Lancer Evolution V

The Evo V

The Lancer Evolution V of January 1998 widened the Evo for the World Rally Car era. Flared front fenders and rear over-fenders took the new CP9A body to 1,770 mm, past Japan's compact-car width for the first time, and the front and rear tracks grew with it. The GSR gained Brembo brakes, 17-inch wheels on 225/45R17 tyres, inverted front struts and an adjustable aluminium rear wing.

The 4G63 kept its 280 PS rating, but torque rose to 38.0 kgm, with lighter pistons, 560 cc injectors and revised cam timing. AYC carried over from the Evo IV on the GSR, now working with a helical front limited-slip differential. The RS stayed the lightweight competition grade, with a mechanical 1.5-way rear differential.

What Evo V owners upgrade

Evo V owners concentrate on the parts that wear and the parts that make power. Clutch kits and LSD upgrades from Exedy, ATS and Cusco sit alongside exhaust manifolds and systems from HKS, Kakimoto Racing and GReddy, and Tomei stroker kits and timing belts.

The Brembo calipers take brake pads of their own, and bucket-seat conversions bring seat rails into the list. Advance Alternator alternators are a regular order too.

Genuine parts

The Evo V and Evo VI share the CP9A body and look alike, and a bumper and spoiler swap can make one pass for the other. Check what a car actually wears before ordering body parts: the VI's bumper, fog lamps and wing are different.

On a GSR, AYC needs the same care as on any AYC-equipped Evo: a sound pump and fresh fluid. Body panels lead the Evo V's genuine Mitsubishi parts orders: the front bumper face kit and air dam skirt, bonnet inlet garnish, fog lamp covers and door mirrors, with front brake caliper kits, the rear differential carrier and driveshafts behind them.

Wheels

The Evo V uses a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.5 nuts. The GSR came on 17x7.5 +38 wheels with 225/45R17 tyres and the RS on 15x6 +46. On a GSR, any aftermarket wheel must clear the front Brembo calipers; see wheels that fit the Evo V.