Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year. Cars, trucks, SUVs, we run them all, and the numbers always tell a story. With that in mind we present "IL Track Tested," a quick rundown of all the data we collect at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
One morning last spring we woke up with this crazy idea to race a car up a big, scary hill in Nevada. After a few phone calls to Mitsubishi and West Chicago, Illinois-based AMS Performance we were well on our way, too. Then a long string of stupid, strange and sad things began to happen.
First, the Evo (all-wheel drive, remember) was flat towed most of the way between Mitsubishi's headquarters in Cypress, California, and Illinois -- a feat which had a severely debilitating effect on the car's center differential. This delayed plans just enough to cause us to rethink the insanely rapid three-week build and plan for another event after the car was fully sorted.
Then Alexander Djordjevic was killed when his Porsche left the side of that big, scary hill and we began an even further rethink of our plans.
And it's led us here. To this test of AMS Performance's Evo time-attack car -- fresh off its domination of the Super Lap Battle Finals at Buttonwillow Raceway Park here in California. There the car set a new record in the Street Tire Class of 1:55.8 seconds, which, by the way, is really, really flippin' fast.
Then, with amply heat-cycled tires, AMS brought the car to our test track for a numbers run. Before we got serious about things, however, its transmission crapped out by repeatedly slipping out of 1st gear. But those AMS boys, well, they're not sissies and they promptly swapped the trans in a multi-day fiasco which had them hauling all over the Southland, skipping meals, losing sleep and having their lives generally disrupted. Even worse, the replacement gearset was stock which provided sub-optimal gearing relative to the now-useless aftermarket set up.
The following week, the Evo showed up fully pissed and ready to rock.
And rock it did. The numbers, well, the numbers speak for themselves. And in case you've never before witnessed a car with enough power to vaporize all four tires from a standing start, be sure to check out the drag launches in the video.
Thanks to AMS's 2.3-liter forged engine package, front-mount intercooler kit, 900X turbo kit and turbo-back exhaust, there's no shortage of power. This car is tuned so near the edge of destruction that we could actually sense its indifference for self-preservation with every jab of the throttle -- and we're talking about the drivetrain parts, not the engine. The power plant was as thoroughly sorted as any mill cranking out this kind of specific output could possibly be. With the turbo spooled, this car is painfully fast. Boost rolls on in earnest by 4,000 rpm, and with a 9,200-rpm rev limit there's no reason ever to be off boost.
We're told there's about 530 wheel horsepower on tap here with the potential for much, much more. Yes, it runs on race fuel. Well, that and single-malt testosterone. Enjoy.
-- Josh Jacquot, Senior Editor, Inside Line
Vehicle: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evoltuion 8 by AMS
Date: 11/23/10
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $41,000 parts, $10,000 labor $33,590 (base Evo X for 2010) = $84,590
Specifications:
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Five-speed manual
Engine Type: Inline-4
Displacement: 2.3 liters
Redline (rpm): 9,200
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 530 at the wheels
Brake Type (front): 13.8-inch two-piece ventilated Giro Disc rotors with stock 4-piston Brembo calipers and Carbon Loraine RC6E pads
Brake Type (rear): 13-inch ventilated Giro Disc rotors with stock 2-piston Brembo calipers and Carbon Loraine RC6E pads
Steering System: Hydraulic-assist rack-and-pinion power steering
Suspension Type (front): JRZ RS1 single-adjustable coil-overs and Whiteline stabilizer bar and bushings
Suspension Type (rear): JRZ RS1 single-adjustable coil-overs and Whiteline stabilizer bar and bushings
Tire Size (front): 285/30ZR18 93Y
Tire Size (rear): 285/30ZR18 93Y
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: Extreme Contact DW Tuned
Tire Type: Summer Performance
Wheel Size: 18-by-10.5 inches
Wheel Material (front/rear): Aluminum alloy
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,360
Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 1.4
0-45 (sec): 2.7
0-60 (sec): 3.5
0-75 (sec): 4.9
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 11.1 @ 134.3
0-60 With 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.3
30-0 (ft): 29
60-0 (ft): 116
Slalom (mph): 72.7
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 1.02
Acceleration: Two-speed rev limiter makes launching the car a matter of procedure rather than trial and error -- or at least it should. After dialing in the exact launch rpm (started at 6,300 then came down to 6,000), it was a matter of wooding the throttle, side-stepping the clutch and gritting my teeth. The result was dramatic wheelspin through 1st gear and then grabbing gears as quickly as possible. A 9,200-rpm rev limiter (raised to 9,500 on the quickest run) means that much of the power band is available above the launch rpm. A last-minute transmission change (which reinstalled the lower stock gearing) meant the car wouldn't complete the quarter-mile in 4th gear as it would have with the taller aftermarket gearset. Insane power pushes the envelope of what a stock Evo powetrain can handle. One wrong move means broken parts.
Braking: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Aggressive alignment settings means this car doesn't put all that rubber (285mm) on the road when it's going straight.
