Evo VIII Launched

Evo 8 is first Evo to get full factory backing in the UK

By PH Staff / Sunday, 12 January 2003 / Loading comments

The Evo 8 was launched at the Autosport Show, the first Lancer Evo to have full factory approval to be sold in the UK.

In the last few months Mitsubishi’s motorsport and performance car division, Ralliart, has been moved in-house. It is now part of the formal Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Europe operation and the Ralliart label will become a "premium sub-brand".

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK will now be the sole importer and supplier of official Ralliart products which should provide peace of mind to those buying the cars. Previously owners found themselves in a grey area with respect to warranties and parts supply.

For the next 12 months the UK will be the only European country where the new Lancer Evolution VIII is on sale. As the cars are manufactured in Japan early in 2003, they will be shipped to Mitsubishi in the UK. Sales are expected to start during March and around 1,000 units will be available in the UK this year.

The new car pitches in at £26,995, £3,000 lower than the current model. A top of the range Evo VIII FQ model with over 300 bhp will continue to be offered and this will sell at £28,995, £2,500 lower than the comparative Evo VII FQ variant. The FQ specification and power output will be announced prior to the cars going on sale in the spring, but for the Evolution VIII, the FQ pack is being developed by Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe based in Rugby, the company which prepares and operates Mitsubishi’s world rally cars.

Spec

For the first time in its production car history a 6-speed manual transmission is used. A new Super Active Yaw Control system does it stuff underneath to refine power distribution. Beneath the newly designed bonnet is Mitsubishi’s latest version of the high-performance 4G63 2.0-litre intercooled turbocharged 4 cylinder, DOHC 16-valve engine which produces 276 bhp in standard tune at 6,500rpm, whilst delivering 282 lb ft of torque at 3,500rpm.

The turbocharger has been redesigned, increasing the capacity of the intercooler and redesigning the intake manifold to reduce air-flow resistance by 20%. A 3-nozzle intercooler jet system sprays water on to the front of the intercooler which helps cool the compressed air going through the intercooler so providing more power under hard acceleration.

The exhaust pipes have been straightened to reduce exhaust back pressure and a variable back pressure valve has been added to the main silencer to reduce noise at low engine speeds.

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