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Lancer Evolution VII WRC: ready to win |
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| World Rally Car | |
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The Lancer Evolution WRC has been designed to exploit the World
ally Car regulations in all these areas. There is greater suspension travel all round and the rear suspension is completely new, employing MacPherson struts, just like the front of all recent Lancers.
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| The change has necessitated an extensive re-design of the rear end of the car. The engine is based on the well-proven Lancer Evolution unit, but it has been moved 25 millimetres rearwards, significantly improving weight distribution. As a result, front tyre wear should be reduced. The Lancer Evolution WRC is based on the Lancer production car, which has a longer wheelbase than previous Lancers, which provides improved stability. | |
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The latest car retains Mitsubishi’s highly developed four-wheel-drive transmission, which optimises traction both under braking and acceleration. With such proven equipment on hand, development will be concentrated on the suspension. The new bodyshell is also stiffer, which further enhances roadholding and handling. |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions have long been renowned for their potent and reliable engines, but again, the World Rally Car regulations offer scope for an improvement. The turbocharger restrictor size remains 34 millimetres and Mitsubishi therefore retains its existing turbo. However, inlet and exhaust manifolds need not be standard, facilitating improved throttle response. Although there is no increase in the size of the intercooler, which cools the inlet charge before it enters the cylinders, it can be re-located with none of the compromises necessary for a production car. The result is a useful power and torque increase compared to the older car. |
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The concept is more sophisticated, but refinement is just as important and therefore development of the Lancer Evolution WRC has already begun. It will cover several thousand kilometres of testing in the coming weeks. Engineer Lindauer believes that these few weeks are crucial. He is eager to find out how the new car performs, but admits that his team has a tough task to get the most out of its new car in the limited development time that the World Championship calendar permits. |
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The Lancer Evolution WRC is a carefully created blend of old and new. It retains many features from a generation of enormously successful rally cars, but it also takes advantage of evolving technology that will keep Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart at the forefront of the World Rally Championship. It reflects the value that Mitsubishi attaches to this wide-ranging and intensely competitive form of motorsport and, while it is a departure from previous, production-based Mitsubishis, it still bears a close resemblance to Mitsubishi road cars. The technology that Ralliart develops will have a direct bearing on future Mitsubishi road cars. |
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| The Lancer Evolution WRC will make its first World Rally Championship appearance on Italy’s Sanremo Rally, the 11th round of the 2001 championship, which begins on October 4. | |
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Lancer Evolution VII WRC: first steps |
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| Geneva Motor Show 2001 | |
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27.03.2001
NEW! download this Real Player trailers:
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with a special thank to our correspondents Calum & Iain! |
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