Single-space cars only rarely get motorsports mods: one may remember the 1994 Renault Espace F1 fitted with a Formula V10, but it was one of a kind and a pure show car at that. In stark contrast, this Mitsubishi Xpander AP4 is deadly serious about hitting the track.
Responsible for the project is Team Ralliart New Zealand, which received support from the automaker’s Indonesian branch. Rally drivers used to put seriously tuned Evo and Mirage models through the courses, but the Lancer Evolution left the market some time ago, so the team decided to work with something fresher instead. Choosing the Xpander was by no means coincidental, because the compact van is hugely popular in Asia.
Having said that, the bodywork is really the only thing that still reminds of the MPV. The chassis and the tech stem from the abovementioned Evo X, and the 4B11T 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine goes down to just 1.6 liters of displacement to comply with the local AP4 rally regulations. To decrease the actual displacement volume, the team clamps down on the piston travel distance. Even handicapped like that, the engine still churns out up to 350 hp (261 kW) and 556 Nm (410 lb-ft) of torque. A Sadev-branded six-speed sequential transmission delivers the thrust to all four wheels.
Inside the van are two OMP seats, a roll cage, a motorsports instrument cluster and much more. The crew has tested the van extensively in the summer and will be driving it on the track soon. The only caveat is that only one unit has been built with no replacements in mind.