The Mitsubishi EVO X (applause please)

Do you remember the look on Jimmy’s face when he saw Brian’s EVO VII in 2 Fast 2 Furious? That’s exactly how an EVO affects people. It stuns them for a second and takes them a few minutes to realize that they are not dreaming and that’s really an EVO in front of them. Mitsubishi’s premiere racing line has been in production for some time now and has created countless fans and followers. With countless of won races, under its belt, the EVO series looks poised never to relinquish it reign.

The Last EVO, the IX, was no exception. It was a constant award collector. Numerous races from all over the world have been won by this car. Owners have nothing to complain about the last EVO, with its ǘber-engine, great handling and menacing look. Needless to say owners of the last EVO are extreme happy and satisfied. Now that we’ve seen what the IX could do, imagine what an upgraded EVO X can accomplish.

The jaws of countless performance car fans around the world slacked involuntarily when Mitsubishi announced the tenth generation in the EVO series. This car is a bloody monster. Its performance features are not carry-overs like what Subaru did for the new Imprezza. The X features a newly designed 4B11T 2.0 L turbocharged, all-aluminum Straight-4 engine. This baby means serious business.

In 2005, Mitsubishi introduced a concept version of the next-gen Evolution at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show named the Concept-X.

Mitsubishi unveiled a second concept car, the Prototype-X, at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

The Lancer Evolution X sedan will feature a newly designed 4B11T 2.0 L turbocharged, all-aluminum Straight-4 engine. Power and torque depend on the market (North American version: 291 hp (217 kW) and 290 lbf·ft, Japanese version: 291 hp (217 kW) and 213 lbf·ft, UK version: 200 bhp at 6500 rpm, 231 lbf·ft at 3500 rpm [12]). Two versions of the car will be offered in the U.S. The Lancer Evolution MR, with 6-speed Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). The other version is the GSR which will have a 5-speed manual transmission system. The car has also a new full-time four-wheel drive system named S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), an advanced version of Mitsubishi's AWC system used in previous generations. The S-AWC uses torque vectoring technology to send different amount of torque to any wheel at any given time.

It also features Mitsubishi's new sequential semi-automatic six speed Twin Clutch SST twin-clutch transmission with steering-mounted magnesium alloy shift paddles. A 5-speed manual gearbox will also be available. Mitsubishi claims that the 5 speed manual transmission has always been preferred in rallying and should be very refined, resulting in a more satisfying drive. New Lancer Evolution will incorporate Mitsubishi's next generation RISE safety body.

The production version of Prototype-X has begun production in Autumn 2007. The Evolution X went on sale October 1, 2007 in Japan then in January 2008 in the U.S.A., February in Canada and in March 2008 in the UK at prices between £27,499 and £37,999.

Source: Wikipedia