Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution History
Mitsubishi's rally-bred all-wheel-drive super sedan — ten generations of turbocharged, tarmac-shredding legend, sold in the US from 2003.
Photo: “2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX FQ-340.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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The Lancer Evolution debuted in Japan in 1992 as a homologation weapon for the World Rally Championship, using a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (4G63) and all-wheel drive in a compact sedan body. Nine generations refined the recipe — often head-to-head with the Subaru Impreza WRX STi — before it reached the US market for the 2003 model year (Evolution VIII).
The tenth and final generation (Evolution X, 2008–2015 in the US) switched to an all-aluminum 4B11T engine producing 291 hp and offered a dual-clutch SST transmission alongside the traditional five-speed manual. Mitsubishi ended US production of the Evolution after the 2015 model year; the farewell Final Edition made 303 hp. No direct successor has been announced.
Generations
Evolution VIII (US debut) · Evo VIII / VIII MR
First Evolution sold in the US — 271 hp 4G63 turbo, 5-speed manual or 6-speed SST (MR), instantly benchmark AWD handling.
2003 Photo: “2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ-300 1.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2004 Photo: “2004 Mitsubishi EVO VIII MR FQ-400.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2005 Photo: “2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII GSR.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Evolution IX · Evo IX
Photo: “2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX FQ-340.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Revised 4G63 with MIVEC intake variable timing; improved top-end power over the Evo VIII.
Evolution X · Evo X
Final generation — new 291 hp 4B11T aluminum turbo four, SST twin-clutch, sharper body; ended with the 303-hp Final Edition.
2008 Photo: “Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X 2008 (1).jpg” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2011 Photo: “2011 Mitsubishi EVO X GS RFQ360.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2012 Photo: “2012 Mitsubishi EVO X FQ-400.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Sedan
- Wagon (Japan only)
Notable special editions & performance variants
Lancer Evolution Final Edition
Limited farewell model for the US — 303 hp, manual or SST, unique badging; announced as the last Evolution.
Lancer Evolution MR
The 'Mitsubishi Racing' dual-clutch SST variant offered alongside the traditional manual across the IX and X generations.
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