During the 2001 World Rally Championship, Mitsubishi replaced the highly successful Group A Lancer Evolution VI with this new model, the WRC Lancer Evolution VII. Unfortunately for Mitsubishi, the new Evo VII was not a winner "straight out of the box" and they didn't manage to get a competitive package together with this car in 2001 or in 2002. Part of the problem I believe was that the Evo VII is heavier than the Evo VI which it replaced, which for a rally car is never a good thing. Star driver Tommi Makinen left for Subaru in 2002, which was a big blow to the struggling Mitsubishi team. Mitsubishi elected to sit out the 2003 season altogether, with the declared intention to return to rallying in 2004, but to date (Oct 2003) I haven't heard of any plans by them to return.
Like most top end rally machines, the Evo VII has a 2 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine, good for around 300bhp, driving all four wheels through an advanced four wheel drive transmission.
Unlike the car it is based on, this new model by AUTOart is a winner straight out of the box! It has a number of great features now becoming commonplace on the latest Aa's such as real metal disc brakes, realistic fabric on the interior surfaces, and superb looking front and rear lights. This masterpiece by AUTOart scores a high 9/10 marks.
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