We’re getting closer to the end of year events, and with COVID restrictions easing it has been great to catch up in larger numbers and feel safe in group environments.
The Go Garage x Lan Evo meet and cruise had been on the cards for a couple months, but with inclement weather of late winter and early spring putting a pause on proceedings, Go Garage partner Jerry delayed the event until the end of October.
Unfortunately, after a week of clear blue skies the clouds decided to take a mega dump over the weekend, and the trip out to Rockdale from Chullora via the M8 was a damp one.
It was a blessing that it was an Evo cruise, rather than say, an S-Chassis one because if there was one vehicle that embraces the unpredictable, it’s the Evolution family.
Jerry and Mark managed to curate a turnout for each generation, spanning from the cute-looking, almost Civic-like I to III, all the way through to the Need for Speed go-to CT9A and the later black sheep, the X.
The images tell the story of the Three Diamond’s halo model. The O.G. born out of downsizing from the Galant (side note: mine’s almost on the road!) to be competitive for WRC, to the CZ4A which is just as large as the original rally entrant the Evo superceded, built and backed by a legacy like no other street-legal rally car (yes, I see you, Subaru).
Each with distinctive character, all built for the same specific purpose, to get from A to B quicker than anything from its time. Ten iterations in twenty-four years is an incredibly frequent product launch cycle, but the evolution (pun fully intended) is evident not only in the bodywork, but in each vehicle’s dynamics and mechanical development.
The key to longevity and sustained excellence is the capacity to adapt and innovate sustainably. Good friend of Artisan Ape, Bruce Lee once said, “Be like water, my friend”, and while the Evo brand didn’t reinvent the wheel with each revision, Mitsubishi’s ability to stay on top for so long was uncanny.
Over four chassis, the Lancer Evolution continued to be the flag bearer for the four-door sports car, advancing with the times and delivering the same, clinical outcome.
The Gentlemen’s Agreement, an informal arrangement to keep Japanese performance vehicles at a listed 280HP proved to be the parameter driving manufacturers to find gains through other areas of the car. For the Evo, simple swaybar adjustments and bodykit enhancements morphed into full chassis changes, the conception of Active Yaw Control (AYC) and significant engine upgrades.
Perhaps it would be ignorant to claim that the power stayed the same, but as the Lancer chassis grew larger and heavier with each update, the car’s overall performance remained on top. Cars began to provide more to their owners, and the general consumer, along with new safety standards demanded a friendlier, safer experience.
Mitsubishi heeded to their advice, and navigated their way around the added weight and compromised chassis dynamics, delivering world beater after world beater, culminating in the best stock Evo in the X. Put the X next to the I, the DNA and lineage is evident, but it’s clear to see that they’re two very different products, made for separate eras.
Author James Clear put up a great piece of advice recently on Instagram, “Have no single point of failure, have no single path to success”. Accomplishment is but a moment, being able to maintain a position of stature and reputation is what separates the one-timers to the all-timers.
The Lakers won the championship this year, and firmly put LeBron James in the discussion of all-time greats. Seventeen years of delivering, constant improvement and additions to his style of play as the game evolved over three decades. The rules changed, but the NBA is the NBA.
Mitsubishi’s journey with the Lancer Evolution is not dissimilar. WRC rules changed, as did industry standards for automobiles, but the model continued to dig away at all areas of performance and STILL came out on top, not only domestically but across global competitors.
First time I’ve seen 17s on a CT9A that look good, Ronson’s onto something… 
Today’s microwave culture sees a lot of immediate success, people and businesses climbing to the top or gaining attention at unprecedented rates. Research and development, access to resources and expertise are in abundance, making the pathway to wins easier than ever before.
Creating a legacy and putting the end “s” on championships however, is a different story.
