[TRD-Power]

At the vehicle’s poles, Mitsubishi designers heighten the vehicle’s appeal with elements that add a greater sense of quality and refinement to the design, such as the clear taillights and HID projection front lamps. Meanwhile, in keeping with the competition nature of this high- performance vehicle, large portions of exterior sheetmetal such as the hood and front fenders, are stamped in lightweight aluminum to help reduce the vehicle’s weight. At the rear of the vehicle, weight savings are realized with the rear fender blister integrated into the body’s sheetmetal instead of attaching to the fender as an extension assembly as with previous Lancer Evolution models. Other weight savings measures, such as the use of durable, lightweight composite materials in the construction of aerodynamic components also speak to the refinement, and thoughtful performance oriented design of this amazing compact high-performance car.


Lancer Evolution’s front end styling makes a loud statement to the performance nature of this competition-inspired vehicle.
The Lancer Evolution sedan makes a loud performance car statement and presents an aggressive, sporty exterior design with the help of competition-oriented exterior colors. Exterior colors hues available for the Lancer Evolution sedan represent a range of basic, highly visible, mostly not-metallic hues that typically appear in the realm of motor sports competition and rally racing. Available Lancer Evolution colors include: Weightless White, Lightning Yellow, Rally Red, Apex Silver, Blue by You, Tarmac Black. These colors represent the spirit of rally racing, performance driving, and embody the energy of the Lancer Evolution product. Heightening the sporty nature of these exterior schemes is a monochromatic presentation that has bumper surfaces, door handles and side mirrors color-keyed to create a greater sense of aggressive, distinctive visual sportscar appeal for these race-inspired vehicles.

Lightweight Aluminum Exterior Sheetmetal

Racecar construction has always focused greatly on weight reduction and weight placement as a means of improving a vehicles performance, handling and braking. Reducing front end weight can help the handling balance of a vehicle with a heavy front end weight bias.
The Lancer Evolution sedan, with its 60/40 weight distribution relies on lightweight panels, and the downforce created by its massive rear wing to help improve the vehicle’s handling balance through turns.















An example of Lancer Evolution VII’s featherweight front-end panels.
By using aluminum sheetmetal for the fenders and hood, not only is overall weight reduced, but the nose section’s center of gravity is also reduced, improving handling and braking. The blistered rear quarter panel that accommodate the vehicles wider track and that are integrated into the body are pressed from steel. The aluminum panels are created by dedicated tooling designed to precisely form a softer, lighter metal, and maintain excellent fitment characteristics.

The Lancer Evolution sedan makes use of lightweight aluminum sheetmetal to accommodate the vehicle’s wider track and promote smoother airflow across the sides of the vehicle as well as through the grille and hood vent to help evacuate engine heat.

Carbon fiber construction of the available rear wing allows for modification of the airfoil for maximum downforce with minimal aerodynamic drag.











Front Fascia and Bumper

The design of the HID arrangement blends into the widened front fender and aerodynamic front fascia.


The U.S.-specification Lancer Evolution sedan’s front bumper is a new design that helps the vehicle meet more stringent front impact requirements while also offering improvements in airflow and intercooler efficiency. The Lancer sedan’s steel bumper support structure has been redesigned and reinforced to accommodate the intercooler and expanded for the additional intake ducting this engine requires for cooling. The front end styling is highlighted by the prominent display of the Mitsubishi triple-diamond emblem centered in an aggressively carved split grille inlet. The front end also features wider Lancer Evolution HID headlight assemblies with edges that blend into the widened aluminum front fenders. These headlights project a longer, stronger beam to improve nighttime visibility.

Front End Details

No.
Front End Detail
Description

1
Radiator inlet
The radiator inlet has been enlarged and contoured to help direct additional air to this heat exchanging surface.
2
Additional cooling inlets
Additional, contoured, highly efficient cooling inlets have been located on the bumper beam, in the hood, and at the sides of the center radiator opening.
3
Newly design support beam structure
This revised mounting structure helps increase the bumper’s rigidity, and includes small ducts that direct oncoming air into the intercooler.
4
Intercooler duct
An additional duct covered by steel mesh screen helps direct air toward the intercooler components.
5
Inlet screens
The Lancer Evolution series uses metal screens over the various inlet locations to replace the plastic inlets that were equipped on previous Lancer Evolution vehicles.
6
Blocking cover
A blocking cover is used to close an unused inlet and help improve the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance.

