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The Lancer Evolution’s rear suspension upper arm bracket is fabricated using thicker, very strong welded steel material to help maintain the correct suspension geometry and movement over the roughest conditions. In addition, the vehicle’s rugged rear trailing arm is attached to the unibody at a reinforced location to help ensure this component’s precise function regardless of terrain.

Critical rear suspension mounting points are greatly reinforced or redesigned to improve their performance and durability in competition.

The Lancer Evolution’s rear shelf uses a v-shaped reinforcing structure to help stiffen the floorpan and reduce the flex of the rear unibody above the suspension and help stabilize the panels surrounding the rear suspension attachment points. The trunk area also includes an additional welded crossmember designed to control the twisting forces that could affect the trunk panel and help prevent the transmission of such torsional forces to the suspension points.

The large open unibody area beneath the rear glass and the trunk floor itself have been modified for additional rigidity to address twisting forces that could affect the panels connecting to suspension mounting surfaces.

Also in the interest of competition durability and performance, the Lancer Evolution sedan’s front and rear strut spring housings are constructed using a thicker more flex-resistant metal material that improves the strength of the mounting points and helps ensure consistent suspension performance under a variety of conditions. A sedan unibody’s large door apertures typically are areas of potential torsional and flexural weakness. To combat this, Mitsubishi engineers have added an additional 200 welds to the perimeter of these panels in comparison to the base Lancer sedan’s door openings.
The Lancer Evolution’s rear pillar achieves improved rigidity with the addition of a reinforcing member that connects the C-pillar to the top of the wheel housing’s reinforced unibody metal member -- another measure to increase the chassis’ resistance to twisting forces and support the panels that connect to the suspension mounting points.

This structural reinforcement helps control and distribute flexural forces above the wheel well opening and strengthens the unibody’s C-pillar above the rear suspension mounting points.

Safety

Lancer Evolution sedan undergoing crash testing.

The structural enhancements made to the Lancer Evolution’s unibody in the interest of improving the steel structure’s durability and rigidity in competition have also helped the vehicle realize a reduction in cabin deformation in the event of a collision. The vehicle’s competition- reinforced A, B and C pillars, as well as the increased floorpan rigidity, have augmented the strength and safety of the fundamentally strong Lancer unibody.
The Lancer Evolution sedan complies with all FMVSS regulations and is equipped with driver and front passenger airbags. The front seatbelts are equipped with pre-tensioners and force-limiters to help reduce the possibility of occupant injury in the event of a collision. All Lancer Evolution sedans come equipped with three-point seatbelts for all seating positions and child seat tether anchors located in the rear seats, rear child door locks, and a trunk entrapment release that would prevent children from locking themselves inside the trunk.
The Lancer Evolution’s HID headlight arrangement also utilizes a leveling function operated by the twist of a small knob located on the left of the I/P that helps control the potentially distracting effects of misdirected headlights into opposing traffic, and help improve road safety.

Seatbelt pre-tensioners help control the forward excursion of front seat occupants in the event of a collision

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The front and rear color keyed bumpers have been upgraded to meet NHTSA requirements. These bumpers are supported with additional metal structure not found beneath the bumper of the Japanese domestic model Lancer Evolution.