The 4B11 heartbeat from this version replaces the highly acclaimed and award winning 4G63 powerplant in previous Evos. Although this engine is not quite proven to handle immense torque figures similar to its predecessor, we are confident that Mitsubishi engineers have crafted this "Japanese generator" with tunability as one of their priorities.
The owner of this car opted to replace the stock rubber inter-cooler pipings, so that the pipes will be able to withstand high amount of air pressure running through these well engineered Injen pipings. Most importantly, changing to aftermarket pipings will prevent pipe expansion due to the inflated rubber hoses. Boost will then be felt earlier during part and full throttle as air will be fed into the TD05 turbo at a much faster and uninterrupted manner.
What better way to leave your car in the hands of this well known Singaporean JDM tuner, Lim Tan Motors. Having splurged a bomb on his prized asset, there is no way that the owner will leave his mode of transport under the care of any other workshops.
OEM seats are made by Recaro and they have really lived up to their reputation for making high quality bucket seats. A mix of Alcantara leather and full leather add a unique touch to the Evo's cabin. The well bolstered lumbar support is much more comfortable than others, unlike the Bride Low Max, and you won't be embarrassed to let your other half have a seat in the front passenger side, as the ride will not be as "bone shattering" as it seems, unless you tinker with suspension mods. Nevertheless, don't expect the seats to be entirely welcomed by older passengers.
Buttons on the steering wheel indicate the amount of work placed by Mitsubishi to perfect the driving experience of every Evo driver. You can select various driving modes at your "thumb-tips" with ease.
Huge improvements have been made in the center console design. Over and above other visual enhancements like carbon trimmings, a leather wrapped gear lever adds a superior "German" feel to this cabin. The owner has also replaced the OEM leather gearknob with a multicolour-coated metallic knob to dress up an otherwise dark cabin. Then again, why nit pick on the interior quality when all we need is a clear glass in front of the driver to attack open avenues?
The in-built gauges on the passenger side are extremely tidy. We've seen plenty of rides with gauges mounted in consoles and the A pillar, but none will come close to this when we want our modified rides to be neat, but with a subtle touch of aggression. The owner has also placed a Defi boost meter on the A pillar, to minimize eye movement when boosting at break neck speeds.
Friends and family members can't call you selfish when you are holding ownership of a proper 4 door saloon. Finding relaxation in the car during a journey in tight and congested cities is another question altogether. I predict them leaving with faces similar to those of the "Angry Bird" game. Treat it like a two door, brothers, and save yourself from rear cabin "noises" and drop in performance due to the weight increase, factors which will hamper your fun time in this "passenger-unfriendly" machine.
We have seen the interior, so stay tuned to see how this blue monster turn heads with its exterior aesthetic modifications in my next part. =)
