Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400

An inline-4 paired with AWD is an uncommon decision in this catalogue, appearing in just 15 of 600 cars, and it defines the place of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400 more clearly than any single specification. This layout choice means the car sits in a narrower part of the collection, trading the expectations of other configurations for a combination found in only a small group of entries. The result is a sports car with a specific technical identity, rather than one built around fitting the most familiar formula.

That identity is supported by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 producing 403 bhp and 525 Nm, with power delivered through AWD. In outright catalogue terms, the numbers place it in an interesting position. Its power ranks 416th of 600 cars, so it is not among the highest-output machines in the collection, yet its 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds is faster than 333 of those cars. The FQ-400 shows how the relationship between layout and performance can matter as much as the headline figure itself. Its top speed of 249 km/h ranks 522nd of 600, reinforcing that this car’s character is shaped by acceleration and drivetrain choice rather than chasing the highest maximum speed.

The production figure adds another dimension to its appeal. With 100 built, the FQ-400 is a rare entry when measured against the 177 catalogued cars with known production figures, with only 41 of those 177 being rarer. That places it in a select group without relying on assumptions about the wider catalogue. Its used price of £42,000 ranks 475th of 600, and its £104 per bhp cost reflects a car where the appeal is tied to the complete package of output, layout, and rarity rather than power alone.

For a collection of 600 cars, the Evolution X FQ-400 occupies a distinct corner. It is one of 58 turbocharged inline-4 cars, one of 15 that combine an inline-4 with AWD, and one of 48 from Japan. Its 100-car production figure, 3.8-second acceleration, and focused drivetrain create a balance that sits away from the catalogue’s extremes. Adding this Mitsubishi means placing a 403 bhp AWD sports sedan into the garage that represents a particular answer to the question of how performance can be delivered.