Gotcha! Evo X Prototype, Evo IX FQ-360

[YSSMAN]

We all know about the car I presume? A good guess of 300 BHP, possibly ligher than the current Evo IX, etc. It should be bad-ass, and the looks seem to be giving off the attitude in a good way...

...Still looks better than our current fugly Subie STi...

 

[Onikaze]

My god, they stayed really faithful to the concept didn't they.

You'll never hear me say this again...but...Go Mitsu!

 

[Jay]

That rear door shape seems to becoming quite popular on new cars.

 

[Sting]

Wasnt the concept more of a hatchback kinda car?

 

[YSSMAN]

I origioanlly posted the concept picture, but I'll let VIPER take that one...

I'm quite surprised that they have stayed so faithful to the concept version. Could this be the car to bring people into the Mitsubishi dealers once again? But they can't survive on just one car, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the "regular" Lancer, and theoretically what will happen to the Eclipse.

I still want Mitsubishi to thow the old Evo parts underneath the Eclipse, but thats just me...

 

[Jay]

Wasnt the concept more of a hatchback kinda car?

This is the concept,

You can see the similarity's.


*EDIT* beaten to it

 

[Jim Prower]

You could almost put a Dodge Crossbar Grille on that...

HEY! DR. Z! YOU HEAR THAT?!

 

[Sting]

Shoulda kept the concept design. lol

Either way, I'll look forward to more pics as time progresses. I just wanna see how much this actually resembles the concept.

 

[niky]

From the taped up prototype, it's looking more and more like a miniature Galant VR4 (the last V6 ones)... which is a good thing, as I loved the looks of that car.

The "old-school" mean looks should help move a few Lancers. Hopefully they do a Subaru and consider offering sub-Evo variants with AWD. This'll help keep the price of the Evo version low, and allow better market penetration with the "standard" Lancer. Since it seems that they will be unable to do high volume work for a long while, that would be a good thing.

I'd like to see a 2.0T sub-Evo FWD Lancer (at 220 hp, maybe) and an AWD version of the same to go up against the base Scooby. Possibly a 2.4 naturally aspirated mid-range model (both FWD and AWD) and a FWD 2.0 MIVEC base model with CVT.

If I'm reading the pictures right, that body looks like it'll be small enough to accept the GM-Hyundai-Mitsu 1.8 liter "world engine" without suffering too much from flab-related sluggishness.

Mitsubishi needs a new Lancer so badly, it's not funny. With this as a halo car, one hopes that it'll sell well.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

The concept does have a really tough look to it. I also like the concept better.

 

[Z32]

the first hatch back was the "concept sportback"

the "concept X" is obviously based off that

mitsubishi is in "do or die" mode with their next line up of cars for the us market.

 

[Poverty]

it looks too portly for my liking. I am a big evo fan though, and I hope mitsu can pull themselves out of theyre troubles. It could look very mean in black though.

 

[TS]

I like the IX, but this one looks rather squished and narrow. 👎

 

[YSSMAN]

...Makes you wonder what the regular Lancer will look like...

 

[Eric.]

Looks like they really rounded out the back of the cabin. It looks much more aggressive in concept form with the nice angle.

 

[opendriver]

This is the concept,

You can see the similarity's.


*EDIT* beaten to it

Kinda looks like the cobal SS:

 

[Keef]

No, it doesn't. It kinda looks like that mouth could devour the SS in one swift drop of the clutch.

 

[Omnis]

DAMN IT. Looks like they kept those DISGUSTING tail lights.

 

[harrytuttle]

It may just be the photo angles, but the road car just doesn't have the lower meaner look of the concept. The hood is much higher, the face more upright. The road car basically looks like a non-Evo Lancer with a Concept X bodykit, all ready for grocery shopping.

The masses of blank space on the road car were broken up quite well on the concept with the simple slash front to back (take note, future Saturn designers). The rear is no charmer either, since the rear door is drastically shortened, looking like it was rear-ended by a Montero running away from QC.

Other than that, I'll wait until we see what's hiding under Shaq's shoebox on the bonnet.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I noticed the rather expensive fender flares are gone. Too bad, they brought a lot of presence to the concept car...

 

[red70mach1]

Mitsubishi better be floating when this comes out.

 

[Poverty]

that must just be the base lancer thats pictured as it doesnt have the flared fenders.

 

[95GTIVR6]

that must just be the base lancer thats pictured as it doesnt have the flared fenders.

I am thinking the same. It doesn't appear to be aggressive enough from the parts we can see. There also isnt a large wing on the back; although this could be to disguise it even further.

 

[a112]

Well,the front of the concept kinda reminds me of an GTR proto.Anyway,i think that mitsubishi is going down with the looks since the evo7,evo6 was the best new generation looking evo IMHO!

 

[YSSMAN]

Good point on this possibly being the stocker Lancer, I noticed the lack of fender flares but I never put two and two together...

 

[niky]

If that's the stock Lancer, then that's pretty sweet for a base (probably sub-15k) car. Much better, at least, than the current one.

 

[franz]

I agree this may be the stock lancer
those fenders on the concept look alot more aggressive

 

[GT4_Rule]

Wow, it does look close. And boy does it look good. Better than the concept!

 

[GT Pro]

That has to be the base prototype. Just look at the exhaust, it's definately not built to be one of the EVO's performance items.

Can't wait for the actual EVO.

NOTE: 400th post. Woohoo.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, the British have done it again...

Mitsubishi has announced a new more powerful version of its Lancer Evolution IX sports car for the British market. So far, there has been no word if the car will come to other parts of Europe or here to North America. A development of the FQ-340, the new FQ-360 features a 366 hp version of Mitsubishi’s 2.0-litre turbo engine. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) has been fully reprogrammed to create a car that delivers 366bhp at 6887rpm and 363lb ft of torque at 3200rpm. The torque output is the key to this car’s character. The peak output of 363lb ft is 8lb ft more than the FQ-400 produced and is delivered 2200rpm lower down the rev range. It’s also 18lb ft more than the FQ-340. The car will sprint from 0-60mph in an estimated 4.1sec and top 160mph. It will cost £35,504 in the UK.

...That price would ammount to about $65,337.30 for the FQ-360. OUCH! I'd spend the few extra bucks for the Z06 right there!