Lancer Evolution HID front headlamp detail.
Rear Bumper and Taillights
The Lancer Evolution’s rear section exterior design presents a view of a sophisticated, muscular, purposeful vehicle that looks every bit the performance sedan thanks to its full-size rear wing and clear jeweled rear taillight lenses. Beneath this trunk-mounted rear spoiler is a large, reinforced rear bumper structurally improved over previous Lancer Evolution rear bumper designs. Just as with the front bumper, the new U.S-specification rear bumper structure includes an extensive structural redesign intended to improve the bumpers durability in 2.5 mph collisions. Located on either side of the Lancer Evolution’s trunk lid are attractive composite rear taillight assemblies that shine brightly through clear lenses. The design of these taillights lend a hip, sophisticated, European appeal to this high-performance compact sedan.

Lancer Evolution tail lamps shine through an attractive, clear lens.
Lancer Evolution - Key Exterior Dimensions

Interior Design Concept

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution high-performance sedan utilizes the same spacious, four-passenger layout as found inside the Lancer sedan series. The high roofline of the most recent Lancer sedan design (2002 model) endows the Lancer Evolution with voluminous rear head and legroom uncommon in such a competent track vehicle. The large cabin ensures comfort for four adults while also offering drivers outstanding visibility due to the reduced height of the instrument panel. Aesthetically, the Lancer Evolution interior receives many of the appealing material texture and surface treatments that have made the Lancer sedan’s cabin one of the most sophisticated and neatly-finished in the class.

The Lancer Evolution interior offers performance drivers a greater sense of purpose with sportscar-level refinement.
A large titanium-hued accent panel is added to the center console controls and extends across the dash. The door panels and center console armrest are the same comfortable padded assemblies found in the Lancer sedan. However, unlike the Lancer sedan, the Lancer Evolution interior is available in only one mood-regulating interior hue. This more serious color scheme speaks to the purposeful nature of the Lancer Evolution’s all-business racing-oriented interior. With a leather-covered MOMO® steering wheel, a leather-covered shift knob, and supportive Recaro® seats, it becomes obvious that Lancer Evolution’s interior prioritizes driver empowerment.
Gauges
Driver empowerment begins with improving the level of control one experiences at high speeds or in competition. The instrument panel and the control surfaces on the Lancer Evolution are designed to facilitate driver involvement and heighten the sense of control at higher speeds. The large, round, easy-to-read, red-accented, black-faced gauges display vital engine and vehicle information such as engine speed and water temperature that can be read instantly with the help of red-tinted illumination that helps create a three-dimensional visual affect for the numbers and icons. The gauge cluster consists of a round 160 mph speedometer with digital odometer, a center-mounted oversized 9,000 rpm tachometer, a temperature, and fuel level gauge, and several warning light displays. The relatively tight spacing of these gauge dials makes all the vital information clearly visible when peering though the steering wheel, and their bold print makes it easier for drivers to focus their attention on the road.

Lancer Evolution gauge cluster with 160 mph speedometer.


Steering Wheel and Shift Knob

Tactile control and a correct, reassuring “feel” to the control surfaces are important for driver’s trying to wring optimum performance from a vehicle. The Lancer Evolution is equipped with a leather-covered three-spoke MOMO® steering wheel. The reduced diameter of this steering wheel and supple, fingertip-pleasing leather surface helps drivers achieve improved steering control. The center of the steering wheel also contains the driver’s SRS airbag.

Leather-covered Lancer Evolution steering wheel by MOMO® features comfortable notches for improved control.

Lancer Evolution leather-covered shifter.



The five-speed short throw shifter located in the center console is equipped with a weighted, leather-covered, round shift knob that helps improve shifter action and control of the knob in a driver’s palm. The stitched leather shifter knob is surrounded by a round, decorative, titanium hued ring and genuine leather boot that adds a sense of sophisticated sportscar appeal to the Lancer Evolution. The Lancer Evolution’s parking brake handle is also leather-covered for improved grip and control.
Seating
The front seats are step-free adjustable Recaro® models built specifically for the U.S. version of the Lancer Evolution. The bottom half of the seat is wider than the Japanese domestic market version and features supportive side-bolsters that help control the lateral movement in the seat even under high cornering loads. The top half of the seat consists of a motor sports-style shell, contoured and padded to provide support and to securely locate the driver’s torso. The supportive architecture of the premium-quality seat is designed to reduce driver fatigue after spirited episodes behind the wheel. A high level of adjustability is available as the Recaro® seats feature 224 mm of step-free fore and aft movement as well as a 122° range of step-free seat back adjustability. In keeping with the competition-oriented nature of this vehicle, the seat back also includes provisions for the routing of multi-point racing harness straps. The seat fabric covering utilizes a textured high-friction material that helps reduce occupant movement in the seat. The premium fabric scheme offers a combination of deep black, suede-type material with atextured, dark blue center section of the seat. The seats are mounted to realize a lower center of gravity and reduce the hip-point by 30 mm as compared to the Lancer sedan.

