Performance Review: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 - [2003]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Mitsubishi Lancer Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2003. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2004 Westfield Sport 2000S and the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400.This particular Mitsubishi Lancer has a 1997cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Lancer shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Lancer's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1400 kgs (3086 lbs) this makes the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 or the give or take 50kg.

The Mitsubishi Lancer shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 1997cc 16V St4 engine produces 345 bhp (257 kW) @ 6750 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 320 lb-ft (433.8 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Mitsubishi Lancer you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo xDrive G80 (271.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Mitsubishi Lancer.

The Mitsubishi Lancer has a Power to weight ratio of 246.4 bhp per ton and 228.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2003 Lancer competing with the 2021 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo xDrive G80 (271.1 bhp per ton) or the 2000 Porsche 911 Turbo 996 (271.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Mitsubishi Lancer generating around 228.5 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1969 Bristol 411 6.3 V8 (253.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 1974 Maserati Bora 4.9 V8 (253.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.5 secs, this made the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2020 Audi A4 S4 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.40 secs) the or the 2020 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs). This Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 is also faster than the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (4.50 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs) the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge 6.6 V12 Twin turbo (4.50 secs) the and the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Lancer and the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM

When talking about the performance of the Mitsubishi Lancer on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.57 secs @ 108.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM (12.52 secs), the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 V6 Supercharged 360 (12.52 secs), and the 1992 TVR Chimaera 4.0 (12.53 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2003 version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 has a maximum speed of 157mph.

Top Speed of the 2003 Lancer equals the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (168 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (168 mph), the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo AWD (168 mph), or the 2020 KIA Stinger GT2 3.3 V6 Turbo (168 mph).

Related Links:

2003 Lancer Rivals List.

A Brief History of Mitsubishi

Car Comparison