Mitsubishi Evo X review, test drive

The Evo X, the latest in the evolution of rally-bred Lancers, is finally here. Does it give you the ultimate bang for your buck?

Published on Jul 19, 2010 07:00:00 AM

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Make : Mitsubishi

Model : Lancer Evolution

While driving the support car, I momentarily lose sight of the Evo X that’s shadowing us. It’s not to my left, it’s not on the right. . . “Where’s he gone?” Then suddenly, it’s there, sliding into the rearview mirror like a glassy-eyed shark, inches from our rear bumper. A big NACA duct for a nostril, maw hung low and turbo whistling softly, the Evo X drips menace. It really does look ready for battle, as if it’s hiding machine-gun pods and rocket launchers all over. Mitsubishi sure knows how to stir up a witch’s brew. No Attention Assist needed here, that’s for sure – this car is an eyeball magnet.

What’s also great is that you won’t be getting all the wrong kind of attention. The car we’re driving isn’t any random import, squeezed in through loopholes. No, the DRI has got nothing on us – this is India’s first officially imported Evo, soon available at a Mitsubishi showroom near you.

But is this new Evo X (or 10) as much fun as the ones that came before it? Does it still feel like the maddest and most highly tuned car to be put into production? Is it still one of the best driving four-door cars on sale, a car that truly feels like a WRC car on street tyres? You have questions, we have the answers. Let’s get straight into the driver’s seat.

And a really impressive seat it is, this Recaro, with its carbon-fibre trimmings and massively supportive sides. The driving position is fantastic as well, and you are sat at just the right height. Very tall or short drivers may have a different opinion, however, as the seat does not adjust for height. And nor is the steering adjustable for reach, shocking for a driver-focused car
like this.