Evo*Grl - 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR

Arriving just days before the Nisei Week show last year, Zorrilla's amazing carbon kevlar Bride Stradias seats are an ultra-rare find on any car. These Japanese units are designed to offer the grip of a bucket and yet still retain the ease of a reclineable seat. Matching Bride fabric was laid on the rear seat and door panels, a custom endeavor that Zorrilla admits was not the least bit simple to finish up in time.

Cinched down into the Brides by a set of Takata harnesses, which are connected to a Sparco harness bar, Zorrilla holds on for dear life to a Nardi Orido Limited Edition steering wheel and an A- Spec titanium shift knob. The wheel, which has been custom anodized, is mounted onto a Works Bell Rapfix hub and quick release to make getting in and out of the car that much easier. Carbon fiber, the exotic composite that has been driving our industry, accents the interior with a Ralliart center console, rearview mirror cover, Tyrant armrest cover and Carbontrix B-pillar covers.

Another point of JDM pride for Zorrilla are the huge Endless brakes attached to her Evo. Originally intending to go with chromed and etched stock Brembo front calipers, Zorrilla finally decided to bite the bullet and pick up a set of six-piston front and four-piston rear Endless brakes with two-piece rotors. The front brake rotors measure in at 13.6-inches, while the rears are a sizeable 13-inches in diameter. Endless, one of Japan's most renowned braking parts manufacturers, also is responsible for the stainless-steel braided lines, CC-X compound pads and higher-temp brake fluid.

Covering those rarest of rare JDM binders are 18x9 custom Magnesium Blue Volk Racing RE30's, covered in 235/40/18 Yokohama Advan Neova rubber. Matching the grip of the Neova tires, some of the best street tires on the market today, are HKS Hipermax RS coilovers and a Swift rear swaybar.

With the efforts of both Bryan and Zorrilla combined into one united front, this Evo took on an otherworldly level of JDM-ness. Bryan's Evo VIII sports a green JDM valve cover and HKS turbo upgrade kit, so Zorrilla decided to go with a clean dress-up mentality and maximize the use of the stock turbocharger.

An ARC Super Induction Box draws air into the turbo, which spits it out into an ARC front-mount intercooler and into the first production ARC Titanium Suction Pipe in the U.S. The burning hue'd ARC pipe is so large, it required the addition of a Nisei mini battery kit. Exhaust gasses are funneled through a Fujitsubo downpipe and out a HKS titanium Spec-R exhaust system. Keeping the engine cool is a meticulously fabricated ARC radiator, fed using Samco silicone hoses and held with custom chromed mounts. Sun Automobile Hyper Gauss, Hyper Force and Hyper Voltage systems are on hand to help stabilize the Evo's voltage readings. The final touch was for the engine's face itself. A custom anodized purple valve cover, ARC spark plug wire cover and Carbign Craft carbon-fiber cam cover set off the finished engine bay.

One of the most important aspects of the Evo driving experience is the feedback to the driver. To reduce engine movement and improve on the direct feedback, Zorrilla swapped in a set of stiffer Agency Power motor mounts and matched them with a Stillway engine dampener kit. Beautiful ARC titanium front and rear tower braces combine with a lower chassis brace to balance looks with proper chassis stiffness.

Although this Evo was built by a lady with true JDM style, it can't be considered a "girly" car in any sense of the word. Sure, Zorrilla had a few tales that could only exist in the female side of the world, such as dodging a fix-it ticket because she told the female officer she bought a Powerhouse Amuse exhaust due to its "cute blue tip" (the officer agreed). But, after taking the Best AWD Sedan award at Chinatown Showoff, Zorrilla has proof of her Evo's universal appeal. This is a ride that every man, woman or beast wants to drive, and Zorrilla wouldn't have it any other way.

By Joey Leh

Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!