With the kind of grip four-wheel drive imparts, the stresses of hard driving can reveal all of the weak links in a drivetrain. With tires unable to slip, transmissions can be very willing to give up the ghost, just ask any Subaru WRX drag racer. But Bozz Performance only fit a Cusco twin-plate in place of the stock clutch, so far dodging issues with transfer case failure, which haunts some EVO VIII owners. Close relations with Bozz Speed of Japan also helped out on this project. The company provided a Bozz Speed radiator topped with a Cusco radiator cap and cooling panel to keep the turbo engine cool.
How is it that this EVO VIII is faster than the Signal Auto R34 GT-R, even though Signal pushes so much more power? The harnessing capabilities of Cusco products, of course. Starting with a set of off-the-shelf, adjustable Cusco Comp L Zero-2R coil-overs with pillow-ball upper mounts, Bozz Performance changed to higher rate springs but left the damper valving intact. A Cusco front 25mm anti-sway bar and adjustable rear 23mm anti-sway bar help fine-tune the balance. A grab bag of body braces and bars was added from Cusco including the titanium front tower bar, carbon rear tower bar, Type OS-T rear V-brace, Type 1 lower arm bar and Type 2 lower arm bar. Even though many would be content with that much bracing, Bozz Performance went ahead and added in the Cusco six-point chrome-moly roll cage for safety and rigidity.
Perhaps the key to the EVO's speed is four-wheel-drive tuning. Cusco Type RS one-way limited-slip differentials were installed front and rear, with some special tuning done to the LSD's springs, but the units still remain off-the-shelf models. No problems with ABS or braking utilizing the differentials. The EVO still retains its stock Brembos, just fit with Project Mu Titan Kai racing brake pads. Shod with Yokohama A032R race rubber in a 245/45-17 size, this Mitsubishi has more than enough stopping power, even with 475 wheel hp. Taking note of all the details required to build a fast track car, Bozz Performance wrapped the tires around lightweight 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels, sized 17x9 inches in the front and a narrower 17x8 inches in the rear.
Some of the most distinctive elements of a factory Lancer EVO VIII are the rear wing and nostril-shaped front end. Bozz Performance doesn't care too much about that. Now more akin to an EVO VII, the front end has been changed for a Truth front bumper with APR Performance carbon canards, with the Truth side skirts and EVO VII taillights to match. Originally colored lightning yellow by Mitsubishi, Bozz Performance had the car redone in the Cusco theme, meaning black paint with Cusco decals made by ASH Graphic Design and applied by Project E. The boxy Mitsubishi wing was also chucked in favor of a lighter Cusco 3-D Carbon GT Wing, while the hood is now a Cusco GT piece.
Far from a lambo-doored, subwoofer-laden show car, Bozz's EVO has only the bare essentials in interior upgrades. A pair of Bride XAX reclining seats cinched down with Willans four-point harnesses provide driver grip, while the Project Mu caliper-look pedal set can at least make you smile. Besides the turbo timer electronics and Cusco shift light, only HKS's boost, EGT and oil temperature gauges make an appearance. I guess when you have a big, blue cage wrapped around you, there isn't much need to watch DVDs.
Having already proven just how fast a Lancer Evolution VIII can go, Bozz Performance is still intent on refining its time attack abilities. A recent move to a new facility with an in-house four-wheel-drive dyno means fine-tuning into the dark of night. What you can't see here, though, is that Bozz Performance also has a Subaru WRX roaring to go with a full tuning job and the exact same Cusco exterior theme. Do I smell a showdown?