Whale Tale
An Ultimate Street Car Competition without a Mitsubishi Evo would be like an Ultimate Marine Mammal Competition that excluded whales. The untouched Evo is (as this magazine has pointed out oh, so many times) the sport compact alpha whale; it may swim in the same ocean as its competition, but it gets the choice krill. The big risk for those modifying one is that it's easy to make it worse than stock.
Northern California's Robispec has built a mighty reputation for screwing together Evos that are consistently faster and far better turning (suspension is their specialty) than stock. However, that's on the track and the Ultimate Street Car Competition is about more than that. But on paper (and in photos) Robert Fuller's Robispec-prepped 2005 Evo IX RS looks as if it could win our peculiar competition and then go on to launch itself into geosynchronous orbit.
The basic building blocks of an epic Evo are well known and they're all present in Fuller's Mitsu. Start by amplifying the 4G63 engine's abilities. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four has been refit by San Rafael Mitsubishi with an oversize Mitsubishi 20G IX turbo and even bigger intercooler from Buschur Racing.
There are Revolver cams and valve springs in the heads (282 degrees of duration on both the intake and exhaust sides). The bottom end is untouched but there's an Accusump to keep it well oiled. A Walbro fuel pump and RC 750cc injectors fit into an intake manifold swiped from a JDM Evo VII. A Buschur Racing three-inch system handles the exhaust.
All that should amount to something like 400 horsepower, which goes through a Quartermaster lightweight flywheel, pressure plate and clutch, then to the standard all-wheel drive system.
To ensure maximum adjustability, Robispec optimized the front suspension around KW WRC 50mm triple-adjustable monotube shocks and KW coil springs. Robispec fabricated its own 25mm anti-roll bar and alignment adjustment plates and used their own kit to relocate the ball joints. Out back, the three-way KW shocks are 45mm across, also with some built-in alignment adjustment.
Although massive six-piston Alcons are being contemplated for the braking competition, as is, the Evo still rides on the highly competent stock brakes with Performance Friction 97 pads. Under widened fenders and Robispec's own side skirt extensions sit a relatively modest set of Enkei 17x10 wheels wrapped in P275/40ZR17 Nitto NT01 tires. Larger diameter wheels may be more stylish, but the 17s should perform well while retaining some sidewall height to ensure comfort during cruises and lessening the likelihood of damage should a curb be encountered.
That's the sort of restraint one learns as a veteran USCC competitor. Except for Recaro Evo VII seats, a Nardi steering wheel with flip-up hub adapter, and a slew of Auto Meter gauges, the interior is similarly understated. Unlike the exterior, with its lightweight Robispec hood, deck lid and huge APR two-plane wing.
Editor's Note: Robispec's minimalist approach might just have the reliability and civility to win the street car aspect. And with enough weapons-grade chassis engineering to send our gurus reeling, this Evo should be top ranked in our handling tests. It might just win by consistently appearing in the higher half of the scoreboard.
By James Tate
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