Evo X - FQ400 - 27th May 2009 12:37pm
EVO X TOPS OUT WITH FQ-400
£50k (yes £50K!) Evo arrives with 403bhp and 387lb ft
A new FQ-400 Lancer Evolution X has been released by Mitsubishi with 403bhp, 378lb ft, and an eye-watering £50k price tag.
Described as the fastest and most extreme Evo to date, the new range-topper’s 2.0-litre four makes its extra power from a combination of turbo and ECU upgrades. The revisions as described by Mitsubishi include motorsport-spec high-flow fuel injectors, and a new higher-spec turbo with low-friction bearings, high temperature turbine and strengthened thrust bearing to increase response and reduce lag. There’s also an enhanced intercooler, and a 3ins diameter high-flow stainless steel exhaust and cat, with gases exiting from a centrally positioned tailpipe.
There’s the usual ECU remap too, and Mitsubishi reckons 500hrs of development time have been aimed at making sure the FQ-400's performance doesn’t come at the expense of day-to-day driveability.
Top speed is still electronically limited to 155mph, but 0-60mph is down to an estimated 3.8secs, says the company.
The Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system is unchanged, with Active Stability Control, Active Centre Differential, Active Yaw Control and Sport ABS settings switchable between Tarmac, Gravel and Snow, but the suspension has been upgraded to further improve cornering ability. Compared to ‘lesser’ FQs you get a wider track and 30mm lower suspension featuring Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks. Lightweight 18ins 9-spoke alloys are fitted with Toyo Proxes R1R tyres. Brakes have also been enhanced with floating sealed discs and high performance pads.
The gearbox is the same 5-speed unit shared with the FQ-360, and unlike the old Evo VIII FQ-400 the new one hasn't been fitted with a racing clutch, so driveability should be as good as the PH fleet FQ-360. (The old FQ-400 was criticised for a high clutch pedal and unwieldy action.)
The FQ-400 also gets some styling revisions that Mitsubishi says give a nod to the legendary Evo VI.
There’s a big bonnet vent to help heat escape from the engine, a revised composite bumper with carbon elements, side skirts, a redesigned rear bumper with carbon diffuser and new rear wing with a Gurney strip.
Although the price may seem as extreme as the FQ-400’s performance, Mitsubishi is adamant the figures stack up.
‘The FQ-400 is a standard setter, with performance that’s the measure of any rival and many exotic sports and supercars costing many multiples of its £49,999 list price,’ the company says. If you want one, sales start in June, and the car comes with Mitsubishi’s standard three year 36,000 mile warranty.
While Mitsubishi’s strategy of moving the Evo range upmarket has disappointed some traditional buyers who are being priced out of the cars, the sales figures tell a different story. In its first 12 months on sale, the Evo X has outsold the previous best-selling Evo by 330%, with around 1100 cars sold. The entry-level FQ-300 is still available for approx £28,000.
![[Linked Image]](http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/12/medium/mitsubishi-evo-x-fq-400_2.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://photocarsonline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/evo-x-fq400.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-news/confirmed-uk-to-get-405-hp-mitsubishi-evo-x-fq-400-hits-60-mph-in-35-sec/11381850+cr1+re0+ar1/2009-mitsubishi-evo-x-fq-400.jpg)
£50k (yes £50K!) Evo arrives with 403bhp and 387lb ft
A new FQ-400 Lancer Evolution X has been released by Mitsubishi with 403bhp, 378lb ft, and an eye-watering £50k price tag.
Described as the fastest and most extreme Evo to date, the new range-topper’s 2.0-litre four makes its extra power from a combination of turbo and ECU upgrades. The revisions as described by Mitsubishi include motorsport-spec high-flow fuel injectors, and a new higher-spec turbo with low-friction bearings, high temperature turbine and strengthened thrust bearing to increase response and reduce lag. There’s also an enhanced intercooler, and a 3ins diameter high-flow stainless steel exhaust and cat, with gases exiting from a centrally positioned tailpipe.
There’s the usual ECU remap too, and Mitsubishi reckons 500hrs of development time have been aimed at making sure the FQ-400's performance doesn’t come at the expense of day-to-day driveability.
Top speed is still electronically limited to 155mph, but 0-60mph is down to an estimated 3.8secs, says the company.
The Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system is unchanged, with Active Stability Control, Active Centre Differential, Active Yaw Control and Sport ABS settings switchable between Tarmac, Gravel and Snow, but the suspension has been upgraded to further improve cornering ability. Compared to ‘lesser’ FQs you get a wider track and 30mm lower suspension featuring Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks. Lightweight 18ins 9-spoke alloys are fitted with Toyo Proxes R1R tyres. Brakes have also been enhanced with floating sealed discs and high performance pads.
The gearbox is the same 5-speed unit shared with the FQ-360, and unlike the old Evo VIII FQ-400 the new one hasn't been fitted with a racing clutch, so driveability should be as good as the PH fleet FQ-360. (The old FQ-400 was criticised for a high clutch pedal and unwieldy action.)
The FQ-400 also gets some styling revisions that Mitsubishi says give a nod to the legendary Evo VI.
There’s a big bonnet vent to help heat escape from the engine, a revised composite bumper with carbon elements, side skirts, a redesigned rear bumper with carbon diffuser and new rear wing with a Gurney strip.
Although the price may seem as extreme as the FQ-400’s performance, Mitsubishi is adamant the figures stack up.
‘The FQ-400 is a standard setter, with performance that’s the measure of any rival and many exotic sports and supercars costing many multiples of its £49,999 list price,’ the company says. If you want one, sales start in June, and the car comes with Mitsubishi’s standard three year 36,000 mile warranty.
While Mitsubishi’s strategy of moving the Evo range upmarket has disappointed some traditional buyers who are being priced out of the cars, the sales figures tell a different story. In its first 12 months on sale, the Evo X has outsold the previous best-selling Evo by 330%, with around 1100 cars sold. The entry-level FQ-300 is still available for approx £28,000.
