2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – Evolutionary Ape

Not many cars will earn more mixed emotions or divide a group of enthusiast faster than this Evo IX built by Fernando Delarosa and Evasive Motorsports. On one side you have your basic matte wrap, which is juxtaposed by something a bit more unconventional—a wrap inspired by Japanese clothing brand Bape. Some of you might feel like it’s too Hypebeast and some people might think there isn’t anything wrong with that. Some might believe Voltex aero should be reserved for track cars, while on the other side of the spectrum car show guys believe it’s imperative if you’re trying to catch someone’s attention. For Fernando, it was natural selection and the next step in his evolution (see what we did there?)

This isn’t Fernando’s first encounter withSuper Street, either. His first project was an Evo X that landed on the cover of our June 2010 issue. Although he had a fully built Evo X, deep down he wanted the older Evo IX. In ’11 Fernando had the opportunity to pick up the Evo you see before you and had intentions of keeping the car as a daily, but we all know that never happens. Being around the guys at Evasive Motorsports and their Time Attack Evo IX nurtured Fernando’s style, and what was supposed to be a stock daily driven car was being transitioned with only the finest aero—a Voltex Cyber Street conversion. “Normally it takes four to five months to get Voltex aero, but I got lucky and Evasive Motorsports had it in stock.” We’ve all seen Voltex Evos on the street, the track, and at car shows, so Fernando went with a wrap that would get people talking. It started when Fernando bought a hoodie from Bape and like his Evo, it snowballed and made the streetwear culture a part of his lifestyle – and yeah, he’s a bona fide sneaker-head. He admits he paid a pretty penny for the Bape x Adidas NMD shoes, but not nearly as much his others shoes; Volk Racing TE37V Mark IIs.

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With the exterior locked in, Evasive Motorsports wasn’t going to let Fernando roll with just a body kit, wheels, and a wrap. You have your basic bolt ons, such as the HKS intake, Full Race Motorsport manifold, and the extremely cool Mines titanium exhaust. With a few more parts the 4G63 motor produces a healthy 410hp. Inside the cabin is where you’ll find more elements of Evasive Motorsport’s Time Attack Evo. Long gone are the factory Recaro seats and in their place is a pair of quintessential Bride Stradia Kevlar seats. The rear seats are succeeded by an Autopower four-point roll bar and complemented with a Beatrush rear seat delete.

Whether there’s streetwear or mechanics coveralls in your closet, you can’t help but be drawn to Fernando’s undeniably awesome Evo. He’s going against the grain and doing something not a lot of people would think of doing. And if you think this car is just another show queen, Fernando tells us he plans on pushing himself and his Evo on the track next year— the next evolutionary direction.

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