Highlights
- One of only 200 made
- Just 5,902 genuine miles
- One owner from new
- Always dry stored
The Appeal
Produced from 2005-2007, the Evo IX was produced in a wealth of variants in the UK. Exclusive ‘FQ’ badged models were made just for the UK market too.
In the final year of production, the range-topping FQ-400 model was replaced with the FQ-360. It had a little less power but more torque, as well as a raft of factory enhancements by legendary JDM tuner HKS.
Here we have a beautifully preserved and meticulously cared-for example, with fewer than 6,000 miles on the clock and having been dry-stored indoors since 2017.
As an example of an ‘as new’ FQ-360, we think this is almost unparalleled. We’d be very surprised if another exists in this kind of condition with such low mileage.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in October 2007
- One owner from new
- No. 094/200 produced
- Last MOT in July 2016 at 5,876
- SORN and dry-stored since 2017
- Personal registration being retained
- Owner’s handbooks and two keys included
- Service booklet – stamps at 2,102 / 2,107 / 3,134 / 3,593 / 3,906 and 3,950
- Very original and unmodified condition
The Interior
- Factory Recaro sports seats
- Air conditioning
- Optional stereo system fitted with iPod connection in glovebox
- Electric windows and door mirrors
The cabin of this iconic performance saloon is in exceptionally good condition.
For starters, the Recaro sports seats, finished in half leather with red contrast stitching, are in excellent order. They show no notable evidence of wear, and there are no tears or damage evident.
There is a very slight amount of creasing to the bolsters on the driver’s side, but it’s so negligible as to be unimportant. In the rear of the cabin, the back seats apparently have never been sat in and certainly do appear to be factory fresh.
Like the upholstery, the carpets and overmats are in similarly fine fettle. The mats are the original Ralliart items, and show very little in the way of wear or ageing. Similarly, the door cards and headlining are nice and secure, with no signs of sagging, staining or damage we could observe.
There’s some smart piano black trim dotted about the cabin, which nicely complements the fabrics and presents well, with no damage or cracking we could see.
All of the switchgear and the driving controls are also in superb condition, with no significant wear and no damage apparent. Looking at the dash, we’re particular fans of the central cluster of gauges with readouts for voltage, temperature and boost – they were a factory option on lesser models.
At the back, the generous boot presents well, with clean and undamaged grey carpet, the original toolkit, jack and pump. It’s also notable how clean and straight the floor is, with no signs of damage, repair or corrosion.
We’re told by the vendor that everything works just as it should, with no issues they are aware of.
The Exterior
- Original silver paintwork
- All original and unmodified
- Factory Speedline Turini wheels
- Factory privacy glass
With its roots deep in the world of rallying, the Evo IX is not a subtly styled car. With gaping bonnet vents, a full factory bodykit and that huge rear wing, it makes its intentions clear from the outset.
All of the bodywork appears to be in excellent order, with no dings, dents, damage or corrosion we could see. Likewise, all of the bodykit and trim elements are present and correct, including the carbon fibre rear roof fins and front chin spoiler.
Finished in smooth and handsome silver paintwork, which the vendor tells us is completely original, it is in truly excellent condition. The paint has a nice gloss to it, and there is no notable blemishing evident. At the front there are a handful of minor stone chips and a very slight scratch to the near-side front wing, but otherwise it appears to be unmarked.
All of the badging elements and light lenses are present and correct, with the badging showing no signs of fading or damage and the light lenses being clean, clear and undamaged. The vendor says that all of the glass elements are original – they certainly present very well, with only one tiny chip showing in the lower near-side part of the front windscreen.
Still riding on its factory Speedline Turini alloys, the car cuts a real dash. The 17” wheels are unmarked and in incredible condition, with all the rim lettering present and correct and the centre caps looking to be in very fine condition. They are shod in a new matched set of Yokohama AD08s.
Thanks no doubt to careful maintenance and years of indoor storage, the underside of the vehicle presents in exceptional condition. Generally, Lancers have a tendency to suffer with corrosion underneath – but not so here. The sills and floors look near pristine, while the exhaust and drivetrain elements looks to be in excellent condition with no signs of notable corrosion.
The Mechanics
- 1,997cc turbocharged 4G63 (the last model to use this engine)
- Mitsubishi MIVEC offering 366bhp and 363lb-ft
- Manual 6-speed transmission
- Lifetime Tracker
- Almost entirely original and unmodified
With that burly turbocharged unit offering a quite healthy 0-60 charge of 3.9 seconds, it’s certainly no slouch.
Tied to a robust 6-speed manual transmission, it makes for an intoxicating and involving driving experience. It should be noted that, as with all Evo IXs, the car runs best on super unleaded fuel (98RON+). With less than 6,000 miles covered, you’re looking at an engine that’s just about run in.
This special edition car offers a number of upgrades over standard Evos, this includes: titanium turbo impeller, HKS hard pipes, high flow fuel pump, HKS exhaust system, HKS ECU and much more.
As you can see from the pictures, the engine bay is near immaculate, with no peeling or cracking to the paint on the rocker cover and some handsome HKS stainless hardlines.
In May 2013 at 5,164 miles, the brake hoses were all replaced with stainless steel braided items and in April 2016 the car received a new battery.
The vendor tells us that the car is running its original factory Bilstein suspension and Brembo brakes. Certainly, all of the drivetrain elements we could see present very well, with no signs of damage we could identify.
We’re assured by the vendor that the car offers a “faultless” drive, with no mechanical issues, no leaks and no smoke when idling or under load. They also tell us that the clutch and brakes operate perfectly, while the gearbox offers a smooth and positive shift.
Summary
With exceptionally low mileage and presented in such original and unmodified condition, this Evo IX is a very rare beast indeed.
Having been carefully maintained throughout its life and dry stored since 2017, it offers the kind of authenticity and condition you'd expect from a heritage collection vehicle.
Offering as it does a true “rally car for the road” driving experience, we’ve always adored the Evo IX. When presented in such fantastic condition as this, they’re practically irresistible.
Add to that the rarity of this model and potential for it to appreciate even further, and you have a truly matchless opportunity to acquire a performance legend.
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