As many of you know, I've been creating videos about the history of the entire lancer evolution saga for months, through the club's youtube channel, as in all models, I try to provide information on each and every one of the markets where they came so that any future buyer has information on the different markets and versions of the same model


On what date in 2006 were the Evolution IX MR and SE versions released ???

 

Another question, the MR USDM and SE version had eibach springs apart from the blistein shock absorbers ???

 

I know the Evo X MR had Eibach springs (Red Color). But I didn't think the USDM Evo IX MR or SE had Eibach springs. As far as I know they were MR spec springs, I think it was softer spring rate than the GSR KYB shocks.

 

I remember seeing in dealerships (USA) all "Trims" available when the Evo IX came out. I don't remember the MR or SE available later than the IX GSR.

 

 

If this is from an Evo IX MR or SE Bilstein, then the Eibach springs are aftermarket for the USDM market. Evos with Bilsteins from dealership showrooms in the USA never had red springs/Eibach. The springs were black and softer spring rate than the GSR/KYB spings. GSR/KYB springs were also black.

 

Thank you very much for the information, but I have one more doubt, in this regard and found contradictory information, the Evolution IX SE had a 5 or 6 speed gearbox ???

I know that an SE kit was offered, to install in the MR version, but I am talking about the SE as it left the factory, 5 or 6 gear box?

 

The IX SE had the 5 speed. IX MR SE had the 6 speed.

 

Like what is said above the USDM SE is a 5-speed.

USDM SE added the special front lip, red stitching to seats, metal shift knob, carbon fiber hand brake lever, HID headlights, aluminum roof, Bilstein dampers, and Diamond Black BBS wheels. In the USA I guess you can call it like a GSR SE. The SE did not get the three little gauges that the MR got.

 

Are you sure the SE got Bilsteins? I seem to remember that only the MR got those. I think I have the SE brochure somewhere, I'll have to dig it up

 

Looks like the USDM SE did not get Bilstein dampers, it got GSR KYB dampers.

 

Original owner of a 2006 IX SE here - I bought mine new and still own it. I got mine in late July 2006.

The SE model was announced as kind of a surprise in spring 2006. The SE and "MR SE" started hitting dealers in July 2006 - at least on the east coast of the US. I guess it's possible that some areas like the west coast dealers got them earlier. And they were sold by dealers well into 2007. I remember seeing new ones still for sale in mid-2007.

In the US the Evo IX model could not be sold as a 2007 model because it did not meet 2007+ model year US DOT safety standards because it had no weight sensor in the front passenger seat. This sensor would disable the passenger side airbag if a small child was in the passenger seat. But because they were leftover "2006" models, the Evos could still be sold.

The IX SE did not have the Bilsteins. It had the same KYB dampers from a regular IX. All IX Evos except the RS had the same springs and spring rates. It doesn't matter if it was an IX, MR, SE - all shared the same springs part. (The RS has a different part # for springs. Not sure how they are different...)

The IX SE also had the "stronger" 5spd transmission from the regular IX model.

I guess it's common knowledge, but the IX SE was a regular IX but with:
Unique front lip
BBS MR wheels in special diamond black finish
HID headlamps
Aluminum roof from the MR
front and rear seats with unique red contrast stitching.

So from a performance perspective, the IX SE was the best of breed IMO. You got the lighter wheels and roof from the MR with the better 5spd gearbox. IMO, the only thing the SE was missing from the factory was the Bilsteins, and I put those dampers on my SE within a month of buying it. I got a near new set off ebay for super cheap at that time that someone had taken off their new IX MR and they are still on my car today.

 

Thank you - I have been trying to remember what the safety regulation they didn't meet was.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...l#post11718723

I think my MR-with-appearance-package was built in April 2007 but I can't remember.

edit: nope, mine was built July 2006

 

I actually went and looked at the sticker on the bottom of the driver side B-pillar on my that has the production date of my car, and it says "July 2006". It would be a pretty tight (but still plausible) logistical schedule for my car to be built in July in Japan and still make it to an east coast US dealer by the end of the same month. So it's possible I am mis-remembering when I actually took delivery of my car. Maybe I actually got my IX SE in August 2006... But either way, somewhere in that July-Aug 2006 time range. And I am confident that I got one from my local dealer's very first shipment of SEs. They had quite a few on their lot in that first batch at the time 6 or 7 in a mix of IX SE and MR SE.

I also found this press release dated July 31, 2006 that announces the IX SE model and the SE trim package for the IX MR. But I recall these forums being aware of the special edition model well before that 7/31/2006 official announce date...
https://media.mitsubishicars.com/en-...r-evolution-se

 

1. What is really surprising is that the Japanese version of the evoIXMR from which the American SE version is undoubtedly inspired, went on sale in Japan on August 29 (possibly a few days after the SE version was released) anyway After studying all the MR versions that have appeared, without a doubt the SE is the version that most closely approximates the Japanese MR (because the MR USDM) was no longer equivalent to a European EvoIX GSR