel. The first thing I noticed when comparing the Lancer Evolution VIII with the Subarus that I had was... friendliness. It took me two months to get used to my first WRX; I even had to take emergency training courses. Mechanical transmission, unique weight distribution, longer steering than on the Lancer. The car is fast, but very nervous, when communicating with it, you need to be extremely careful with the steering wheel and gas pedal: a little too much, and the car breaks into a deep skid. I had to constantly fight with him.

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII © Photo: 5 wheel

In Lancer Evolution VIII it’s the other way around, you and the car are one unit, and it does everything you set out to do. Significant steering assistance is provided by the active center differential (ACD system) and rear differential (AYC system). If Subaru is more understandable to those drivers who have driven fast rear-wheel drive cars for a long time, then Mitsubishi is friendly to everyone. I think that if you put a girl who is confident enough in her driving skills behind the wheel, she will cope with this car even during long driving in a controlled drift. But we must not forget that this is a car with a real sporting character, with spirit. The sharp steering requires concentration already at a speed of 120 km/h - even a slight movement of the steering wheel can significantly change the trajectory. Operating a manual transmission has its pros and cons.

The main advantage is the simply amazing accuracy of gear selection. The gears are quite short, but this is not a sporty close row. But in the city, moving in traffic, with such characteristics of the gearbox it is not very comfortable: the desired gear is not always in the turbine operating zone (“pickup” starts at about 3000 rpm), and the engine has to be “twisted.”

The rigid suspension, which allows you to confidently hold the road when driving at high speed, clearly does not contribute to a comfortable ride in the city, carefully “reading” all the bumps in the road. But personally, I don’t consider it a discomfort. By the way, I really like the Recaro sports buckets. At first the seats seem overly hard, but you quickly begin to realize how comfortable they are. Once I urgently needed to go from St. Petersburg to Odessa, and I covered 1800 km in 18 hours.

At the same time, when he got out of the car, he did not fall from fatigue. Yes, there are very specific speed limits on our roads, and I try not to break this point of the rules, but, of course, I tried to drive fast in this car. At speeds of more than 200 km/h, the car tenaciously holds on to the road, and you get incomparable pleasure from driving. At the same time, the speed, in its numerical expression, is determined only by the speedometer needle, and it is not visually felt.

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII © Photo: 5 wheel

If we talk about the utilitarian use of a car, it is simply absent. Well, for example, what can we say about the “capacity” of the trunk, if it is simply not possible to use the latter: I have a subwoofer installed in the niche for the spare wheel, on it there is an amplifier, on which, in turn, there is a spare wheel, and at the rear wall There is an additional gas tank.

At the same time, you need to understand that for a person who just needs to comfortably move from point A to point B, the Lancer Evolution VIII is unlikely to be suitable. The car consumes only 98 gasoline, and in considerable quantities: in the urban cycle, consumption is about 20 liters per 100 km, outside the city, even at a speed of 100–110 km/h - about 11. In addition, the car is equipped with 17-inch brakes , and, accordingly, tires of size 235x45R17. Such a tire costs 7,000–8,000 rubles. The manufacturer recommends changing the oil every 5,000 km, assuming that the car is operated under heavy load conditions for all five thousand. After 15,000 km I changed the pads, and after 30,000 - the brake discs. It should be taken into account that a set of front brake pads from an official dealer costs 15,000 rubles. Therefore, when replacing, I use sports pads, which are half the price and work one and a half times better.

Mikhail Milov © Photo: 5th wheel

Interesting fact: Came to a certain limit. If I have to change the car, I don’t see any options for replacement yet...

My mark

Five points

Although it is known that Michael Schumacher had an accident in Malaysia due to a wheel nut, what was the reason for this has not yet been clarified. It is not clear due to the fact that the nut was not brought back into the boxes.

Whether it still lies somewhere along the edge of the track or whether some fan took it with him as a souvenir, no one knows. “Unfortunately, we cannot yet reconstruct the course of the damage,” said Ross Brawn .

“We saw on the telemetry that something was happening to the wheel, and Michael reported a strong vibration. Then he said there was no traction,” explains the Mercedes , who plans a precise analysis: “We should even better observe this area with sensors and analyze all the data from the last race in the hope of finding the problem.”

The editors recommend:

“Halogen” Osram Night Breaker 200: how to improve the headlights without disturbing anything.
How to return unpainted body plastic to black?

