As you can see from the opening shot my last trip out to Phoenix’s Power in Kyoto was met with a bit of unexpected weather. But passing snowstorms aside, it was their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X demo car I was there to get a few quick shots of. The car has been built in collaboration with ings…
…sporting their full N-Spec aero kit for the CZ4A, the same kit that the Endless Super Taikyu (former Gr.N) Evo X is fitted with. Thanks to all the openings on the front bumper there is ample airflow reaching the intercooler and radiators while the asymmetric intake on the grille is there to scoop direct fresh air towards the air box under the vented hood.
Taller and angular side skirts follow, leading on to the rear bumper which on top of a pair of openings on each corner also sports a diffuser with built in fins. The car sits on 9.5Jx19″ Volk Racing GTCs shod with Bridgestone Potenza S001 street-tires.
Under the hood Phoenix’s Power concentrated on extracting as much power as possible from the stock 4B11. Upgrades include an HKS GT2 turbocharger kit, Tomei Powered 264-deg camshafts for both the intake and exhaust side and an HKS intercooler kit along with polished aluminum piping. Yokoyama-san of Phoenix’s put the car on the shop’s dyno and custom mapped the ECU, which now allows the engine to develop a healthy 425 HP and 361 lb/ft.
Aside from a triplet of GReddy gauges the interior is kept simple. The 5-speed manual gearbox has been joined with an ATS twin-plate carbon clutch to deal with the added power, while both front and rear differentials are fitted with ATS carbon LSDs.
Every time I am confronted with an awesome Evo X like this particular example from Phoenix’s Power, it’s hard to believe that Mitsubishi has decided to no longer continue the development of the Lancer Evolution. There should already be an Evo XI out by now. Come on Mitsubishi, don’t let enthusiasts down, there is still time to do the right thing!
– Dino Dalle Carbonare