Lancer EVO IX
09-28-2007, 06:09 PM
2008 Evo X First Drive: Full Impressions b GTChannel.com
hmmm....this color looks strangely familiar.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev3_InL.jpg
It’s no secret that the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is all grown up. The latest iteration of Mitsubishi’s turbocharged sedan ditches the marque’s familiar ricerboy aesthetic (sorry Mitch) in favor of a more subtle, yet more muscular and purposeful appearance. For lack of a better term, the Lancer Evolution is now a “man racer”, that is, it’s a performance car for adults.
To carry this growing up analogy further, as is the case for all who enter adulthood, the Evo X has grown a bit heavier and more than a bit softer, but still pretty hard, in a way. Since Mitsubishi is hoping to sell more Evos to more people, the Evo’s trademark untamed and visceral ride has been toned down a bit so that it would appeal to a wider audience.
When asked by regular consumers about the daily drivability of the current Evo, we relate to a 100 lb woman trying to take a pit bull on a casual walk. That said, the outgoing Evo feels like it always wants to be pushed, like it needs to be driven hard almost as if it's in pain under partial throttle.
Things are different with the new Evo, Mitsubishi’s Japanese execs are stoked because this car now appeals to and can be driven by their wives. If that doesn’t tell you how different this new Evo is, we don’t know what will…
A quick look at the Evolution and there's next to zero DNA left over from the Evo X. This is a 100-percent new vehicle and that message is sent home with some of Mitsu's best styling to date. Yes, car design, like other art, is subjective, but if you don't like the new look you need help. But seriously, we're positive many current Evolution owners might be turned off by the decidedly-German look of the new Evo. Sam likes it and so do wel
So yeah, in a sense the Evo loses that very race car-like essence that made it an Evo, which does suck in a way. Theres no clutch, it's not a brutish car anymore and feels a lot closer to something we'd seem out of BMW or Audi.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev2_InL.jpg
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXCRev_InL.jpg
But on the other hand, the new Evo X is a much faster car than the car that came before it. We drove both the Evo X and the Evo 9 MR back-to-back on the same course, and we found the Evo X to be a much easier car to drive to and past its limit. It’s not the X’s extra power (currently set at 295 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque) that makes this car fast, though that does help. It’s Mitsubishi’s new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system, plus Mitsubishi’s excellent TC-SST transmission, that allow this new sedan to be more easily pushed to its limits and beyond. But more on that in a sec.
Acceleration on the new Evo is neck-snapping and an entirely different characteristic than the current Evo. It's smooth and linear yet so aggressive you may want to back off the throttle—well, you might we didn't. Steering is still how we like it, but this is another area were you'll notice the grown-up nature of the new Evo. And we were pleased with the placement of the column-mounted paddle shifters. Call us lazy, but it doesn't take long to forget about using the third pedal.
Driving “purists” can say what they will about these electronic traction and shift aids, but they do a hell of a job of making the Evo X feel as fast and as stable as a Shinkansen. These electronic gadgets are in no way intrusive, and they allow us to focus more on driving a perfect line rather than worry about finding the correct gear while negotiating a particularly tricky set of corners.
Still, while it’s incredibly fun to throw the Evo X around the track, there’s still something about the Evo 9 MR that just makes its driver feel alive. As rough around the edges as the current Evo is, it delivers one of the most pure and enjoyable driving experiences around. Both cars are excellent, but only one, the Evo X, is livable for day-to-day use.
We’ll see how the market responds to this latest car when it hits showrooms sometime next year. Stick around.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev4_InL.jpg
picture of the seats
http://www.gtchannel.com/files/GTCD_Evo7_InL.jpg
http://drive.gtchannel.com/?c=142&a=1137
hmmm....this color looks strangely familiar.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev3_InL.jpg
It’s no secret that the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is all grown up. The latest iteration of Mitsubishi’s turbocharged sedan ditches the marque’s familiar ricerboy aesthetic (sorry Mitch) in favor of a more subtle, yet more muscular and purposeful appearance. For lack of a better term, the Lancer Evolution is now a “man racer”, that is, it’s a performance car for adults.
To carry this growing up analogy further, as is the case for all who enter adulthood, the Evo X has grown a bit heavier and more than a bit softer, but still pretty hard, in a way. Since Mitsubishi is hoping to sell more Evos to more people, the Evo’s trademark untamed and visceral ride has been toned down a bit so that it would appeal to a wider audience.
When asked by regular consumers about the daily drivability of the current Evo, we relate to a 100 lb woman trying to take a pit bull on a casual walk. That said, the outgoing Evo feels like it always wants to be pushed, like it needs to be driven hard almost as if it's in pain under partial throttle.
Things are different with the new Evo, Mitsubishi’s Japanese execs are stoked because this car now appeals to and can be driven by their wives. If that doesn’t tell you how different this new Evo is, we don’t know what will…
A quick look at the Evolution and there's next to zero DNA left over from the Evo X. This is a 100-percent new vehicle and that message is sent home with some of Mitsu's best styling to date. Yes, car design, like other art, is subjective, but if you don't like the new look you need help. But seriously, we're positive many current Evolution owners might be turned off by the decidedly-German look of the new Evo. Sam likes it and so do wel
So yeah, in a sense the Evo loses that very race car-like essence that made it an Evo, which does suck in a way. Theres no clutch, it's not a brutish car anymore and feels a lot closer to something we'd seem out of BMW or Audi.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev2_InL.jpg
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXCRev_InL.jpg
But on the other hand, the new Evo X is a much faster car than the car that came before it. We drove both the Evo X and the Evo 9 MR back-to-back on the same course, and we found the Evo X to be a much easier car to drive to and past its limit. It’s not the X’s extra power (currently set at 295 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque) that makes this car fast, though that does help. It’s Mitsubishi’s new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system, plus Mitsubishi’s excellent TC-SST transmission, that allow this new sedan to be more easily pushed to its limits and beyond. But more on that in a sec.
Acceleration on the new Evo is neck-snapping and an entirely different characteristic than the current Evo. It's smooth and linear yet so aggressive you may want to back off the throttle—well, you might we didn't. Steering is still how we like it, but this is another area were you'll notice the grown-up nature of the new Evo. And we were pleased with the placement of the column-mounted paddle shifters. Call us lazy, but it doesn't take long to forget about using the third pedal.
Driving “purists” can say what they will about these electronic traction and shift aids, but they do a hell of a job of making the Evo X feel as fast and as stable as a Shinkansen. These electronic gadgets are in no way intrusive, and they allow us to focus more on driving a perfect line rather than worry about finding the correct gear while negotiating a particularly tricky set of corners.
Still, while it’s incredibly fun to throw the Evo X around the track, there’s still something about the Evo 9 MR that just makes its driver feel alive. As rough around the edges as the current Evo is, it delivers one of the most pure and enjoyable driving experiences around. Both cars are excellent, but only one, the Evo X, is livable for day-to-day use.
We’ll see how the market responds to this latest car when it hits showrooms sometime next year. Stick around.
http://drive.gtchannel.com/data/images/news/categories/GTCD_EvoXRev4_InL.jpg
picture of the seats
http://www.gtchannel.com/files/GTCD_Evo7_InL.jpg
http://drive.gtchannel.com/?c=142&a=1137