Daring to be different is exactly how James Mueller got to where he is today. How many Lancer Ralliarts do you see cruising around with air suspension and fender flares? Exactly.
Mueller is no stranger to building cars or the name Mitsubishi. His previous build, a widebodied and supercharged Eclipse, boasted more than 20 awards from shows all over the US and has been featured in more than 50 magazine articles, some of which it even graced the cover. Jada Toys even wanted in on the action and made a 1:64 scale model of the veteran show-goer.
To follow up a success like that, Mueller decided to go with something that was turbocharged and all-wheel-drive – just to shake things up a bit. The AWD actually had another purpose as well.
“I bought an AWD car so I could make it through the terrible winters in the Midwest,” Mueller admits. “I started by just adding things to make my daily driver more unique, but it ended up turning into an obsession, just like every other car I’ve owned.”
Going with standout brands like Avant Garde, AMS, CBRD, D2 Racing, R1 Concepts and Rexpeed, Mueller soon had himself less of a daily driver and more of a full-time show car. On D2’s air system with Unnwerke flared haunches and some extra turbo kick under the hood, it’s employee of the month at its new position. How else could it have amassed an incredible 64 percent of the popular vote at Hot Import Nights’ #TBGLIVE event?
From here, Mueller shows no signs of slowing. He started picking away at cars as soon as he could drive, which snowballed as he got older. Now in his 30s, there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank for another showstopper or two.
#TBGLIVE WINNER | 64% OF THE POPULAR VOTE | HOT IMPORT NIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL UNITED STATES
ESSENTIALS
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
LOCATION: Cedar Lake, IN
BUILT BY: JD Mueller Inc., The Custom Shop, Boostin Performance
ENGINE: Mitsubishi 4B11T 2.0L turbocharged I-4
HORSEPOWER: 335 hp
TORQUE: 365 lb-ft
ENGINE
CBRD Rad Lite turbocharger
AMS (intercooler, intercooler piping)
Mishimoto radiator hoses
Mitsubishi Evo X bypass valve
Ultimate Racing (intake, lower intercooler piping)
Grimmspeed 3Port boost control solenoid
Password:JDM (engine bay bolt kit, oil cap)
Boomba Racing battery tie down
HKS radiator cap
NRG Innovations carbon fiber engine cover
Rexpeed carbon fiber (fuse box covers, radiator panel, hood dampers)
EXHAUST
AMS single exit exhaust system
Ultimate Racing down-pipe
Boostin Performance high-flow cat
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Avant Garde F142 wheels – 18x10.5 (f/r)
Bridgestone Potenza RE760 tires – 245/35 R18 (f/r)
ARP extended wheel studs
Muteki SR48 extended lug nuts
R1 Concepts drilled & slotted rotors (f/r)
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
D2 Racing air suspension system
Air Zenith OB2 compressor
5-gallon air tank
EXTERIOR
JDP Engineering carbon fiber front lip
Unnwerke fender flares
Rexpeed carbon fiber (ducktail spoiler, hood scoop, hood vents, pillar trim, mirror covers)
Bay Speed carbon fiber eyelids
Custom retrofit headlights by ZWorks
Bodywork by The Custom Shop
INTERIOR
Recaro (racing seats, wrapped door panels)
Rexpeed carbon fiber (crown meter cover, steering wheel cover, A/C panel cover, steering wheel gauge pod)
Carbon fiber wrapped (dash, door panel trim)
Dual needle 200-psi air gauges
MOBILE ELECTRONICS
Rockford Fosgate (double-DIN touchscreen head unit, subwoofer)
SPONSORS
Avant Garde Wheels, R1 Concepts, D2 Racing
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