Introducing the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo FQ-440: A Bonafide Giant Killer

It feels like just yesterday that I was watching Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear crew use the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII FQ400 to make the Lamborghini Murcielago feel a bit shy (Part 1 + Part 2).

When I caught wind of the news that Mitsu would be rolling out with a successor to one of the craziest cars they’ve ever built, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-440, I was on the verge of happy tears. I have absolutely no idea what the hell Mitsubishi has been up to these days. Rumors of them pulling out of the U.S. market are everywhere even though they’ve assured the public they’re here to stay.

In any case, if you’re unaware of what the mysterious ‘FQ’ moniker stands for, the internet has unanimously determined it to be fucking quick. That’s because this series of Evo stands at the top of the proverbial food chain in all things four door + four-cylinder + AWD.

How insane? The 2.0-liter turbo four is pushing a healthy 440hp/412lb-tq – the product of some powerful tweaks done (all in house) to the ECU, exhaust, intake, intercooler, turbo manifold, and fuel injectors. The car is fully covered under factory warranty by Mitsubishi themselves.

If this car is able to fill the shoes of its EVO VIII equivalent, it’s definitely going to be a bonafide supercar killer with the ability to tackle corners more aggressively than a lion on a wounded gazelle.

The only bit of bad news? The FQ440 is available only in the UK (as was its predecessors). Bummer