Down On All Fours

Brian Filoteo of Oxnard, Calif., is a JDM junkie. Even if it comes in green, red, blue, pink, or whatever other effervescent hue that the Japanese decide to produce go-fast parts in. If it works and fits right, Filoteo will have it. A member of the Southern California wrecking crew known as Team Auto Concept, Filoteo previously built a 2003 Acura RSX Type-S that was infused with C-West bodywork, Project Mu brakes, Volk Racing wheels, blue Integra Type-R interior, TEIN suspension, ARC intake and TODA camshafts. The Acura looked good and was a great performer, but looking back now, it was no Evo.

Front-wheel drive, an open differential, a strut-type front suspension, and a very responsive K-series engine meant that the RSX always had a problem in one area, putting down the power. When you're driving on a racetrack with a front-wheel drive car, you're asking the front wheels to steer and power the car at the same time. This can often lead to overworking of the front end, and a general lack of happiness on the part of the driver. There is hope though, and a front-wheel drive car can be properly setup to go like stink, but not everybody has the time or money to develop a car during their own free time. Sometimes, it's just easier to start with a car that's already been fully developed. Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution is a nameplate that is synonymous with rallying, catching air over hills, amazing handling, turbocharged power, and in more recent years, electronic gadgetry and incredible stability. A bone stock Evo is an amazing machine, able to stir a driver's mind, yet forgiving enough to make anybody look like they're a WRC champion. BMW M3's, Porsche 911's, and Chevy Corvette's be damned, the Evo will stand its ground.

So with a growing interest in attending track days and events, Filoteo picked up this 2005 Lancer Evolution VIII and proceeded to build himself a time attack car. With a "big difference in performance" out of the box compared to the RSX, this Evo sat quietly as a daily driver for about seven months. Then, with the traditional SoCal Nisei Showoff looming in about one month, Filoteo began the build. As an employee of High End Performance, located in Ventura, Calif., Filoteo had access to the entire catalog of high quality, JDM parts that High End distributes.

Sun Automobile was tapped first for the Cyber Speed grounding cables, Hot Inzama voltage system, Cyber Speed shift knob, and Cyber Speed pedals. The turbocharger on this Mitsubishi remains factory stock, but the 3-inch downpipe and titanium exhaust are JIC Magic pieces, with a Helix test pipe in between. The current setup is far lighter than the stock exhaust tract, but the difference in noise level is huge. This car is loud. On the intake side, air comes clean courtesy of a Samco Sport induction hose and an induction box made by notoriously expensive JDM parts manufacturer, ARC. The front-mount intercooler kit was also changed out for an ARC unit, with HKS upper intercooler piping and an HKS SSQ Ver. 2 blow-off valve nestled in. Support mods include the ARC oil catch can and Samco Sport radiator hose, with an ARC oil cap, titanium spark plug cover, and exhaust manifold shield for engine bay dress-up purposes. With an engine bay clean enough to eat sushi off of, Filoteo's Evo is producing more power with just a few simple bolt-ons than any naturally aspirated RSX could hope to push.