Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII RS 360 | PH Private Area
Mitsubishi never made the stripped-out Evo with any more power - perhaps it should have...
For fans of the mad old Japanese cars, it’s heartening to see the tradition still alive with cars like the GR Corolla Morizo and Yaris Rovanpera. It’s hard to imagine many folk were calling for a two-seat, five-door Corolla - probably the same amount as were out there for a Drift Moded Yaris - but now they’re in the world it’d be sad not to have them. Even if they’ll probably never be seen in the UK. As enthusiasts, it’s just nice to know that some of the old silliness is out there somewhere.
The history of the trick Japanese Domestic Market special stretches back decades now, the endless tinkering and optimisation of iconic performance cars making for some unforgettable limited editions along the way. Mitsubishi were masters of the craft, new Evos seemingly revealed most months as they’d found some way to liberate additional power or make the chassis even more responsive. That there was a UK-bound car called a Lancer Evo IX MR FQ-360 by HKS (perhaps one of the best made) tells you how crazy things became; surely only the Mitsubishi Evo could have a version literally called ‘Extreme’.
The RS Evos, of which this is one, were never officially imported to the UK, deemed too raw for our tastes. They were stripped-out and hardcore versions of already fairly uncompromising cars, so it’s easy to understand the logic. However, as the forbidden fruit for enthusiasts, they have always held an additional appeal over the Evos we know and love here. Could the best really be made even better?
This one isn’t quite as barren as some, specced from the factory with the alloy wheels, air con and Brembo brakes. It’s only been in the UK six months with one owner, in which time it’s been treated to new (and better) brakes and pads, a fresh exhaust, a wheel refurb and head unit. The underneath is immaculate, as is the sparse interior, and the original seats are included in the sale for the full RS effect if desired.
Take a little look at the back, too, and note the ‘RS-360’ badge in the style associated with the FQ models. It was never an official derivative, but this particular Evo is a little more powerful than standard (without changing anything too obvious), and the owner wanted a badge that fitted with the rest of the car. It’s a nice touch - and a hugely exciting prospect.
Still with fewer than 60,000 miles and with the recent money spent, this VII looks like a great way into the Evo experience without the premium attached to earlier iterations or UK market cars. It’s for sale at £25k - an equivalent VI might be £15k more. And it’ll still exhilarate like little else vaguely practical, even those brilliant little Toyotas. Probably why we still love the JDM special, all these years later.
SPECIFICATION | MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VII
Engine: 1,997cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@6,500rpm (standard)
Torque (lb ft): 282@3,500rpm (standard)
MPG: 26.2
CO2: 257g/km
Year registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 56,000
Price new: £29,995 (2002, UK standard car)
Yours for: £24,995
Really like it though.
The car does have a diff, it's just a non-ACD one. The ACD let you select between Tarmac/Gravel/Snow and contains a pump which can fail and would need replacing. You can see the blanking panel on the right of the steering wheel where the ACD switch would go.
Some people say the non-ACD version is more predictable at the limit and obviously, it's less complicated so there is one thing less to go wrong but they weren't that prone to breaking and were fairly easily repaired anyway.
I only ever used the snow setting on mine, I doubt you'd notice the difference 99% of the time.
Really like it though.
The car does have a diff, it's just a non-ACD one. The ACD let you select between Tarmac/Gravel/Snow and contains a pump which can fail and would need replacing. You can see the blanking panel on the right of the steering wheel where the ACD switch would go.
Some people say the non-ACD version is more predictable at the limit and obviously, it's less complicated so there is one thing less to go wrong but they weren't that prone to breaking and were fairly easily repaired anyway.
I only ever used the snow setting on mine, I doubt you'd notice the difference 99% of the time.
RS2 Evo 6 was one of my favourite Evo’s to drive a very raw driving experience with quick rack, plus they had Aircon elec windows etc and higher final drive but still 5 speed and no ayc.
For road use in the U.K. the best Evo’s were when the MR models came out as the Bilstein suspension transformed the ride plus they finally got 6’ speed.
Then the 9GT had the best of both with RS drive train, Bilsteins, nice interior and a lsd’s and an updated version of AYC - if I was buying another Evo I’d want a 9 GT.
Then the 9GT had the best of both with RS drive train, Bilsteins, nice interior and a lsd’s and an updated version of AYC - if I was buying another Evo I’d want a 9 GT.
I only ever had one 9 GT it was a gorgeous red one 3 years old and could not sell that car no one wanted that model ( maybe due to being an import ) poor car ended up going to NI to be made into a group N rally car ( it was one that Barry from the MLR had imported new as a grey import) ended up Selling that one for £15k which seemed ridiculously cheap for a 3 yrs old GT.
Had some incredible drives in that car in the wild hill roads of the Scottish Borders - an incredible point to point missile. The only car I’ve driven that could compare to that was an Impreza S202 which was Subaru tecnica version or tue mitsi Rs/GT .
I used to have a Red TME which I paid £14k for (2005) !!!
The car does have a diff, it's just a non-ACD one. The ACD let you select between Tarmac/Gravel/Snow and contains a pump which can fail and would need replacing. You can see the blanking panel on the right of the steering wheel where the ACD switch would go.
Some people say the non-ACD version is more predictable at the limit and obviously, it's less complicated so there is one thing less to go wrong but they weren't that prone to breaking and were fairly easily repaired anyway.
I only ever used the snow setting on mine, I doubt you'd notice the difference 99% of the time.
That is all - move along.
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