Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 2000 - 2003 sedan

King of speed

Let anything about the difficult situation in which Mitsubishi is now in, I know for sure: despite everything, this company produces such a model as Lancer Evolution. Now the seventh generation of this car has been sold. This time it is built on the basis of Lancer Cedia, and its dimensions are larger than before. Only one thing is invariably: the desire to make the weight of the machine as much as possible and introduce more miracles of technology into it.
Some moderate Evolution
I am King of Speed! My body is tightly laid in the bucket -shaped recaro chair, which is installed in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GSR salon. As soon as I got into this chair, I realized what it is to be a speed king! My hands squeeze the 3-spoke steering wheel MOMO. And now I and Lancer Evolution VII are like a whole!
When I first saw the silver case of the Lancer Evolution VII GSR (they say that spacecraft is covered with such paint), the thought involuntarily crept into the head: something was not enough energetic in its appearance. See for yourself: where is the sports line of the body of the body, where is the set of parts that improve aerodynamics? Even in the standard modification of all this in abundance. Isn't it too much for Evo? The front and rear wings are also not too outstanding. The wheelbase increased by 115 mm compared to the previous model, which also led to some mitigation of previously an active appearance.
A 2-liter turbocharged engine develops a power of 280 hp. at 6500 rpm. and maximum torque of 39.0 kg/m at 3500 rpm. You can imagine an approximate fuel consumption for the tested car if you consider that during the trip I drove 394.3 km, and every 6 km of the way I had to spend 1 liter of gasoline.
But I do not argue, there is still something to be proud of the new car. First of all, her body has become one and a half times tougher in twisting. To reduce the total weight of the machine, the hood is now made of aluminum alloys. A lower protective casing is installed under the engine. But my eyes were looking for something more impressive. For example, the front panel of the salon - you will not see one in a regular car (meaning a modification of Touring). The Evolution emblem shimmers on the left, this will also not go unnoticed. But now I sat down in a chair, painted in cold colors: black, gray, blue. In front of me is the dashboard, in the center of which the tachometer attracts my attention. He blushed and smiles at me slightly.
A halo of a WRC participant
On the chubby of thermal insulation of the hood you can see the windows of the air intake. The 7th generation engine is the same, the previous 2-liter 4G63 engine with turbocharged, only with a fine adjustment of the inlet and release system, as well as a turbocharger. The peak of torque falls on engine speed in the range from 2750 to 5500 rpm. And the torque itself added 1 kg compared to Evo VI and has now reached 39.0 kg/m. The peak of the developed power is 6500 rpm, it is 280 horsepower. So the motor is ready for work in any mode. But not only power increased. In addition, the capacity of the intercooler and the oil radiator is increased, so that cooling should also be all right.
The steering wheel of small diameter is only 365 mm. The ring of the steering sleeve is duplicated at the bottom of the panel of the control lever. The layout of the front part of the machine is faced by 3 kg compared to the previous model.
I suddenly remembered that the protective cover of the gas distribution mechanism was made of magnesium, and the distribution shaft, it turns out, is hollow, and smiled at the edge of his lips. Well, clear, I thought, - an ordinary, high -quality, but not causing special engine. But then the sound of a spinning turbine joined the noise of the engine itself. And I immediately felt the encouraging voices of the audience, as if I were going to the WRC highway somewhere in Monte Carlo, Catalonia or San Remo. What kind of auditory hallucinations?
I am a speed king, a man who turned out to be the will of fate in the RECARO chair!
Due to the low gear ratio of the first gear, Lancer Evolution VII starts simply wonderful. It seems that the Earth is about to go from under the wheels. In the first gear I gain speed of 60 km/h, the second 100 km/h, the third 130 km/h! A 5-speed manual gearbox and an enhanced clutch mechanism work perfectly!
 
You can drive on any roads
The drive to all four wheels according to the Audi Quattro scheme is an unchanging attribute of any car for rally. What other equipment boasts the Lancer Evolution of the new model? As before, in this list - AYC (Active Yaw Control). It is allowed to adjust the distribution of traction force between the right and left rear wheel. In addition to this, the machine has electronic control of the torque of the rear and front pair of wheels ACD (Active Center Differential). Its work boils down to the fact that in the intensive acceleration mode and speed reset, the traction force developed by the engine is distributed between the rear and front wheels in almost equal proportion, which allows the maximum adhesion of the wheels with the surface of the road. And at a bend, a rigid connection between all four wheels weakens, which allows the AYC system to convey to the wheel, which follows in the outer circle, a larger torque. Thus, control stability is achieved. In addition, if you pull on yourself the steam brake lever, the back and front pairs of wheels are completely unlocked, which allows you to perform sharp reversals.
Another detail for rally lovers: information on the operating mode of the ACD system is displayed on the tachometer. And the modes themselves are turned on using the switch on the right side of the control panel. Three modes: Tarmac (Goodron), Gravel (gravel) and Snow (snow). I checked how it all works on a mountain section of the road. The more the car goes back, the greater the difference between the traction force transmitted to the front and rear wheels. On steep turns, there is a feeling that it is very easy to switch to SEZ. Those who acquire Lancer Evolution VII GSR as a city car may have the question: why do we need this switching?. But the question itself seems at least incorrect. The family sword does not lose its value, even if it is not put into business!
I am a king of speed. Far from city streets, on deserted roads, I create my small country called speed. I give a gas pedal and imagine myself Tommy Myakinnen. And I can sharply press the brake pedal, and then the speed will be defeated. To do this, you only need to drive the brake system from Brembo.
Despite the fact that the dimensions of the body have increased, the weight gain was only 40 kg for Lancer Evolution VII GSR, 60 kg for modification. The hood and front wings are made of aluminum alloys. In addition, the thickness of the sheet going to the manufacture of the roof is reduced. The thickness of the door glasses (front and rear) decreased by 10%. The car on which I made a test trip is equipped with options such as cooling the brake system (13,000 yen, or about $ 124) and 2DIN audio system (67.000 yen, or about $ 638).
Technical characteristics Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII GSR
 
Length / width / body height
4455 mm / 1770 mm / 1450 mm
Wheelbase
2625 mm
Dry weight
1400 kg
Drive unit
4 WD
Engine
2 liters, turbocharged, with intercooler, 4-cylinder with an in-line cylinder arrangement, gas distribution mechanism two upper shafts with 16 valves, developed power-280 hp. at 6500 rpm, maximum torque 39.0 kg/m at 3500 rpm.
Transmission
5-speed manual transmission
Basic price
2.998,000 yen (about $ 28.600)
The price of the car on which the test trip was performed
3. 098,000 yen (about $ 29.500)
 
 
Author: Webcg journalist Aoki Teino (Aoki Teino)
Photo: Namba Kenji (Namba Kenji)
April 2001

A source: webcg