LA Auto Show Report: Smokin' Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

Alex L. Dykes
by Alex L. Dykes

With Subaru taking the WRX down to Camry-like levels of boring, potential buyers of cheap performance from the Land of the Rising Sun now have reason to rejoice: Mitsubishi released the Lancer Evo X at the LA Auto show today. With 291 hp and a road-warping 300 ft-lbs of torque from its 2.0L four-banger, this baby is set to scoot. Transferring that torque to the pavement is a reworked version of Mitsubishi's fantastic AWD system, now coupled with a VW-style double clutch robotic manual. When asked about performance, Michael Evanoff of Mitsubishi told me "0-60 times are expected to closely follow the Japanese official times of low 5 seconds." If fit and finish in the production models are this good, the plain-Jane WRX STi doesn't stand a chance.

Alex L. Dykes
Alex L. Dykes

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  • Kazoomaloo Kazoomaloo on Nov 15, 2007

    The STi costs $35k+. Good crap. I remember back in the day when the WRX was a hot little machine that regular people could afford when they needed an adrenaline injection. Now the 'rex runs $25k bare-bones and the hopped up STi is sitting squarely in luxury sport-sedan range. I'm interested to see what the Evo X ends up costing, and I can't wait for the detuned 'rex-killer... I like a little competition, keeps everybody on their toes.

  • Quasimondo Quasimondo on Nov 16, 2007
    Will there be a stick-shift version? Durability and acceleration aside, a proper stick-shift is more fun. There are two trim models for the Evo: GSR and MR The GSR will come with a 5-speed manual, the MR will have the six-speed sequential gearbox.
  • Ricky Spanish Ricky Spanish on Nov 16, 2007

    The Old EVO 9 was faster than the STI in a straight line (in fact, it was rated lower but dynoed higher) AND around any track you can name. The new EVO's system is incredible - active yaw control with AWD . . . . . supposedly this new car is a tad slower in a straight line but several seconds faster around most tracks. It will be an autocross monster with the new yaw control system (accelerating the outside rear wheel to whip the car around turns) not to mention, its still ugly, but nowhere near as much of a sin-against-god as the new STI Sorry Subaru, consider your butts whipped.

  • Dean Dean on Nov 16, 2007

    The new WRX in hatchback form looks pretty good to me. Definitely not as bland as the sedan. I wonder if the next-gen STi will be sedan-only?

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