Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7/8/9 Polycarbonate Windows

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, VIII, and IX represented a shift in the Evo’s history. The raw, rally-inspired madness of the earlier generations was still very much alive, but these models brought something new to the table, refinement. Mitsubishi wasn’t just building a rally car with number plates anymore. These Evos were now fully developed, high-performance machines that could take on supercars while still being practical enough for everyday driving.
When the Evolution VII launched in 2001, it was clear that things were changing. For the first time, the Evo was based on the larger and heavier Lancer Cedia platform. This meant more weight, but Mitsubishi wasn’t about to let that slow it down. The 2.0-litre 4G63 turbocharged engine now produced 276 horsepower, and torque had been increased to give it even more mid-range punch. The real game-changer, though, was the introduction of Super Active Yaw Control (S-AYC), an upgraded version of Mitsubishi’s already legendary torque-vectoring system. This allowed the Evo VII to distribute power more intelligently between the wheels, making it more stable at high speeds and sharper through corners. It wasn’t just fast, it was clever.
The handling improvements were immediate. The Evolution VII was bigger, yes, but it was also more planted and composed. Where earlier Evos had been twitchy and aggressive, the VII felt more controlled, allowing drivers to push harder without feeling like they were on the edge of disaster. That said, it hadn’t lost its wild side. The turbocharged surge was still brutal, the all-wheel-drive grip was still relentless, and the steering was still razor-sharp. This was a car that could humiliate much more expensive sports cars while still being comfortable enough to drive every day.
Then came the Evolution VIII in 2003, taking everything that made the VII great and making it even better. The biggest upgrade was the introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox, offering closer ratios for better acceleration. Power remained at 276 horsepower (officially, at least, Mitsubishi was known for underestimating its true output), but the car felt quicker and more responsive. The suspension was revised, the aerodynamics were improved, and Mitsubishi even introduced an MR (Mitsubishi Racing) version with lightweight components, aluminium roof panels, and a retuned suspension setup for even sharper handling.
The Evolution VIII was also the first to be officially sold in the United States, opening up the Evo experience to a whole new audience. Americans had long admired the Evo from afar, watching it dominate rally stages and battle against the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, but now they could finally get their hands on one. It quickly gained a cult following, praised for its brutal acceleration, unbelievable cornering ability, and the fact that it could be modified into an absolute monster.
Just when it seemed like Mitsubishi had perfected the formula, they went one step further with the Evolution IX in 2005. This was the final version of the 4G63-powered Evo, and Mitsubishi made sure it went out with a bang. The biggest upgrade was the introduction of MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control), which improved both power delivery and fuel efficiency. The result was a car that felt even more responsive, with better throttle control and a wider powerband.
The Evolution IX also introduced further refinements to the suspension and aerodynamics. It felt more composed at high speeds, more predictable through corners, and even more explosive when coming out of them. It was a car that demanded to be driven hard, rewarding skilled drivers with a level of performance that few cars in its class could match.
There were also special editions, like the RS, which stripped out unnecessary weight for maximum performance, and the MR, which included Bilstein dampers, lightweight BBS wheels, and further chassis refinements. Each version had its own unique appeal, but they all shared the same DNA, a relentless focus on performance and handling.
By the time the Evolution IX bowed out in 2007, it had cemented itself as one of the greatest performance cars of its time. It was still raw, still aggressive, and still capable of embarrassing much more expensive cars on the right road or track. But it had also evolved into something more. It was no longer just a rally car for the road, it was a fully developed, high-performance machine that could do everything, from daily commuting to setting blistering lap times.
These three generations of the Evo proved that Mitsubishi could take a car that was already legendary and continue refining it without losing what made it special. The Evolution VII brought intelligence, the Evolution VIII brought precision, and the Evolution IX perfected the formula. Even today, they remain some of the most respected and sought-after performance cars in the world, a testament to Mitsubishi’s engineering brilliance and its dedication to building cars that put driving excitement above all else.