The Challenge of Three Diamonds Mitsubishi in World Rally Championship and the history of Lancer Evolution

I will tell you the challenge of three diamonds (Mitsubishi) in World Rally Championship. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation had participated in WRC. Especially, Lancer Evolution (Japanese Nick Name: Lan-Evo) shook WRC. EVO.1 made a debut as one of the 4WD sports car in 1992. It is the founder and 1st generation. GSR which aims at public roads has 1240 kg, RS which aims at motor sports has 1170 kg. Lan-Evo's engine is 4G63 L-4 valves DOHC 2000 cc. Max power is 250 PS, and max torque is 31.5 kg. The weight was much lighter than Galant VR-4. The suspensions of the Fronts are Mac Pherson Struts, and ones of the Rears are Multi-link. The transmission is 5 Speed Manual Transmission. Although the weight was light, the cornering ability was not so good. Lan-Evo 1 was less popular than Impreza WRX STI. 
Two years later Lancer Evolution.2 (Lan-Evo.2) was born. Although max torque stays 31.5kg, max power became 260 PS. Both of GSR's weight and RS's one became heavy. The former became 1250 kg, and the latter became 1180 kg.
In 1995 Lancer-Evolution.3 (Lan-Evo.3) made a debut. It is the final model as the first generation. The power became 270 PS. The torque is same. Both of GSR's weight and RS's one became heavy. The former became 1260 kg, and the latter became 1190 kg. It is much popular than Evo.1 and Evo.2 because Evo.3 has much higher-performances than them. As a result, Tommi Mäkinen became the champion five times with this high-fighting strength Evo.3 in 1996. In the same year he became the annual dreiver's champion.
One year later Lancer-Evolution.4 (Lan-Evo.4) was born. It was the start of the second generation. It was the last 5 number Lan-Evo. The power became 280 PS. At the same time, the torque became 36.0kg. Unfortunately, both of GSR's weight and RS's one became heavy. The former was 1350 kg, and the latter was 1260 kg. Evo.4 is the most popular of all Lancer Evolution. 
In 1998 Lancer-Evolution.5 (Lan-Evo.5) made a debut. It was the first 3 number Lan-Evo. Although the power stayed 280 PS, the torque became 38.0 kg. In addition, both of GSR's weight and RS's one became heavy. The former was 1360 kg, and the latter was 1260 kg. Evo.5 is relatively popular.
In the next year Lancer-Evolution.6 (Lan-Evo.6) was born. It was the final model as the second generation.
The transmission and engine had been 5 Speed Manual Transmission and 4G63 since 1992. All of the power, torque, GSR's weight, and RS's weight stayed same. In the same year, Lancer Evolution 6.5 Tommi. Makinen Edition was sold because Mitsubishi Works WRC driver Tommi Mäkinen got the driver's champion in 1996~1999.
Three years later Lancer-Evolution.7 (Lan-Evo.7) made a debut. It was the start of the third generation. Although the power stayed 280 PS, the torque became 39 kg. In addition, GSR's weight became 1.4t, and RS's one weight became 1320 kg. Although GSR's weight became heavier, RS's one became lighter. It was the final 5-Speed Manual Transmission as successive generations all GSR grades.
In 2003 Lancer-Evolution.8 (Lan-Evo.8) made a debut. Although the power stayed 280 PS, the torque became 40kg. At the same time, the GSR's transmission and RS's one became 6-Speed Manual Transmission although RS's 5-Speed Manual Transmission existed. GSR's weight was 1410 kg, RS 6MT's one was 1350 kg, and RS 5MT's one was 1320 kg.
In the next year Lancer-Evolution.8 MR (Lan-Evo 8.5) was sold. MR means Mitsubishi Racing. In addition, GSR's weight became lighter, which was 1.4t. Oppositely, RS 6MT's one became heavier, which was 1360 kg. The torque became 40.8 kg although the power stayed 280 PS.
In 2005 Lancer-Evolution 9 (Lan-Evo.9) was born. Each grade of weight stayed same. However, GT and RS's torque became 41.5 kg. GSR's torque stayed 40.8kg. GT's weight was 1390 kg.
In 2006 Lancer Evolution 9 MR (Lan-Evo.9.5) was sold. MR stands for Mitsubishi Racing. This modal was the final 4G63 model and 5MT as well as 6MT final model. In addition, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation decided to quit the action of World Rally Championship.

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