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At last, the Evo 10 has arrived! What a pity that sequencing numbers aren't allowed anymore (except for Japan and Great Britain). The marketing boys from Mitsubishi dumped it, because – oh – it's so childish and so puberty-like. And anyway, the Evo shouldn'T be mentioned together with Subarus Impreza WRX anymore, because this league is way below us and that match for additional horsepower and split seconds is so stupid – at least since this year. They didn'T say that word for word at the car presentation, but that's the way it came over to the journalists. No, that the "bad-guy"-design makes for quite a smart looking WRC-passenger car Mitsubishi would like the Evo to be moved near to the BMW M3 and the Audi S4. That would also make the new price tag of around 55.000 Euros (in Austria) easier to swallow (the Evo 9 came at around 48.000 Euros). Ah yes, and also the fresh poppy red had to go to make room for a serious red wine metallic. Stop dreaming kids, grow up and get real!
On the other side Mitsubishi hurriedly pulled a bunch of pre series Evos from the production line so that japanese tuners would produce all those "need-for-speed"-gadgets in time before the Tokyo Motorshow…
Despite the marketing guys the car itself does not need tis kind of jerking around between two seats. It is way above that. The new Evo 2008 is a beautiful achievement besides from the fact that all this new networking traction hightech stuff makes the car a full 100 kilos heavier than its predecessor. And moving away from the Impreza should work without extra effort as finally Mitsubishi starts dumping the cheap hard plastic interior components (well not quite). All this is supposed to bring in new customers groups. And as already the normal Lancer is due to attract new audience also the 4WD-star will manage to outrun its previous numbers (for example only 50 cars per year in Austria).
A first for Mitsubishi is the new 6-speed-double-clutch transmission (SST) with gear paddles on the steering wheel. It offers three programs that manage the wide gap between city driving and racetrack rounds. As always: The weird sounding but very well working stability control system that accelerates the outer wheels when it gets tricky in fast sharp turns for better traction, instead of slowing the car down. Astonishing: The cheaper 5-speed manual transmission is a quick second faster when it comes to accelerating to 100 kph.
First tests on the windswept closed circuit of spanish Gaudix nonetheless made the SST-Transmission look like great fun together with the uncompromisingly direct steering. Especially in super-sport-mode where the car keeps the revs between 4500 rpm and 7000 rpm all by its self. You'll see: You can really get used to the half split landscape the massive spoiler creates in your rear mirror. Recaro racing seats and the fact that the cars battery and wiper fluid tank were moved into the trunk (making the space a few litres smaller) account for a bite of racing flair. The Rockford sound system, the luxury of a navigation system and heated front seats weigh that out again in the well equiped topversion. At least the make-up mirrors don' have lighting…
You may gape at (and buy) the Evo 10 – pardon me – the new Lancer Evolution starting from August 2008.
Engine
4 cylinders in row, 16 valves, turbocharged with intercooler, 1998 ccm, 217 kW/295 hp at 6500 rpm, 366 Nm at 3500 rpm, 0 – 100 km/h in 6,3 sec. with 6-speed-SST-transmission (5,4 sec. with 5-speed manual transmission), top speed 242 km/h, fuel consumption in town/extra urban/mixed: 13,9/8,5/10,5 litres (98 Octane).
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