Lancer Evolution’s front seat adjustments use step-free articulation for ideal driver positioning.

Recaro® designed Lancer Evolution front seats are designed with additional width for U.S.-market vehicles.
The Lancer Evolution’s rear seats are covered in a premium fabric color scheme matching the front seats. The rear bench seats include the convenience of a center armrest cupholders. Both the front and rear seating positions include the security of three-point restraints. Leather seating surfaces are not available on the Lancer Evolution sedan.
Conveniences
In spite of the unapologetically, performance-minded nature of the Lancer Evolution sedan, the vehicle includes many of the most desirable sedan convenience features that help make it an incredible value as both a sedan and a performance car. Standard equipment includes a six-speaker, 140-watt, Mitsubishi CD audio system, headlight leveling control knob, dual vanity mirrors, rear cup holders, keyless entry, a trunk entrapment release handle, and an attractive leather covered parking brake handle. All Lancer Evolution models offer the convenience of a rear intermittent wiper and washer as well as child door locks on the rear doors. A trunk entrapment feature also prevents children (or adults) from becoming trapped in the vehicle’s trunk.
Given the long list of standard equipment and performance enhancements applied to this race-oriented vehicle, the optional equipment list for the Lancer Evolution sedan is a short one. A six-disc CD changer will be available as an option on the vehicle later in the model year (April 2003). Also, buyers can select a more subdued-looking lower-profile GT wing instead of the carbon-fiber unit. The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution sedan will be the first in the series to offer consumers an available power glass sunroof.
Powertrain

For sportscar enthusiasts, the metaphorical heart of a performance vehicle can be found under the hood. True high-performance cars draw a great deal of their appeal and character from a highly tuned motor that thrills drivers with sudden thrusts of acceleration, power at higher speeds, and engine capability that facilitates high speed passing and split-second maneuvers.

A progressively more highly developed version of the reliable 4G63 engine has powered every Lancer Evolution sedan.
Most of the engines powering high-performance vehicles are derived from more humble passenger car mechanical roots; developed upon the basic architecture of an engine design that was focused on durability, fuel economy, and broad power at lower speeds. The motor resting between the fenders of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a highly evolved descendent of a high-winding, eight-valve, four-cylinder engine design under the hood of the first rally-going Lancer, the GSR 1600 of 1973. Almost a decade later, a turbocharger was added to the same engine design powering the rear-wheel-drive Lancer EX 2000 that contested for stage victories on the world rally circuit between 1981 and 1983. Like a fine wine that matures with improved flavor over time, numerous competition-purposed revisions to the 2.0-liter engine’s mechanical specifications and manufacture have helped evolve this engine into a durable, sophisticated powerplant capable of producing torque all over the tachometer. Nowhere is the “Evolution” badge more applicable than in reference to the Lancer Evolution’s magnificent engine whose capability and strength has been spurred on primarily as a result of lessons learned in competition.
However, beyond the highly-modified, competition-bred, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Lancer Evolution also includes the amazing road holding capability of a race proven full-time all-wheel-drive system designed to maximize the engine’s output after the flywheel. A robust five-speed manual transmission has been designed to feed power to a viscous coupling transfer differential that splits torque equally (50:50) between the front and rear bevel-gear differentials. The engine’s torque is then transmitted to the wheels by front and rear bevel gear style differentials. The front differential is an open-type bevel gear unit, while the rear uses an independent rear suspension type differential with a limited slip bevel gear type assembly that uses friction plates to control wheel slippage. On slippery or uneven surfaces, the viscous coupling transfer differential and the front and rear differentials distribute engine torque to control wheel slippage and maintain traction.
This reliable drivetrain design effectively distributes torque to each wheel as needed to help the vehicle achieve optimum traction and control on all surfaces. The Lancer Evolution’s full-time, all-wheel drive system endows this high-performance sedan with increased grip and elevated handling limits, inspiring confidence behind the wheel and making sporting driving enjoyable to broad skill levels.