Life & Style | Motoring
The theory of Evolution
Design-wise, the mitsubishi EVOLUTION X GSR is a muscular but refined car. However, in terms of performance it more than cuts the mustard - its excellent handling is bound to delight the motorist, says Philip Shane
- By Philip Shane, Dubai-based automobile enthusiast
- Published: 23:34 January 1, 2009
- A car that was conceived in the rally world and born in 1992 to proud Mitsubishi parents is the Lancer Evolution.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Rally driving is a demanding sport, both for the driver and the car. It pushes the limits of the car as well as the driver and is quite like an acid test to determine worthiness of both in the world of rallying. After such trials by fire are born innovative products and systems which go towards making a better driving machine.
One such car that was conceived in the rally world and born in 1992 to proud Mitsubishi parents is the Lancer Evolution. Also called the 'EVO' by enthusiasts around the world, this
2-litre turbocharged machine saw the rise of a breed of rally-bred all-wheel-drive road-going cars.
It showed the world that you did not need huge engines to bring out the power and fun that was usually associated with luxury sports cars. One feature in addition to the all-wheel-drive system boasted by all such cars is 'Active Yaw Control' developed by Mitsubishi and implemented first in the Evo-IV and subsequently upgraded to 'Super-Active Yaw Control' in the Evo-VIII. This one supported even greater torque bias with the use of 'Planetary Gear Sets'.
What 'Active Yaw Control' does is to take inputs from the various accelerometers located in the vehicle and actively split and transfer torque to the wheels with the best road grip. The accelerometers measure 'G' forces both laterally and longitudinally in addition to steering angle, brake and throttle positions.
Traditional torque distribution for most cars is done mechanically with the help of Limited Slip Differentials. The lack of required information and total reliance on mechanical feedback from the wheels, made such systems slow on rally terrain. What makes the EVO's system much more superior is the fact that this system works on the rear differential, and complements the active centre differential system.
It is computer controlled and takes all the inputs from the most important locations of the car electronically. It then continuously provides a torque distribution solution to the individual wheels in milliseconds, thereby making it a very fast terrain-adaptable car especially when it gets tough to manoeuvre around corners.
This hi-tech rally bred technology makes tarmac driving a walk in the park for the Evo.
There are three choices of terrain which needs to be selected by the driver – tarmac, snow or gravel. The EVO-X now comes with an Active Stability Control (ASC) system in addition to all of the above thereby making it much more safer and stable in addition to keeping it extremely fast.
The Evolution was designed and produced with the intention of ultimate rally performance. The Evolution is now in its tenth generation. The predecessor to the first generation of Evos was the rally-going Galant VR-4.
Fulfilling drive
My test drive of this car was in two parts. One at the Dubai Autodrome and the other on normal roads in both dry and wet conditions.
The GSR version test car came with a 5-speed manual transmission. The drive on the tracks was extremely satisfying and was proof of Mitsubishi's commitment to refinement and their technological superiority. All these systems and a similar drive system on
a European car would have cost three times the price of the Evo.
The Evo produces 296 hp at 6,500 rpm and 422 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. The engine is the 4B 11-type 2-litre inline- 4 turbo. The GSR model comes with BBS lightweight alloy wheels making them 1.3 kg lighter per wheel, Bilstein single tube shock absorbers and Eibach coil springs and Brembo 2-piece disc brakes.
The Evo sports an aluminium roof panel, front fenders and rear spoiler frame structure. This weight adjustment tries to makes up for the increased weight of the stronger and more traveller friendly Evo-X compared to the previous generations.
Handling was extremely good and comparable to supercars with tyres twice as wide and three times the price. Perfectly balanced and computer controlled understeer and over steer corrections result in very precise and confident handling.
Road grip on wet roads was even better and the way the car reacted to sudden steering shifts and slippery curves was perfect. It couldn't get any better in this price segment.
To really test the limits of this car, one needs to let it go on the race track. Hours of immense pleasure are guaranteed for any enthusiast who wants to try this.
The highly acclaimed six-speed sequential shift gear box loaded car will also be available for test soon.
More features
To kill the competition at the curves, the Evo X also comes with the Mitsubishi developed S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control). A little research into the technicalities behind this new feature revealed that the S-AWC system increases the drive power, stability and cornering performance.
It manages the Active Yaw Control (AYC) system, the Active Stability Control System (ASC), Active Center Differential (ACD) and the Sports ABS components, while controlling the AYC system using brake force which regulates the torque and braking force at each wheel. The technology behind the S-AWC is 'Yaw-Rate feedback control' which affects the left-right torque vectoring and this is what makes the Evo a wizard during cornering manoeuvres when accelerating, steady state driving
or deceleration.
What makes the Evo great is the seamless integration
of all these sophisticated all-wheel-drive supporting systems providing instantaneous response and drive control at a third of the price and double the reliability of an average supercar.
Smart design
The Evo X's body design is a great leap from the Evos of the past and makes the car look more refined,
yet more muscular and aggressive. The insides were built much better than its predecessors too. The top spec versions come with the premium Rockford Fosgate sound system and leather seats. Sunroofs are not an option due to the aluminium roof.
Other features include the auto HID lights and climate control. Recaro sport seats are standard on all models and is perfectly shaped and well supported for all the conditions that this car and its driver may be subjected to. The exhaust tone is great but a little too pleasant, and it would have been a lot better if it sounded as aggressive as it performed, but then that is easily achievable.
For a stock car and for this price segment, the Evo should be every motoring enthusiast's dream car. It's
a car that I am really going to miss driving. It is a car that survived and triumphed in the tough world of rallying.
It is a car that turned adversity into triumph many times over and has left the competition and many respectable supercars eating dust on the race track!
Philip Shane is a Dubai-based automobile enthusiast
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