2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR FQ-360 by HKS – Auction Car of the Week

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Dale Vinten

If there was an award for most badges ever crammed on to a boot lid (and there should be) then surely the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR FQ-360 by HKS has to be in with a shot at the title. Yep, it definitely is a mouthful but this incredibly long-winded name tells quite the story, so let us break it down for you. Beginning life all the way back in 1973 the Mitsubishi Lancer was, we think it’s fair to say, a rather innocuous offering from the Japanese giant. That is until Mitsubishi decided to take it rallying in the the mid ’90s. What followed was a string of high-profile wins with the likes of Tommi Makinen and Richard Burns behind the wheel that propelled the humble Lancer to superstardom alongside other rally legends like the Subaru Impreza.

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The car’s motorsport kudos was bolstered by the boom of the JDM import and tuning market at the time and fans began to switch on to the Lancer. The Evo model had actually debuted in ’92 as the Evo 1 and would continue through ten generations, with all versions utilising a 2.0-litre turbocharged, inline four-cylinder engine bolted to a trick all-wheel drive system. By the time the Evolution IX came around in 2005 there were various models available, with the FQ-360 topping the pile and producing over 360bhp. It was seen as a spiritual successor to the previous Evo VIII FQ-400 and while it was slightly down on power from that car’s 400-odd it did have more torque. 363lb-ft to be exact. Monstrous.

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So back to the name then. The model is a Lancer, of which this is the ninth incarnation. It’s made by Mitsubishi and produces 360 (ish) horsepower. Officially the FQ is meaningless but many allude to the letters actually standing for “effing quick” but this can neither be confirmed nor denied. The MR stands for Mitsubishi Racing (indicating that the car was fitted with shortened Eibach springs, Bilstein dampers and 17-inch Speedline Turini alloys) and the HKS refers to the Japanese tuning maestros who fettled with the car, adding a performance exhaust and fancy ECU to proceedings, among other things.

Suffice to say many see the FQ-360 as the Lancer’s swansong, it’s crowning achievement and we would be inclined to agree. For all the technology involved, however, the Evolution IX MR FQ-360 by HKS remains a truly dynamic, tactile and engaging car and with a 0-60 time of under 4 seconds it still puts many modern performance offerings to shame. This, ladies and gentlemen, is rallying and road car royalty and with only 200 ever produced it’s an incredibly rare thing to boot.

So on to our auction car then. This particular 2007 Evolution IX is a one owner example that has covered a mere 5,902 miles from new and has been dry stored for the last six years. Number 94 of the 200 mentioned above it is as original as they come with only the addition of a modern stereo and stainless steel braided brake hoses to set it apart from a factory car, both worthwhile upgrades we hasten to add. Complete with a comprehensive service history the condition of this Evo IX is immaculate throughout. Due to the car’s limited use and mileage there is nothing erroneous to report – no rust, no damage, no scuffs to any of the bodywork or interior and the underside of the car is as fresh as the day it rolled out of the factory.

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With less than 6,000 miles under its belt the engine is just about bedded in, meaning the new owner can take full advantage of that stunning Mivec 2.0-litre turbo and six-speed manual gearbox, secure in the knowledge that all 366 horses can be safely thrashed, just as Mitsubishi intended. This is an iconic car with rally-winning pedigree and an exclusivity that is hard to beat. Match that with the exquisite condition and ridiculously low mileage and you have something truly special that will only appreciate in value. If you can find a better one we’ll be very surprised indeed. However, if you missed out on this one and want to give it a shot, here’s where you’ll find a Mitsubishi Lancer for sale.

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