2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Touring

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Touring

Base Price: $41,710

As-Tested Price: $41,710

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; AWD, six-speed sequential manual

Output: 291 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,594 lb

Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW) 19/16.0 mpg

Options: None

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Touring

A slightly more comfortable version of the iconic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. As its name suggests, it’s based on the Evo MR, with its six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. The Evo MR Touring presents a somewhat subtler visual image with its less obnoxious rear wing while making occupants a bit more comfortable with full leather upholstery, more sound insulation, heated seats, and a sunroof. Auto headlamps and an insulated windshield round out the Touring trim, which is considered the flagship of the Evo line. A classier center console with improved materials also comes along for the ride to dress up the interior, as it does for all 2010 Evos and higher-end Lancer trim levels.

How Does It Drive?

Very well, since the additions only add about 30 pounds compared with the MR. It still drives like the Evo it is, it just seems to bring a little less craziness than do other Evos (and it can be argued that the normal one brings less craziness than most previous generations of Evos did). In other words, it’s fast, fun, and firm on the road. Retained are the sharp steering, right-now brakes, and very aggressively scooped seats. (We still have bruises on our right butt cheek from the first time we hopped in and didn’t quite clear the structurally reinforced lower bolster.) The turbo whirl and rorty note of the 291-hp four-banger are still present, happily, just not as in-your-face, which should be welcome on longer drives. Indeed, while we probably still wouldn’t choose this car for any “touring” duties, it is certainly the most touring-worthy of the current crop of Evos.

How Does It Stack Up?

If you consider the 305-hp Subaru Impreza WRX STI as the Evo’s only direct competition, the Lancer Touring can be considered the most premium and elegant car in its class. Tee-hee. However, at the Touring’s heavens-to-the-high price, there are many other slick rides that are just as fun—however different in character—including the Mazda RX-8, the Infiniti G37, and the BMW 1-series. We wouldn’t buy a Touring without cross-shopping the others to see which best handles your own brand of touring.

What’s the Cost?

At $41,710, plus a couple grand for navigation, the Evo Touring is a near-$44K proposition. Yikes. And it remains hard to get around that price tag even when bombing around corners with as much hustle as you can muscle. It might be a great used-car deal, however, once the first guy takes the hit, provided the car doesn’t take too many hits itself on its various “tours."
Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

BASE PRICE: $41,710

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998cc
Power (SAE net): 291 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 300 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual with automated shifting and clutch

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 104.3 in Length: 177.0 in
Width: 71.3 in Height: 58.3 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3700 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.0 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 150 mph

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 17/22 mpg

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400

Mitsubishi's British branch does one of the most exciting Lancer Evolution, the FQ-series. New for the 10th generation, the FQ-300, FQ-430, and FQ-360. However, this is one that we were all waiting for, the EVO X FQ-400. Sadly, it will only be sold in Britain, and no were else. So, this is just to show what we're missing.Visual upgrades from the standard EVO X include, a more aggressive styling kit that comprises of a heavily vented bonnet, a new lightweight composite front bumper featuring carbon-fibre elements on its leading edges, a rear wing incorporating a gurney strip and a roof-mounted 'Vortex Generator', composite side skirts, a re-styled rear bumper with a carbon fibre diffuser and a huge square center exhaust pipe, plus additional lighting and High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights.
Inside, aside from the Recaro bucket sports seats, the range-topping Lancer Evolution X also gains an FQ-400 liveried handbrake handle and carbon fibre gear shifter. Standard equipment of the EVO X FQ-400 are the same equipment that come in the EVO X MR. So, Bluetooth hands-free telephone connection, a CD-tuner with 30 Gig hard drive, DVD satellite navigation and privacy glass, remote central locking, automatic headlamps, and windscreen wipers come base with the FQ-400 model.
Of course, Mitsubishi's British branch is all about performance tuning. The EVO X FQ-400 is powered by a re-tuned 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder, but with an astonishing 403 hp, and 387 lb-ft of torque. That amazing 100 hp power increase from the standard EVO X, is achieved through a series of upgrades that include among other things, high-flow fuel injectors, a new turbocharger featuring low-friction bearings, a high temperature turbine and strengthened thrust, an enhanced intercooler, a new exhaust system and the remapping of the Engine Control Unit (ECU). So the result, is 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, and top is electronically governed at 155 mph. Without the limiter, it would reach about 190 mph.
The EVO X FQ-400 should handle, too, as Mitsubishi's British branch also fine-tuned the chassis. Changes include a wider track and lowered suspension featuring Eibach springs and Bilstein shock absorbers plus new lightweight 18-inch, nine spoke alloy wheels fitted with Toyo Proxes R1R tires. Furthermore, the FQ-400 is equipped with a revised braking system that uses aerospace grade aluminum alloys and floating sealed discs grabbed by high performance pads. The standard EVO X's advanced Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) four-wheel-drive system with Active Stability Control and Active Centre Differential, Active Yaw Control and Sport ABS, remains of course unchanged.
The new 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400 will be going on sale next month in the UK with a price tag starting at £49,999 ($79,641 USD). Although that's way too much for a Mitsubishi, it's actually a bargain for a super-sedan that accelerates faster than any sedan, and as fast as a proper super car.