When Brian O'Conner slid a lime-green sedan backward into a Miami warehouse in the opening acts of 2 Fast 2 Furious, he didn't just escape the local police. He permanently cemented an unreleased Japanese rally weapon into American car culture. The car was the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, a model unavailable on U.S. shores, wrapped in a aggressive DAMD body kit and painted in a striking DuPont custom hue. Behind the silver screen, the creation of this iconic machine involved clever logistics, a frantic race against production schedules, and a hidden mechanical reality that changed how enthusiasts viewed turbo-four performance.
Before the Evolution became the anchor of the film's second act, movie executives tried to secure product placement elsewhere. Producers initially courted Nissan, hoping to use a skyline or a variant of their contemporary lineup, but negotiations stalled. They briefly evaluated the European-market Opel Speedster before technical advisors stepped in. Craig Lieberman, the technical coordinator for the franchise, pushed hard for Mitsubishi. The studio needed a vehicle that could credibly match the status of Paul Walker's famous green Eclipse from the first film while steering away from another heavy import build. Mitsubishi answered the call by supplying early chassis allocations, kicking off an intense modification sprint in Southern California.
Sourcing and Building the Movie Cars
Building a fleet of stunt-ready, camera-ready cars for a major Hollywood sequel is rarely straightforward, especially when the car in question isn't sold domestically. Because actual Evolution VII models were scarce in North America, the production team at Eddie Paul Industries in El Segundo, California, had to get creative.
They received a mix of early vehicles and standard Lancer shells, transforming them into convincing Evo clones complete with all-wheel-drive aesthetics, custom interiors, and specialized body kits.
- The Hero Car: Used for close-up glamour shots and actor interaction, featuring pristine interior panels and lower mileage.
- Stunt Car Number 1: The only vehicle of the four primary builds outfitted with genuine performance upgrades under the hood, later verified by dyno testing.
- The Backup Shells: Stripped down and fitted with roll cages and reinforced suspension components to handle the punishing reverse-entry stunts and highway leaps.
Every detail mattered. The striking lime-green paint was a deliberate nod to Brian's original Eclipse, creating instant visual continuity for fans watching the franchise evolve from street racing undergrounds to federal undercover operations.
Under the Hood: The 4G63 Legacy
The real beating heart of the 2 Fast 2 Furious Evo wasn't just its exterior styling—it was the legendary 4G63 engine. This 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four already possessed a massive underground following due to its iron block, immense tuning headroom, and rally pedigree.
While stock Japanese specification cars left the factory rated around 280 horsepower, the primary stunt car used in filming was tuned to push roughly 330 horsepower. It featured upgraded suspension geometry to cope with high-speed jumps and aggressive asphalt slides. Combined with a five-speed manual transmission and an advanced all-wheel-drive system, the car handled the chaotic Miami street scenes with physical competence that went beyond Hollywood special effects.
The vehicle's screen presence also triggered a massive shift in consumer demand. When Mitsubishi finally brought the Evolution VIII to American showrooms shortly after the movie's release, buyers flooded dealerships already educated on the car's capabilities by its cinematic run.
Surviving the Screen and Collecting History
Unlike most cars subjected to Hollywood action sequences—many of which end up crushed or stripped in a scrap yard—this particular Lancer survived production intact. Following filming, the car transitioned into promotional duties before finding its way to collectors overseas, eventually spending years in a Norwegian collection.
Its preservation status became legendary in the enthusiast community. In late 2025, Stunt Car Number 1 crossed the auction block at a Bonhams event, selling for an astonishing $341,800, setting a high-water mark for Mitsubishi collector vehicles. Documentation including original dyno sheets, import paperwork, and direct authentication letters from technical staff proved that a well-built movie car could transcend its prop status to become a blue-chip automotive asset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the movie car a real Evolution VII?
Because the Evo VII was not officially sold in the United States at the time, the production shop modified available donor platforms and early gray-market imports, outfitting them with authentic drivetrain components, aggressive body kits, and custom interior trim to replicate the Japanese specification flagship.
How many Evos were used during filming?
The production utilized four primary vehicle builds handled by Eddie Paul Industries. These ranged from pristine beauty cars used for close-up shots to heavily modified stunt units engineered for high-speed highway choreography and jumps.
What engine powers the 2 Fast 2 Furious Evo?
It uses Mitsubishi's iconic 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 4G63 engine paired with a full-time all-wheel-drive system and a five-speed manual gearbox, modified to output roughly 330 horsepower for stunt sequences.
Where is the primary stunt car today?
Stunt Car Number 1 survived the production intact and later spent time in Europe before commanding a record-breaking $341,800 at a Bonhams auction, complete with verification records from the film's technical crew.
