This week we’re at the helm of the venerable Evo X, here in MR trim. Normally we’d dive into the particulars of the car, including its 2.0-liter four cylinder motor and its 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque and the six-speed dual clutch gearbox our test is equipped with. However, with the imminent demise of Evo looming ahead, we thought we’d share Multimedia Editor Chris Amos’ thoughts after spending a week with the iconic sports sedan.
Though the writing had been on the walls for some time, the announcement earlier this year that the current iteration of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution would be the last was still a bitter pill to swallow. When it finally peels off into that great rally stage in the sky next year, it will leave behind it a giant dirt roostertail of broken hearts and racing heritage behind it, a legacy that began as early as 1973.
During a recent online Q & A session with Don Swearingen, executive vice president at Mitsubishi Motors North America, Swearingen confirmed that a US-exclusive final edition of the sport sedan is on its way next June.
We like the current Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X just fine. It’s a serious performance vehicle, capable of being fast in nearly any circumstance. But anyone that’s driven both the Evo X and its predecessor will tell you that, while the current Evo might be fast and agile, it lost a bit of character when it evolved (terrible pun, we know) in late 2008. The old model was far livelier and less refined.
Our number one question about Gran Turismo 6, the newest installment in the epic racing series wasn’t one of how many cars or tracks there would be. It was a question of when. The answer is 2013. Yeah, you’ll have a new GT in your Playstation before the year’s end.
We were offered a turn in a rare Evo GSR, complete with the old-school five-speed manual transmission. It had all the important bits, like the revvy, turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, but the addition of a third pedal changes the Evo’s equation considerably. Join us as we take it for a spin in our latest POV test drive.
There’s an epic battle royal brewing in the mid-size CUV segment. Over the past year, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi have refreshed their family friendly crossovers. We can officially add Toyota to that list. This is the 2013 Toyota RAV4, and it just debuted at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show.
Mitsubishi has unveiled its 2014 Outlander ahead of its press conference at the 2012 LA Auto Show. We’re rather familiar with the base 2.4-liter, four-cylinder MIVEC and the GT-spec 3.0-liter V-6. The four-pot is mated to a CVT, while the V-6 will be joined by a six-speed automatic (presumably, both powertrains will offer a manual mode). If past Outlanders are any indication, Mitsubishi’s excellent Super All-Wheel Control will also be available.
As magical as the world would be if everybody could buy a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Porsche, the reality is that many of us are stuck with more mundane means of transport. Generally, we’ll be buying cars from the so-called non-premium brands. The thing is, non-luxury doesn’t have to mean uninvolving.
Hardcore all-wheel-drive capability makes it a monster on the track. It operates very well when pushed closer and closer to its limits. There’s just so much grip on offer that you are generally at your limits before the car is.
While it’s not what we’d call fun to drive, the Kia Sorento is a seriously comfortable family hauler, with good looks, decent fuel economy, and an unbelievably reasonable price tag.
In the newest issue of Winding Road, the Subaru STI and Mitsubishi Evo go head to head in a final bout for this generation. Plus, we have lots of other great automotive content this month’s issue.
Mitsubishi has given us a glimpse off of its new-for-2013 Outlander, ahead of its debut at next month’s Geneva Auto Show. The look of the new car is a significant departure from the Evo-schnozzed crossover on sale today. Unfortunately, we’ll need to wait until March 6 to get a more detailed look at the new Outlander. Here’s what we know though.
We are now into the tenth generation of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and we at Winding Road consider it to be an excellent driver’s car. We’ve driven on the road, on the track, and in the snow, and its combination of power and handling make it terrifically engaging and fun to drive.
The Mitsubishi Outlander, when driving it, felt pretty average to me, which isn’t bad considering its low starting price of just under $22,500 (1K more for all-wheel drive), with our tester starting below $28K. It’s also a vehicle that has sort of grown on me as I ponder it after our week-long loan. First of all, it provides a good amount of space, and can haul a lot of people or cargo comfortably. Its grip is pretty remarkable, and the dial in our tester that lets you select between “Tarmac,” “Snow,” and “Lock” makes choosing the right mode a simple choice, and proves the Outlander capable. I also enjoy the big magnesium paddle shifters mounted on the steering column. They’re fun to use, and are really easy to grab regardless of where you’re pointing the steering wheel.
There isn’t much more to go on than this sole image, but Mitsubishi will be unveiling a new “premium” vehicle at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
This base-level Audi TT is a pretty desirable sports coupe, but it does require a buyer that’s slightly more interested in luxury, styling, and/or overall image than performance. Don’t misunderstand me; I’ve quite enjoyed every TT driving experience that I’ve had, including this 2.0T. And, within the narrow TT universe, the base car is actually a smoking bargain (the higher spec cars get expensive quickly). But in terms of the always difficult to assess “thrills per dollar” metric, there are certainly better options.
Last week was the beginning of the Tokyo Motor Show, which saw some new concept and production cars hit the stage. Have a look below to see our coverage of the show.
At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi has shown its newest plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, the PX-MiEVII.