Handling: Skid pad: Superb handling balance -- better, even, than a stock Evo. Responds to lift-throttle oversteer and will maintain a slight rear slip angle if driven aggressively. Slalom: Insanely quick reactions from every control (throttle and steering, namely) means this car -- unlike most stock cars -- can be adjusted many times through the last few cones. Getting it right isn't easy and getting it wrong will have you backwards in the fence faster than you can say "gratuitous horsepower." It's crazy, it's fast and it's fun. And it all happened on tires with two time-attack races under their belts.
skunkworks says:
08:30 PM, 11/30/10
and this is why I love IL. Thank you for making my night.
isend2c says:
10:27 PM, 11/30/10
+1 Skunkworks.
spdracerut says:
10:47 PM, 11/30/10
134mph trap speed? I'm going to say that's more like 700whp. This corresponds better to the '900x' turbo kit name too (assuming 900 crank hp).
powell_jr says:
04:59 AM, 12/ 1/10
AWESOME! This is why we read IL.
mirde98 says:
05:00 AM, 12/ 1/10
Mitsubishi at its finest.
felonious says:
09:30 AM, 12/ 1/10
Drool.
jacton says:
09:35 AM, 12/ 1/10
I have a feeling 2005 Evo will be the next LT car.
exnevadan says:
09:47 AM, 12/ 1/10
where are all the $80k Mitsu comments?
SR341 and my '93 Miata - years of fun
saw a pair of F40's run there one year, and a Skyline R34
IL needs to get to SR341 with one of their vehicles
greenpony says:
10:14 AM, 12/ 1/10
*gasp* @ flat tow instead of flatbed.
stingray454 says:
10:19 AM, 12/ 1/10
The trap speed is very high relative to the ET in the quarter. Would almost indicate severe traction problems. I would expect to see something like that with a RWD car with this much power, but it's unusual for an AWD car.
jazzor says:
10:37 AM, 12/ 1/10
Hum... Guys are you sure the 900x has 530 horses? I thought it would be north of 700whp wouldn't it?
At least that's what the AMS website says, a 900 crank-hp package for 40k plus labor.
and OMG I want right now! I'll give u my address for delivery, thnxbye.
lol
bdey says:
11:24 AM, 12/ 1/10
85 grand for an EVO?????
No thanks!!!! I would rather buy a c6 Corvette puts cams, Heads and a Blower and it would mop the floor with the EVO on a track and in strait line you just cant compete with American Muscle
johnca714 says:
12:56 PM, 12/ 1/10
Bdey,
Dont be a Tool, Plenty of guys out there who put down 500Whp in these cars without dropping $51,000 in parts and labor. Also smoking an Economy car based sedan with your imaginary Corvette isnt anything to brag about.
Interesting read IL.
miamifan1 says:
04:47 PM, 12/ 1/10
1. you can easyly get 700whp for less than $40k but trial and error by home/rookie mechanics always yields broken engines. this is part of the tuning game. with a pricey pro tuner package you get some tried-and-proven results which can handle ham-fisted editorial abuse.
2. the videos reveal badly-timed launch technique with the boost not always peaked when tester launched. this, and the horrible granny shifting held the car from achieving a 10 sec pass. clearly this car has the goods.
3. i rather read about the 93 octane performance. i hate tests of street cars "juicing". i believe even with pump gas and 50ish less hp this car hits 10's
4. trap speed is fantastic. i bet this car is a beeeast on the highway.
5. why didnt they use a DCT example? i imagine that tranny with its eye-blink shifts and 6th gear would give 2/10ths improvement
6. i love when IL does these tests. awesome car, awesome sound, incredible slalom, awesome video!
thanks IL. you've just gained points in my book after the terrible Volt editorial re: GM lying to you.
spdracerut says:
11:19 PM, 12/ 1/10
miamifan1, there's no DCT that can stand up to that treatment yet. They do have a DCT upgrade out for the Evo X, but I think it's only rated for around 500whp.
jazzor says:
04:39 AM, 12/ 2/10
AMS is overpriced, but they know what they're doing... I'm always glad I gave them my money cause thus far my car still runs great!
Awesome service!
Plus, "You gotta pay to play..."
paulvincent1 says:
11:17 AM, 12/ 2/10
Wonderful performance, but that's an awful lot of money; why not buy the Nissan GT-R?
desmolicious says:
01:13 PM, 12/ 2/10
11.1 @ 134? Ok I guess for a car.
But at $80K and the verge of self destruction? Meh.
BMW S1000RR. $16K. Completely reliable.
9.7 @ 143...
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/64/6851/Motorcycle-Article/2010-BMW-S1000RR-Comparison-Track.aspx
Buy the bike, and buy something that makes nice sounds like a Mustang GT500. And have money left over..
martinams says:
02:25 PM, 12/ 2/10
Just to add a few things, for the $51K part/labor price you get a lot more than just the HP. In that is included the JRZ shocks, wheels, AMS proprietary suspension components, wing, chassis setup/alignment, etc. If you're interested in just pure speed, the cost would be considerably less.
