Frighteningly Quick: Mitsu’s special Evo isn’t for the faint of heart
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Frighteningly Quick: Mitsu’s special Evo isn’t for the faint of heart
2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO VIII FQ-330
ON SALE: Now (in England)
PRICE: $57,300 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 2.0-liter, 330-hp, 305-lb-ft turbo I4; awd, six-speed manual
0 to 62 MPH: 4.7 seconds (mfr.)
SO THE MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo VIII isn’t extreme enough for you? A bit too comfort-oriented, dynamically compromised and generally soft-edged? No, not the sort of criticism most folks would level at Mitsubishi’s fire-breathing rally replica. But over in England, where hot Mitsubishis and Subarus have long been a national obsession, there is now an Evo aimed squarely at those who need even more: the FQ-330.
As you can probably guess, the “330” stands for the engine’s horsepower rating, comfortably out-cranking even the 280-hp MR spec Evo headed Stateside this fall (AW, April 19). And “FQ”? Let’s just say that, in a break with traditional Brit decorum, it stands for—um—very quick. Which it is. Even cautious figures issued by Mitsubishi in the United Kingdom suggest it hits 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, and one British auto book has already clipped half a second from that on the test track. This is the four-door sedan with Ferrari 360 pace.
ON SALE: Now (in England)
PRICE: $57,300 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 2.0-liter, 330-hp, 305-lb-ft turbo I4; awd, six-speed manual
0 to 62 MPH: 4.7 seconds (mfr.)
SO THE MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo VIII isn’t extreme enough for you? A bit too comfort-oriented, dynamically compromised and generally soft-edged? No, not the sort of criticism most folks would level at Mitsubishi’s fire-breathing rally replica. But over in England, where hot Mitsubishis and Subarus have long been a national obsession, there is now an Evo aimed squarely at those who need even more: the FQ-330.
As you can probably guess, the “330” stands for the engine’s horsepower rating, comfortably out-cranking even the 280-hp MR spec Evo headed Stateside this fall (AW, April 19). And “FQ”? Let’s just say that, in a break with traditional Brit decorum, it stands for—um—very quick. Which it is. Even cautious figures issued by Mitsubishi in the United Kingdom suggest it hits 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds, and one British auto book has already clipped half a second from that on the test track. This is the four-door sedan with Ferrari 360 pace.
Last edited by Black Shadow; May 18, 2004 at 11:47 PM.
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The FQ-330 owes its existence to Britain’s famously broadminded approval rules, allowing a performance pack to be fitted by Mitsubishi U.K. to preregistered cars. It is officially approved though, and comes with full warranty support. The modifications consist of an aggressively programmed supplementary ECU, plus a revised wastegate actuator, which raises peak boost to 21 psi.
Suspension remains stock, the standard Evo’s granite springs, concrete dampers and tireless brakes considered sufficient to deal with the increased power. Other changes are limited to badges, Alcantara sports seats and some slightly more upscale door inserts. Ride quality remains terrible at low speeds, but in open country the chassis smooths out and vindicates the faith placed in it, rewarding endeavor with awesome body control and scalpel-sharp steering. The extra power makes the Lancer more tail-happy on longer and wider corners, as the additional ponies make their presence felt. The only complaint is the snappy on-off quality the new ECU gives the throttle response.
Silly car, silly price tag, too. The list price of £32,000 (about $57,300) looks exorbitant, even in England. But it is filling a hole in the market—an even hotter and even more expensive FQ-340 is about to be launched.
Suspension remains stock, the standard Evo’s granite springs, concrete dampers and tireless brakes considered sufficient to deal with the increased power. Other changes are limited to badges, Alcantara sports seats and some slightly more upscale door inserts. Ride quality remains terrible at low speeds, but in open country the chassis smooths out and vindicates the faith placed in it, rewarding endeavor with awesome body control and scalpel-sharp steering. The extra power makes the Lancer more tail-happy on longer and wider corners, as the additional ponies make their presence felt. The only complaint is the snappy on-off quality the new ECU gives the throttle response.
Silly car, silly price tag, too. The list price of £32,000 (about $57,300) looks exorbitant, even in England. But it is filling a hole in the market—an even hotter and even more expensive FQ-340 is about to be launched.
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they are stupid they are really gonna go out of busniess now, cause to make a car cost that muich, there a 2 times as many better even luxary cars that u can buy for that much.
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Originally Posted by nic3krnnamja83
they are stupid they are really gonna go out of busniess now, cause to make a car cost that muich, there a 2 times as many better even luxary cars that u can buy for that much.
i dont think mitsu was going for luxury with this one.
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Originally Posted by Keisatsu
i dont think mitsu was going for luxury with this one.
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i love speed and that car screams it, but if it is a$$ you want a porsche cost a bit more and you will pull more chicks then that.
but i would take it in a heart beat, the reason they made this car is to out do subaru, becaseu of the *** the made out of mitsu for haveing the highest power awd sport compact at the detriot auto show when they unveiled the sti, mitsu released their evo on a friday, subaru did it on a monday 72hrs later the evo was nolonger the big dick on the block.
besides today i had to take a special points test here in the socialistwealth of pennsylvania, where they do not like speed becasue they are a bunch of backwards dutchys, that are cheap and scared of life, that car would just end up sitting somewhere parked because i would have no liscense to drive it.
besides i would do like nic3 said get an sti and a little modding, and spend the rest on blow and hookers
but i would take it in a heart beat, the reason they made this car is to out do subaru, becaseu of the *** the made out of mitsu for haveing the highest power awd sport compact at the detriot auto show when they unveiled the sti, mitsu released their evo on a friday, subaru did it on a monday 72hrs later the evo was nolonger the big dick on the block.
besides today i had to take a special points test here in the socialistwealth of pennsylvania, where they do not like speed becasue they are a bunch of backwards dutchys, that are cheap and scared of life, that car would just end up sitting somewhere parked because i would have no liscense to drive it.
besides i would do like nic3 said get an sti and a little modding, and spend the rest on blow and hookers