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Limited-edition Mitsubishi 311RS Evo X coming to Minneapolis Auto Show [w/video]

It's not terribly often that we have news to report coming out ahead of the Minneapolis Auto Show. We say that not to disparage the Twin Cities, which are lovely, but new product reveals are few and far between for the show. This year, however, it seems that event will play host to the debut of a rather special limited edition Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Though not coming directly from the Mitsu factory, we think the 311RS shows loads of potential for Evo fanatics.
The 311RS is the brainchild of circuit racer Ryan Gates, who has apparently spent the last three years developing what he believes is an Evo perfect for both racing and road driving. Starting life as a bog-standard Evo X, the Gates team has swapped out the factory intake, intercooler and exhaust system for more potent AMS pieces; resulting in output figures of 353 horsepower and nearly 359 pound-feet of torque. A new suspension from JRZ, brakes from Girodisc and 18-inch custom Rays wheels shod with high-performance Nitto tires represent significant updates to the underpinnings, as well.
Of course, the 311RS is also rocking a full body kit, too, with a more aggressive front air dam and a subtle lip added on to the stock rear wing. The blue and white racing livery, with matching blue wheels, looks racy without being too childish, we think.

2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Practice Day 4

The fourth and final practice day of the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is complete. Tomorrow everyone will make any last-minute adjustments and get their cars, their bits and bobs lined up in the pits for Sunday morning's this-time-it-counts run.
The Unlimited runners took on the top section of the course today, Sébastien Loeb and his big-mouth Peugeot acing the practice test again with a time of 2:11. Rhys Millen's team proved its got the engine issues of two days ago in the Hyundai PM580T sorted out, posting the next-best time at 2:27.16. The reason we had to dip all the way into the hundredths for his time is because he nipped Romain Dumas by just .31 of them, the Frenchman in the Norma M20FC PP running the course in 2:27.47. In fourth came the Frenchman in the monster Mini, Jean-Philippe Dayraut six seconds back at 2:33.
Time Attack competitors, also on the upper section, were led by Paul Dallenbach in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe with a time of 2:36, Porsche pilot Jeff Zwart crossing the line six seconds later at 2:42, fellow Porsche driver David Donner coming in another six seconds back at 2:48. Dallenbach has topped three of the four practice-day sessions, sliding into the second spot behind Donner only on Practice Day 2.

Mitsubishi's all-electric Pikes Peak challengers are in it to win it

With a second-place finish already in the books from 2012, there's only one thing on the minds of Mitsubishi drivers Hiroshi Masuoka and Greg Tracy: winning. As the presenting sponsor for the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, there's no doubt the Japanese manufacturer is hoping for a good showing this year, and the video you'll see below explains how Mitsubishi changed things this year to help ensure a win... basically, more power and more downforce.
Winning in 2013 certainly won't be easy. With competitors that include Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima and Rod Millen, who's driving for Toyota, winners in 2012 in the Electric class. Our own Jonathon Ramsey sat down and spoke with the boys from Mitsubishi, and found that, if not for the over-the-top presence from Peugeot, the the all-electric MiEV Evolution II (which may be a sort of test-bed for potential Lancer Evolution-of-the-future components) may even be capable of challenging for the overall victory.
Their target: nine minutes and thirty seconds. We'll see how close they get later this afternoon. Scroll down below to watch the video.