Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII

The battlefield is set: Mitsubishi and Subaru wage an all out war on each other. The new Lancer Evo 7 sports a 2.0-litre turbocharged I4 producing 276 horsepower at 6500 rpm (unofficially closer to 300) and 282 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm, the latter a slightly higher figure than that of Subaru's STi. The Lancer sits one gear short of the Impreza, using an updated version of the current 5-speed manual transmission. Besides an increase in power, the Lancer also gets a little chubbier, by about 90lb, which is still little compared to the Impreza's 220lb weight gain. The lightweight RS model, which forfeits amenities such as a radio and A/C is also about $4000 cheaper than the GSR and 170 pounds lighter, although it is much more inhospitable for daily road use.Various features on the Evo 7 include vented front and rear disc brakes with ABS, 235/45ZR17 tires and the unchanged suspension layout from previous model, although with revised geometry and an overall wider track and longer wheelbase. The big pièce de resistance is the new ACD (Active Center Differential) which uses an electronically controlled clutch that gives better grip compared to the standard VCU type to improve traction, as well as the AYC (Active Yaw Control) system, which gives better torque distribution between the rear wheels. The Lancer goes on sale in February 2001, for the equivalent of about $25,500 USD for the GSR and $21K for the RS in Japan - by Traian Popescu

See more: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Photos, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Technical Data