[TRD-Power]

Rear Suspension
The Lancer Evolution sedan elaborates on the Lancer sedan’s multi-link trailing arm arrangement with a more rugged multi-link system that relies on a modified wishbone design to add stability and greatly raise the vehicle’s cornering limits. The competition-minded, optimally-tuned rear suspension design relies on the extensive use of strong, lightweight forged aluminum alloy components for reduced weight, and improved strength for support and mounting bracketry. Just as with the front suspension, reduced mass of aluminum components and use of reduced friction ball joints and pillow ball mounts on all suspension articulation points help the suspension design exhibit superior stroke characteristics and lightning quick response.
The Lancer Evolution’s multi-link rear suspension utilizes an aluminum A-shaped upper arm that combines with three I-shaped aluminum control links that include a large, high strength, forged aluminum trialing arm that mounts to the underside of the body using an oversized, hardened rubber bushing. These I-shaped arms and the trailing arm are positioned to provide fast-reacting suspension travel while controlling the lateral and vertical forces that could upset suspension geometry and handling. Each of the links and trailing arms utilize a combination of hardened rubber, metal shell encased bushings and large diameter ball joints at the suspension knuckle (or wheel) end or low-friction pillow ball bushings, which are attached to the unibody by the large aluminum crossmember that spans the distance between the rear suspension components. This highly rigid crossmember is the largest aluminum forging on the Lancer Evolution, and supports the entire rear suspension assembly. The stabilizer bar’s precision pillow-ball mounts and control link‘s hardened bushings are designed to maintain precise, firm, deflection-free suspension travel with movement that is controlled for directional forces that could adversely affect handling.
A large, robustly-constructed, aluminum crossmember is the single largest rear suspension component. The diameter of the rear shock absorbers and stabilizer bar (22 mm) have been increased to help ensure durability and stability during high cornering loads.
The optimization of shock absorber dampening, rear coil spring rate, and the compression characteristics of the rear bushings also help improve cornering response, and increase control through the vehicle’s cornering limit. The rear suspension bearings ride in a highly rigid hub assembly that, combined with the rear cast iron knuckle arm provides increased camber rigidity, as well as improved durability in competition.

Lancer Evolution’s shocks are a larger diameter specification for improved durability. The suspension moves using a combination of firm rubber or very stable pillow ball bushings.

Competition-Ready Braking

The Lancer Evolution relies on race-proven Brembo® calipers and rotors to provide superior feel of rigidity, control, anti-fade braking performance.

The Lancer Evolution high-performance sedan utilizes premium braking components designed by Brembo®. As a vehicle designed to conquer the higher tiers of rally competition, it seems natural that every Lancer Evolution be equipped with large Brembo® aluminum opposed calipers and rotors at the front and rear of the vehicle. The front ventilated discs measure 320 mm (12.65 inches) in diameter and the rear ventilated discs measure 300 mm (11.8 inches) in diameter. The front aluminum opposed caliper relies on a proven four-piston design while the rear brakes employ a large diameter two-piston design. The Lancer Evolution sedan is equipped with tandem vacuum boosters and master cylinders that create a reduced pedal ratio that improves pedal stiffness and modulation to achieve better braking balance with improved pedal effort and feel.

The Sports ABS relies on multiple vehicle sensors to provide data to the ECU that governs solenoid action to help control the brakes on a variety of surfaces or conditions. Combined with the EBD system, the result is improved driver control.

Image illustrates the handling advantages of the Sports ABS system with EBD.

All Lancer Evolution sedans are equipped with a Sports ABS system that offers four-wheel independent brake control that uses computer controlled lightweight hydraulic actuators to optimize brake forces for each wheel to improve braking stability in all conditions. A steering wheel angle sensor works in conjunction with the wheel speed sensors and longitudinal and lateral G-sensors help optimize ABS control to match the specific driving conditions.

The Lancer Evolution’s Sports ABS works in conjunction with an Electronic Brake Force Distribution system (EBD) to help electronically optimize performance of the front and rear brakes to provide optimal control. The use of the EBD systems shortens stopping distances and helps improve anti-fade characteristics under heavy braking conditions.
Wheels and Tires
In the interest of achieving the greatest handling performance, the Lancer Evolution is equipped with large diameter wheels and tires. The 17-inch x 8-inch Enkei® wheels are a lightweight, six-spoke, aluminum design that offers substantial weight savings over previous designs. Alloy wheels employ the latest in wheel construction technology by adding a spinning process to the ribs, making them thinner, stronger and reducing weight by 10 percent, versus traditional casting methods.These wheels are covered in P235/45R-17 tires that are exclusively for the Lancer Evolution by Yokohama Tire of Japan. The construction of these wide P235/45R-17Yokohama ADVAN™ A046 tires utilizes a unique, high grip rubber compound and a tread pattern that are ideally suited to help maximize the vehicle’s superior handling capabilities, and help extend the cornering limits.

Unibody and Safety

Much of the amazing performance and handling capability that drivers can expect to enjoy behind the wheel of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution sedan is attributed to the fundamental design strength and sound construction of the basic Lancer sedan unibody. This sophisticated unibody structure serves as the basis upon which the high performance Lancer Evolution sedan is manufactured. The front-wheel-drive Lancer sedan is a sure-footed, nimble compact sedan that offers excellent ride quality and handling thanks in large part to the rigid, flex-resistant design of its strong, reinforced-steel unibody. This welded, all-steel structure utilizes Mitsubishi’s RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) design to help create a strong passenger compartment that is surrounded by energy absorbing front and rear structures. Furthermore, by employing modern manufacturing methods such as the use of MASH seam welded members to produce multi-layered, stress-bearing structures that use several layers of thinner welded metal to create a stronger stress bearing chassis component, the unibody’s strength is optimized while lessening the weight penalty.

The Lancer Evolution unibody begins on the same assembly line as the Lancer Cedia sedan, and owes a great deal of its performance to the sound design of the basic Lancer unibody.

With a clear focus on achieving success in competition, the transformation of the Lancer economy sedan into a Lancer Evolution homologation race vehicle requires that numerous structural reinforcement measures be implemented to strengthen Lancer’s rigid unibody and make it suitable for the rigors of world-class competition. Mitsubishi equipped this race-bred sedan with the strongest, most torsionally rigid unibody structure found in the product line-up. As a result, tests have shown a reduction in the flexural forces transmitted through the vehicle’s floorpan, which helps realize better suspension performance, handling, ride quality and safety.