Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4/5/6 Polycarbonate Windows

If the first three Evolutions were a statement of intent, then the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations were when Mitsubishi took over the rally world and refused to let go. These weren’t just fast, turbocharged sedans anymore, they were weapons, engineered with the sole purpose of obliterating everything in their path. Between 1996 and 2001, Mitsubishi fine-tuned the Evo into one of the most dominant rally machines of all time, delivering cars that were sharper, faster, and more aggressive with each iteration.
The Evolution IV arrived in 1996, bringing with it massive changes. The first three Evos had been built on the old Lancer chassis, but the Evo IV was based on an entirely new platform, and it showed. The body was stiffer, the aerodynamics were improved, and Mitsubishi completely overhauled the drivetrain, introducing an Active Yaw Control (AYC) system that gave the Evo handling unlike anything else on the road. The 2.0-litre 4G63 engine was revised, now producing 276 horsepower, but it wasn’t just the power that made the difference, it was how it was delivered. The turbo was larger, the response was sharper, and the new cooling system meant it could handle hard driving for longer without heat soak.
Then there was the way it looked, more aggressive, more menacing, and with functional aero that actually worked. The new body design wasn’t just for show; it had better high-speed stability, improved cooling, and more downforce, making it even more capable on the rally stage and the street.
It didn’t take long for the Evo IV to prove itself. In the hands of Tommi Mäkinen, Mitsubishi began a legendary winning streak in the WRC, with the Finnish driver clinching four consecutive world championships from 1996 to 1999. Suddenly, the Evo wasn’t just another rally car, it was the benchmark, the car that Subaru, Ford, and Toyota were all scrambling to beat.
By 1998, Mitsubishi unveiled the Evolution V, taking everything great about the IV and turning the dial up to eleven. The front and rear track were widened, making the car even more stable and more planted through corners. The turbocharger was upgraded, delivering more torque and even better mid-range punch. The suspension geometry was revised, making the car more predictable and even sharper on turn-in.
The most obvious change was the new, more aggressive bodywork, with flared wheel arches, a massive adjustable rear wing, and a redesigned front bumper that looked as though it had been lifted straight off a WRC car. Mitsubishi wasn’t just making the Evo faster, they were making sure everyone knew it just by looking at it. It had a presence that demanded attention, whether it was tearing up a rally stage or sitting at a red light.
If the Evolution V was brutal, the Evolution VI, introduced in 1999, was pure refinement. The changes were subtle but crucial, a stronger block, improved cooling, a more responsive turbo, and a chassis that was even more rigid. Mitsubishi had fine-tuned the Evo into something that felt more precise, more dialed in, and even more connected to the road. The VI introduced better aerodynamics, a redesigned front bumper for improved airflow, and lightweight alloy components to shave off unnecessary weight.
Then came the Tommi Mäkinen Edition, the ultimate version of the Evo VI. Built to celebrate Mäkinen’s four WRC titles, it featured quicker steering, revised suspension, a more aggressive turbo, and a unique livery that made it instantly recognisable. It wasn’t just a tribute, it was the best road-going Evo Mitsubishi had ever built at the time, and it remains one of the most sought-after models today.
What made the Evo IV, V, and VI truly special was that they weren’t just rally cars with number plates, they actually felt like rally cars on the road. The all-wheel-drive system gave you unbelievable levels of grip, the chassis communicated every tiny detail through the steering wheel, and the turbocharged power delivery was savage yet addictively smooth once you learned how to work with it.
These were cars that wanted to be driven hard, that rewarded skill, that made every road feel like a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally. The Active Yaw Control system in the Evo IV and beyond was a game-changer, making the car rotate through corners in a way that felt almost unnatural for an AWD machine. This wasn’t just handling, it was surgical precision.
By the time the Evolution VI bowed out in 2001, Mitsubishi had established the Lancer Evolution as one of the greatest performance car nameplates of all time. The Evo VI marked the end of an era, a time when rally cars for the road were still raw, mechanical, and built with almost no compromise. Later Evos would become more refined, more powerful, and more advanced, but these three generations, IV, V, and VI, are where Mitsubishi hit their peak in pure, unfiltered rally-bred madness.
Owning one today isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about experiencing one of the most exhilarating, engaging, and outright addictive cars ever built. The turbo surge, the razor-sharp turn-in, the feeling of a car that seems to predict your next move before you even make it, this is what makes an Evo special. It’s not just a car, it’s an experience, a piece of motorsport history, and one of the most electrifying performance machines ever to hit the road.