A New Dawn
by David Finlay (21 Mar 08)

For once, the word Evolution is completely inappropriate. Mitsubishi has been selling Lancer Evos since 1992, and you could more or less draw a straight line from the IV to the IX - certainly the VII, VIII and IX were effectively the same car, though with an incredible number of tweaks and modifications. According to the Roman numbering system, the Evolution X should be more of the same, but although it follows exactly the same concept it is a world away from anything that has gone before.

We'll see why shortly, but first it's worth establishing just what the name of the test car means. With the introduction of the Evo X's engine - a two-litre turbo as before, but a completely new unit developed by Hyundai/Kia - Mitsubishi has departed from recent practice by slightly overstating the power output in the car's title. This one, for example, produces a maximum of 291bhp (which, to be fair, is still rather a lot), while the FQ-330 and FQ-360 pump out 324bhp and 354bhp respectively.

GSR refers to the trim level. You can buy GS versions of the Evo X, but for an extra £2500 you can opt for the higher specification which includes satellite navigation, a 30GB music cserver, a Rockford Fosgate audio system with iPod/MP3 auxiliary port, personalisation of the wiper, folding door mirror and interior light delay systems, among other things, and a more comprehensive set of vehicle data such as an advanced trip computer.

Actually, if you buy an SST you can only get it in GSR specification, and only with the 290bhp version of the engine. SST stands for Sports Shift Transmission and it refers to the twin-clutch electronically controlled manual gearbox (very much like Volkswagen's DSG) which can be operated automatically in any one of three modes, though when you reach the twisty stuff you're more likely to change gears manually using either the gearlever or the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

I've rattled quickly through all this background information because to me - and I hope you're of a similar mind - the whole point about a Mitsubishi Evo is what it's like to drive. Well, from the very first second of the experience it's clear that a lot has changed in Evoland.

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