Take all the technology in the world, but if the car looks wack-as in say, the Pontiac Aztek-it does not matter. It has to look as it performs. And the X looks something pure evil and downright predatory. With its angled headlights and open vents, from the front it looks like the Evo X is grimacing, baring its intercooled teeth. The Yokohama Advan-wrapped forged BBS wheels and blistered front and rear quarter panels give it a hunched, ready-to-pounce look. My only complaint is that the stock exhaust note is too subtle for something that looks this bloodthirsty. Nothing a bolt-on exhaust can't fix. Growl.
The interior of the Evo X is modestly improved from the IX; it looks better designed,taking cues from Euros, but the material feels, for a lack of a better word, plastic-y. The Recaro front seats however, are one hundred percent rad. Comfortable and snug-it's amazing they managed to squeeze side airbags in them.
Overall the Evo is a great car; scratch that, an awesome car. For a machine this sexy and fast, unlike your ex, it's very forgiving-particularly in the MR trim. The problem for modifications is that the Twin-Clutch will be an ECU enigma for quite some time. With time tuners will be able to crack it, but till then there's always the five-speed GSR. Transmission conundrums aside, I'll take either. Thanks to the engineers at Mitsubishi, I got a taste of what could've been.
'08 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XMSRP: estimated $33k (GSR); estimated $37k (MR)
Engine: 2.0L, 16-valve DOHC, MIVEC four-cylinder
Power Rating: 291 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
Configuration: Four-wheel drive
Transmission: Five-speed manual (GSR); six-speed TC-SST (MR)
Curb Wieght: 3,517 pounds (GSR); 3,594 pounds (MR)
Suspension: Four-wheel sport-tuned independent suspension
Wheels: 18x8.5 Enkei cast alloy (GSR); 18x8.5 forged BBS wheels (MR)
Tires: 245/40R-18 Yokohama Advan
Brakes: Front: Ventilated disc with four-piston caliper (GSR), Ventilated two-piece rotor with fourpistoncaliper (MR)
Rear: Ventilated disc with two-piston caliper
Fuel Economy: Estimated EPA 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway (GSR); 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway (MR)
Drive Impression: As a manual transmission guy, I'm uncomfortable to admit how much I enjoyed the Twin-Clutch in the MR. Don't get me wrong, the five-speed in the GSR is dope, but pushing the car around the track, the MR performs damn-near flawlessly.
Tunability: Right now, because of the new 4B11 engine, this is where the car would score low. While few JDM companies (i.e. HKS) have already developed some parts for the Evo X, the aftermarket will have to R&D from scratch. But for modification purposes, stick with the GSR for now. The MR will take some time to crack.
By Carter Jung
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