How to defeat corrosion? An effective way to remove rust yourself

Discussion Cancel

I want to receive the most interesting articles

Control

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 reaches the first hundred kilometers mark in no more than 6.1 seconds with a successful start. Here a lot directly depends on the skill of the motorist. Normal 2-liter acceleration, nothing interesting. But as soon as the tachometer needle crosses the 3000 mark, the Evo 8 moves like crazy. Everything around you stops, as if in slow motion. Amazing acceleration!

When the speedometer is already approaching 200, fear instinctively arises - will the body hold it? How can we not remember about 200 additional welding points to strengthen the body - a necessary component of excellent handling. This allows you to immediately calm down.

The maximum acceleration of the car is 245 kilometers per hour, while the engine can easily withstand such a load and practically does not overheat, since the cooling system works synchronously with the needs.

Evo 8 at speed

As soon as the concentration of fuel in the cylinders increases, air immediately begins to flow intensively, quickly turning into steam, thereby absorbing a colossal amount of thermal energy.

Gasoline consumption in the city is approximately 15.4 liters, and outside it does not exceed 9 liters, if you drive smoothly and at a moderately fast pace, certainly without violating traffic rules. Thus, the average consumption of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 is approximately 11 liters, which is a truly amazing indicator considering the power capabilities of the presented car.

A disc brake is located on each wheel of the car, which can significantly reduce the total braking distance. In turn, this significantly increases the level of safety of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 for both the driver and passengers, and for pedestrians.

Review of all significant technical parameters of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8

Let's pay attention to the following points:

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 has a four-row engine with a volume of 2 liters;
• The power plant is equipped with a fast fuel injection system, as well as automatic turbocharging;
• The maximum power of the presented engine is 280 horsepower (in the Japanese version), and the peak thrust is 392 Nm/rev. per minute

The capabilities of the power plant can be significantly increased if you understand chip tuning. The obvious advantages of engine modernization do not leave tuners alone. They try to improve engine performance at any opportunity.

• The mechanical transmission has two variations: six and five steps, it all depends on the specific configuration;
• The transmission is all-wheel drive, which allows you to overcome off-road terrain at high speed without any difficulty, where the road surface is almost completely impassable for passenger cars;
• The front axle is equipped with a special differential that has increased friction. This gives the four-wheeler extra power;
• At the same time, the car's braking system functions at an extremely high level, as it responds almost instantly when the corresponding pedal is pressed.

To date, the average price for a right-hand drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 (with a mileage of 120 thousand km) is about half a million rubles in Russia. Left-hand drive Evo 8s with almost the same mileage from 2004 cost an order of magnitude higher - 800-900 thousand rubles. The “Japanese” is a little expensive, but there are no barriers for an amateur.

The presented car has unique power capabilities, which are successfully implemented in a compact vehicle with four wheels.

Lancer Evo 8 from behind

Of course, not everyone can buy such a car, but its owner will definitely not regret his decision. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 allows you to move around the city in style, successfully overcome off-road conditions at high speed, and also serve as a reliable family car. So, the choice is yours, dear reader.

IX generation (2005-2007)

The sports version of the 9th generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was introduced in 2005. It was produced in series until 2007. Then it was replaced by the latest 10th generation of the sports sedan.

The ninth family of the Japanese sports sedan has an attractive, dynamic appearance, a slightly restrained interior, and a powerful engine. The new car stood on the assembly line until 2007, then it was replaced by the latest 10th generation of the Japanese sedan.

Appearance

Lancer Evolution IX turned out to be really beautiful, lean, and dynamic. The aggressive qualities, as well as the potential of the car, are revealed by literally every detail of the exterior. All body lines only confirm the sporting morals of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9. The nose area of ​​the vehicle received slightly darkened optics (halogen filling only), an expressive hood with a massive air duct in the center, as well as a massive bumper with an aerodynamic shape.

Interestingly, the “charged 8th generation model” was recognized as the best sports car in Scotland, France, Poland and the USA.

As for the side part of the “charged” model from the standard Mitsubishi Lancer 9, it differs only in the original “rollers”, a solid wing on the luggage compartment, as well as thresholds. But thanks to such elements, the car looks dynamic and fast. The ride height is a fairly average 140 millimeters.

The food also received sporty notes. This is noticeable by the spoiler on the trunk lid and the diffuser in the rear bumper, which received a “thick” exhaust pipe. This was done not so much to comply with fashion and tradition, but more to provide downforce, which is very necessary at high speed.

