Tuesday 2nd December 2008

Ultimate Evo

New FQ-400 will be fastest Evo ever

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It may look familiar, but the canny-eyed among you will notice some (relatively) subtle differences on this Evo X. And these extra furrows and intakes are not just for show; this is the new FQ-400 concept developed by Mitsubishi UK with ADR motorsport, the company who build and maintain their BRC (British Rally Championship) rally cars, and will be the most powerful Evo to date.

The car is exclusively designed for the UK market, and like the previous FQ-400 (based on the Evo VIII) it will produce around 405bhp. But this time it has an extra 45lb ft of torque, bringing the figure from 355 to a mountain-moving 400 lb ft. And unlike the previous flagship FQ (rumoured to stand for 'f****g quick'), the new model will do away with the troublesome racing clutch in favour of a more comfortable road jobbie and a standard 5-speed manual gearbox.

0-60mph is dispatched in 3.5 seconds according to Autocar, and top speed is once again limited to 155mph. However that hike in torque should mean considerable improvements to midrange acceleration, as well as making that power more usable throughout the rev-range. This means that the car should not only be faster, but also easier to drive than its uber-hardcore predecessor.

Helping to reign in all that power is an improved aerodynamic package. There's hardly a square-inch of bodywork without some sort of duct or fin, and this latest Evo gets tweaked 'Vortex Generator' fins on the lip of the roof and new slots in the bodywork to direct air onto the brakes. The brakes themselves get an upgrade too, with new 6-pot callipers sitting behind new tasty-looking 18inch alloys. The other significant change is a new, huge single exhaust to replace the twin pipes on the rest of the Evo range.

All this comes at a price, though. At a predicted £45-£50,000, the most powerful Evo yet will also be the most expensive - and will stroll straight into M3 territory. The BMW carries an extra 10bhp, but with 'only' 295lb ft of torque compared with the FQ's mighty 400, it is sure to be a close battle - particularly if Mitsubishi can give this Evo the everyday driveability that the old FQ-400 lacked.

Only 100 examples of the FQ-400 are currently planned, and will formally meet the world some time in 2009.

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Mitsubishi are clearly in a rallying mood at the moment, as today official pictures have been released of the upcoming Ralliart version of the new Colt that we spotted at the Paris motorshow earlier this year. We imagine the pictures below of the new ‘mini-Evo’ will invoke one-or-two strong opinions…

 

[zagato]

How about an FQ400 Colt - making a new category of White Hot Hatch

[jon-]

Lets hope we get another FQ400 vs Murci section on Top Gear, that was a fun race

[neema_T]

Yes, yes, yes. This is the Evo X I've been waiting for, already can't wait to drive it in GT5...! Noticed it's not Ralliart's work, though, not sure how I feel about that, but I'm sure whatever I am feeling will become irrelevant when I see it moving at Goodwood or on Top Gear! Still not pretty but then that hardly matters.

[BUG4LIFE]

You would have to love Evo's to spend £50k on one, but OMG I want it

[varsas]

Seems a bit of a bargin really, probably faster then most 911's and much cheaper.

[danielhodgkiss]

A Mitzi is now the same price of an M3? Forgive my ignorance but isn't this a step too far for the EVO in terms of overall package offering?

Edited by danielhodgkiss on Tuesday 2nd December 13:33

[NitroNick]

Yes please...but not in that colour.

[btdk5]

varsas said:

Seems a bit of a bargin really, probably faster then most 911's and much cheaper.

Completely different ball game to a 911 though isnt it.

[james_gt3rs]

It's now starting to rival the Nissan GTR now isn't it?
It's probably even more mind-bendingly fast

[Curator]

...if only Mitsubishi had bothered to give it front-wheel-drive

[shotokan]

It's nice...bu not much £ between this and a GTR (more power, more tech, more speed...)

Reckon it will EAT clutches too if it's a standard unit...how do they last in the 360's, assuming it's the same?

Got to say I liked the niche/hardcore attitude of the previous FQ400...stall 'n all!

[Cassius81]

Yes, okay, so you can beat most (but not all) 911s away from the lights and hammer them down a twisty, wet country road.... But at the end of the day, amazing technical achievement or not, it is still a Mitsubishi Lancer.

And that is why Porsche (and no doubt the people who buy them) couldn't care less... Especially if it costs £50k.

I'll take a nearly new 911 C4S thanks.

[tomTVR]

'5 speed gearbox' what is this, 1985?

Bet its bloody quick though.

[190E Matt]

Saw a new white Evo X the other week, looked absolutely fantastic, they really have got the styling spot on with this car.

[WILDROVER42]

Was lucky enough to drive a few FQ400's (used to work for Mitsi UK) and never had a problem with the clutch, never stalled once.
Think this whole business with "the clutch problem" may stem from Clarkstons inability to drive it properly on Top Gear.

Having said that the old FQ400 was most definately not an everyday car.
It was one for the hard-core enthusiast only and therefore comparisons, other than performance figures, to Porsches etc are IMO irellevant.
The new, more user friendly, version however could be a different thing altogether.

[DamoLLb]

[sarcastic mode] FQ is rumoured to stand for F***ing Quick, really? [/sarcastic mode]

[annodomini2]

tomTVR said:

'5 speed gearbox' what is this, 1985?

Bet its bloody quick though.

With that much torque you don't need more gears, besides, fewer gears means more room in the casing for strengthening.

[ScottL]

too fast to fully exploit on the road - should be fun on track although it will be expensive on tyres/brakes/clutches etc...

[team will]

they had better put a bigger fuel tank in it......5-8mpg under full steam??

[BigE1967]

"The BMW carries an extra 10bhp, but with 'only' 295lb ft of torque compared with the FQ's mighty 400, it is sure to be a close battle - particularly if Mitsubishi can give this Evo the everyday driveability that the old FQ-400 lacked."

"everyday drivability" is not a term that is typically used when describing a 405 hp - 2 litre turbo motor.