Also the power was more like 700-750 crank horsepower. (upper 500's on our Mustang Dyno)
-Martin
AMS Performance
maximumyin says:
03:56 AM, 12/ 3/10
Awesome car, but what's the deal with the hard tires? If these are the tires I'm thinking of the stock Advans would be a significant grip improvement...
alpine6speed says:
08:47 AM, 12/ 3/10
Very cool test but you had to being easy on that car. A stock GT-R is just as quick and the new 911 Turbo S is 2.8 to 60 and runs 10's Either that or the car is so beaten up that the trans/clutch cant take the abuse. With the power stated this should be a mid 10's car. I know it was not meant for the dragstrip and as a package its amazing I am sure. AMS is good quality parts and in their case you do get what you pay for.
Martin
how much would it be for just all of the go fast parts? That is really what matter when looking at the performace in the 1/4 mile. You guys do have a great company with quality parts as I said above.
ayjay says:
06:45 AM, 12/ 5/10
I like how Joe AverageReader reads a blog about a time attack car and all he can focus on is 1/4 mile time because that's all he can relate to.
Posting about S/C'ing a Corvette or buying a MustangGT and a bike proves little understanding of what AMS is trying to accomplish in this car. You can go ahead and S/C your Corvette and *maybe* beat the the AMS evo at the drag strip but I guarantee this car will kick the snot out of your S/C Vette at any track in America... and I guarantee you that's all AMS or any other time attack team will truly care about.
cjw88 says:
05:47 AM, 12/ 6/10
Wish I worked for AMS.
Awesome shop, awesome cars!
drama_j says:
07:30 AM, 12/ 6/10
11.1??? Really, That's it. Wow guess u guys shoulda called Dave Buschur to bring in a real evo!
spdracerut says:
10:11 AM, 12/ 6/10
drama_j, it's a road course/time attack car, not a drag car. It's probably running -3 to -4 degrees of camber which does not make for good straight line traction. And the tires used aren't exactly the stickest things on earth. If you watched the vids, you'd see the car bascially roasting all four tires off the launch. I bet the 60' sucked.
skunkworks says:
10:53 AM, 12/ 6/10
Keep in mind that this Evo was faster in the recent Super Lap battle series than the AMS alpha 9 GTR, which runs 9's in the 1/4. The qualities of a good T/A car although not mutually exclusive to being fast on the strip, are going to be fine tuned for the road course.
"AMS Performance AMS Performance EVO 900X and Alpha 9 GT-R both competed in the 2010 Super Lap Battle Finals - bringing home a 1-2 place victory in the street class division. The AMS EVO 900X broke the SLB street class record at Buttonwillow with a lap time of 1:55:375. The AMS Alpha 9 GT-R followed less than two-tenths of a second behind."
http://www.amsperformance.com/
pathos says:
03:58 PM, 12/ 9/10
desmolicious says:
01:13 PM, 12/ 2/10
11.1 @ 134? Ok I guess for a car.
But at $80K and the verge of self destruction? Meh.
BMW S1000RR. $16K. Completely reliable.
9.7 @ 143...
Buy the bike, and buy something that makes nice sounds like a Mustang GT500. And have money left over..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you talking about? I don't want a motorcycle. More importantly, we are not comparing cars to motorcycles here. Stick with the subject here.
And 'buy something that makes nice sounds'? Seriously?
shawnsubaru says:
08:04 PM, 12/ 9/10
You guys that are wondering why the speed is so high, it's so high because the car is very fast, but the guy is shifting slow, i've seen stock evo's shift as fast as the one in this video, that's why, and plus he has a problem with traction in first, but the car is a monster. Idk it happens a lot that people put mods on their evo but they end up shifting not on par and it makes them look like bad drivers idk
dabause says:
10:18 PM, 12/13/10
@ayjay
An S/C 'Vette not being able to keep up with this car? LOL, please. Reese Cox ran a 1:26 at Road Atlanta in his full interior C6 Z06 a couple of years ago. AMS would have to roll out that Gates311 car to touch that.
jazzor says:
01:00 PM, 12/14/10
dabause says:
10:18 PM, 12/13/10
@ayjay
An S/C 'Vette not being able to keep up with this car? LOL, please. Reese Cox ran a 1:26 at Road Atlanta in his full interior C6 Z06 a couple of years ago. AMS would have to roll out that Gates311 car to touch that."
You also have to keep in mind that Road Atlanta is a completely different track than either Buttonwillow or Tsukuba which are the tracks where THIS Evo ran and set records... and Road Atlanta favors the Z06 with its longer straights... I'm confident that full-interior Z06 you're talking about will not keep up let alone touch that Evo's time at the SLB... as you can see in this chart, even AMS's own GT-R had a hard time posting the same number as this Evo:
http://superlapbattle.com/blog/super-lap-battle-2010-finals-results/