Salon

The inside of the “ninth Evo” is no longer as amazing as the outside. However, we should not forget that in such cars, sporting asceticism is valued above all. The interior has received widespread minimalism, but this cannot be called a drawback of the car. The driver is presented with a small three-spoke Momo steering wheel that speaks of sportiness.

Next, the engineers installed a simple dashboard with a speedometer lined up to 270 kilometers per hour and an engine speed sensor designed for 9,000 rpm. The entire “tidy” has a red backlight, which again indicates drive. Although the dashboard is simple, it stands out for its good readability under any conditions.

As for the central console of the Evolution IX, it has received thoughtful ergonomic features. At the very top there are deflectors of the ventilation system, between which there is a massive alarm button. Under them, a two-din radio tape recorder found its place. At the very bottom there are small climate controls.

All controls are conveniently located, so there is no need to be distracted from driving the vehicle. Despite the whole list of innovations and additions, the ninth Evolution family has become 60 kilograms lighter than the previous generation. The interior of the 9th generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was assembled to a greater extent using inexpensive, hard-to-touch plastic, diluted with carbon fiber-like elements.

The chairs boast high-quality leather and Alcantara inserts. The sporty nature of the “Evo” version can be seen in the aluminum pedals. The driver's seat, which is essentially the most important place in the 9th generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, boasts good equipment. The steering wheel can be adjusted in two directions, the manual transmission shift knob fits neatly in the hand.

The sports seats have a pronounced profile. They qualitatively “encircle” the body from all sides. The navigator sitting next to him also received a comfortable seat, equipped with a sufficient range of settings and a supply of free space. The second row has a standard layout with two headrests and a center armrest (the headrest has built-in cup holders).

The car is not a leader in terms of free space, but passengers are unlikely to complain about the lack of space. The luggage compartment in the car can be opened with a key or using a special lever. Only 430 liters of usable space are available to the owner. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to increase it, since the rear backrest cannot be removed.

The wheel arches protrude slightly inward, but this does not interfere much with cargo transportation. The raised floor does not have a spare wheel. There is only a set of equipment for quick repairs, tools, a jack.

To better distribute the weight, a windshield washer reservoir and a reservoir for transmission fluid are installed in the trunk. And in order to reduce the weight of the luggage compartment lid, the designers decided to remove the handle and trim.

Technical part

The main “trump card” of the updated Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX was the 6-speed manual transmission and the return of a full 280 horsepower. Under the hood of the Japanese sedan, engineers installed a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve Mitsubishi 4G63T MIVEC power plant, which received a charge air intercooler.

There was also a turbocharger, which at any point in the speed characteristic produced “hurricane” torque forces. To improve dynamic parameters at low and medium speeds, the design department installed an electronic control system for all valve timing in the engine. The system also controls the lift height of the MIVEC valves, and was also able to optimize the operation of the turbocharger.

As a result, the new sedan accelerated to the speed mark of 100 km/h in only 5.7 seconds. The maximum speed is 250 kilometers per hour. Such dynamics require a lot of gasoline, so in the combined cycle the “engine” requires about 11 liters per hundred. In city mode – 14.6, and outside the city – 8.2 liters.

The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel drive system with a center differential. The differential is automatically locked by a hydromechanical clutch, which is controlled electronically. There is also an active rear differential, which allows you to transfer torque to the wheel that has the best grip on the road surface.

The chassis is already traditional for the Lancer Evolution - the front has McPherson struts, and the rear has a multi-link suspension. The steering wheel has a hydraulic booster. The braking system is represented by Brembo ventilated disc devices. There are 4-piston calipers and 320mm discs at the front, and 2-piston calipers and 300mm discs at the rear.

Price

The secondary market has many advertisements for the sale of used Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 cars. There are many modernized cars (by the owners themselves), so prices can jump. Some cars are sold at a price of 500,000 - 600,000 rubles. However, there are options costing from 1,300,000 and more.

Such options are equipped with solid tuning, which includes an alternative body kit, a boosted power unit, as well as an improved chassis. Since October 2007, the Japanese company began producing the 10th generation of the popular car, which is available only in a sedan body.

Technical characteristics of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8

The car is also good because it allows you to do tuning yourself (see Tuning the front bumper). Find out how to do this from other articles on our site. Watch photos and videos, study tables and instructions. All this will allow you to become a true connoisseur of Mitsubishi cars.