1998 was Mitsubishi’s most successfull year in rally motorsports. With the Evolution V platform, Mitsubishi finally claimed the WRC Manufactuerer’s Championship which had eluded them for five years. Tommi Makinen played a large role in this victory, as he himself took the WRC Driver’s Championship.
Techically, the Evolution V adopted many changes to reflect newer regulations that were put in place by the FIA in 1997. Mitsubishi and Ralliart created a new suspension for both the front and rear of the car. This suspension used different attachment points to allow for increased suspension travel. The new suspensions also increased the front and rear track of the car by nearly 1.5 inches (350 mm).
Ralliart pretty much left the engine the same for the 1998 season. A slightly larger turbocharger was attached and the engine managment system was tweaked.
Compares to its road-going countrepart, the RS version has no airbags, no electric windows, a limited interior and a mechanical differential. The road-going GSR model features an electronically controlled rear differential in an attempt to get closer to the RS rally car.
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| production | 6000 |
| engine | Turbocharged Inline-4 |
| position | Front Transverse |
| aspiration | Twin-Scroll TurboCharger w/Intercooler |
| valvetrain | DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl |
| fuel feed | ECI Electronic Multi-Injection |
| displacement | 1997 cc / 121.9 in³ |
| bore | 85.0 mm / 3.35 in |
| stroke | 88.0 mm / 3.46 in |
| compression | 8.8:1 |
| power | 216.3 kw / 290 bhp @ 6000 rpm |
| specific output | 145.22 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 230.16 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 510 nm / 376.2 ft lbs @ 3000 rpm |
| body / frame | Unit Steel |
| driven wheels | 4WD w/Mechanical LSD |
| front tires | Michelin |
| rear tires | Michelin |
| front brakes | Brembro Vented Discs w/6-Pot Calipers |
| f brake size | x 368 mm / x 14.5 in |
| rear brakes | Brembro Vented Discs w/4-Pot Calipers |
| r brake size | x 280 mm / x 11.0 in |
| front wheels | F 457.2 x 203.2 cm / 180.0 x 8 in |
| rear wheels | R 457.2 x 203.2 cm / 18 x 8 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist |
| f suspension | MacPherson Struts w/Lower Wishbones, Coil Springs, Olins Adjustable Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Multi-Link w/Coil Springs, Olins Adjustable Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1260 kg / 2778 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2510 mm / 98.8 in |
| front track | 1510 mm / 59.4 in |
| rear track | 1505 mm / 59.3 in |
| length | 4350 mm / 171.3 in |
| width | 1770 mm / 69.7 in |
| height | 1415 mm / 55.7 in |
| transmission | 6-Speed INVECS Sequential |
| gear ratios | 2.785:1, 1.950:1, 1.444:1, 1.096:1, 0.825:1, :1 |
| final drive | 4.875:1 |
| top speed | ~180 kph / 111.8 mph |
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