2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Review

Most Americans know nothing about world championship rally cars. Ah, but the young fast-and-furious street racing crowd does.

So do mostly young players of video racing games, which feature rally cars such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Such cars have shocking acceleration and surreal road holding--and have become cult vehicles.

The $28,987 Evolution made its recent press debut here before being unleashed for test drives on mostly marginal two-lane country roads, which were rain-soaked because of an all-day downpour. Mitsubishi hopes the Evolution will enhance its image and keep the automaker popular with its young buyer crowd. It's highly specialized, so Mitsubishi expects to sell only 6,500 annually in America--mostly to hard-core car buffs.

Earlier versions of the Evolution have been sold in Japan and Europe, where rally championship cars are widely admired.

World championship rallies held overseas are no-holds-barred events that call for fast, strong, small cars to maintain almost impossibly high speeds, often on incredibly bad roads, in all sorts of weather. Drivers of these cars are arguably the world's best drivers because they continually go flat out--sometimes almost sideways--on roads that would cause sport-utility vehicle drivers to wince.

No wonder video games simulating rally competition are captivating.

Mitsubishi has models for those who like conventional cars and sport-utility vehicles. Its Lancer Evolution is for those who love small, fast, mostly Japanese cars--although Europe's Lancia and Peugeot have built championship rally cars, as has Ford's European operation.

World championship rally cars are small sedans or coupes with a small, high-horsepower turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, powerful brakes and big tires.

Subaru broke the ice here with its Impreza WRX rally-inspired model, which made the regular Impreza lineup look sexier and helped publicize Subaru's all-wheel-drive system.

The WRX will get about 300 horsepower by year's end. But, meanwhile, the all-wheel-drive Evolution tops it with a turbocharged, intercooled engine that generates 271 horsepower despite only a two-liter displacement.

The Evolution sedan (called the Evolution VIII and "Evo'' overseas) does 0-60 mph in five seconds and tops out at about 155 mph. That's amazing performance for a car with a $28,987 base price. It's also impressive that Mitsubishi has made such a high-performance car satisfy stringent U.S. bumper, safety and emissions requirements.

But the engine must be kept at high revs to develop the most horsepower and torque. Thus, lots of shifting of the slick, competition-tested five-speed manual gearbox is necessary; forget about using the top two gears in town because that makes the car bog down and is hard on engine components.

The gearbox works with a long-throw clutch with a springy feel, which is typical of heavy duty units needed with such an engine.

No automatic transmission is offered, although a race-style five speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted button shifters may be offered if dealers demand it.

The lightning-reflexed Evolution is a blast to drive, with razor-sharp steering, tenacious road holding and powerful Brembo anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake distribution. They're controlled by a pedal with a rather soft, but nicely linear, action.

The suspension is supple, but firm enough to occasionally cause a jerky ride. The Evolution is no Chicago-to-Las Vegas car. It's best-suited to short trips because its no-nonsense design makes it tiring on long journeys.

The competition-style Recaro front bucket seats hold occupants in place like a vise when the car is storming through curves. But the special gauges should be larger so they can be easier to read at a glance; there's really no time for second looks at the tachometer when zooming down twisting roads.

There's a leather-covered three-spoke steering wheel and shift knob to improve a driver's tactile feel of these control surfaces. Those who tire of the engine's turbocharger shriek can turn on the 140-watt, six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. There are a good number of comfort and convenience items, such as power locks, windows and outside mirrors.

The few options include a power sunroof.

The 3,263-pound Evolution shares its basic design with the much tamer 120-horsepower regular Lancer sedan, which has a fairly long 103.3-inch wheelbase. Consequently, there's decent room for four 6-footers. The trunk is fairly large, but has a high, rather narrow opening.

A rally car must be extra-tough to withstand constant pounding on bad roads, but the Lancer body shell is considerably strengthened with such things as added bracing and welded seams, thicker reinforced suspension mounting points and body member connections. But a special V-brace behind the back seat eliminates folding rear seatbacks for more cargo room.

The body has bulging wheelhouses that cover specially developed Yokohama 45-series tires on 17-inch wheels.

A light aluminum hood with a large vent opening helps get rid of engine heat and reduces weight. A big front air dam design integrates an undercover that improves aerodynamics.

This is a very purposeful-looking car with a monochromatic appearance. Virtually all body parts, such as door handles, are color-keyed to the body, and there's a low-profile color-keyed rear spoiler. (A larger color-keyed spoiler is optional, but looks rather cartoonish.)

To most, the Lancer Evolution will look like just another small Japanese sedan with hot rod modifications--maybe done by a young driver with aftermarket parts. But we know better.


MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION
Price:
$28,987

Likes:
Very fast. All-wheel drive. Sharp handling. Roomy. Solid. Blast to drive.

Dislikes:
Only for hard-core car buffs. Firm ride. Small gauges. Rather high trunk opening.