2015
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Much like the Chevrolet Corvette, the
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has practically sold itself. Yes, those two cars
are nothing a like, but the EVO has been snatched up by young males like a pair
of half-priced boots on Black Friday. While the Corvette has made it into the
nervous and aging hands of middle-aged men experiencing a midlife crisis.
Go to an EVO gathering and you’ll see anything
from a girly pink wrap to a completely modified track only monster. It’s kind
of like the Miata; people usually don’t buy one to leave it bone stock. There
are more modified Miata’s in the world than stock ones and the same can
probably be said for the EVO.
After numerous generations, this 2015 EVO is
said to be the last ever produced by Mitsubishi. Fans and owners pull out your
hankies and those who really don’t know an EVO from a WRX, listen up.
It’s 2.0 liter MIVEC turbo charged engine
pushes out 291 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque all mated to a 6-speed
twin-clutch transmission with all four wheels driven by Super-All Wheel
Control.
The EVO’s power output left more to be desired
from behind its leather wrapped steering wheel. With 291 HP @6500 RPM and 300
lb-ft of Torque at @4000 RPM I jumped in expecting a fairly quick and sporty
ride. What I got instead was some much-needed torque in the lower rev range and
a disconnect between myself and the car. I wanted so much to feel the obsession
EVO owners have for every generation, but it never quite hit me. It was
underpowered for a car of its 3571 lb size.
The Super-All Wheel Control system did put
my reservations aside when pushing the EVO around tight and twisty corners. The
car felt planted and I felt confident in its ability to keep all four wheels
continuously driving the EVO. An integral part of the car is the 6-speed
twin-clutch Sportronic transmission, exclusive to the EVO MR. While almost
every other Automaker is making the most out of flappy paddle gearboxes with
7-8 gears, Mitsubishi offers a six as the only transmission in the most top-end
EVO. Why?
Sure, Sport mode is a lot more fun than Normal, especially when moved
over to Manual Shifting. Allowing the car to shift for you in Sport emanates
exhaust notes miles better than leaving it in Normal, with upshifts occurring
above 4,000 RPM. I left the trans in Sport Manual Shifting mode for the most
part to really hear the engine and exhaust the way I’d want it to sound as an
EVO owner. As much as I played around with the Sportronic transmission, it
never really exceeded my expectations.
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Driving
through my favorite canyon, the transmission felt more like an afterthought
than an integral part of the car’s being. If the option of rowing your own
gears is to be taken away completely for a top-end model, the transmission it’s
swapped for should make every EVO owner want to trade in and trade up. For
someone who lives and breathes sports cars, the Sportronic transmission didn’t
sway or change my strong opinions, in fact it pushed me further towards my
old-fashioned beliefs that manuals are still the best way to go for me.
The MR
features an interior perfect for a single owner and even works for a small
family of four. The front seats are manually adjusted and the rear provides
enough room for two reasonably tall passengers to fit comfortably. The trunk
isn’t huge but does offer enough space for some grocery bags or a spare tire or
two for those weekend track days. This particular MR also features the Touring
package, which includes: leather seating surfaces, power glass sunroof, heated
front seats, sound dampening enhancement and scuff plates.
I’m one of those car nuts that can look past an
interior if the car looks good on the outside and is fun as hell to drive.
While the EVO does sport some sexy skin (more on that later), you’ve already
heard my thoughts on performance, so that leaves the interior. And that’s about
it. It’s an interior. It’s lacking some vital textural elements that can so
easily bring an interior from “bla” to “sweet.” An option that was offered on
EVO’s years past that would have provided a more race oriented feel are Recaro
seats. I’d take a pair of cloth ones over heated leather seating surfaces.
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Materials felt and visually seemed cheap with
no real color variation causing one to feel like they were stuck in a black
hole. The biggest plus was the Rockford Fosgate stereo system. One of the best
I’ve heard in some time. Just make sure all settings are turned on, otherwise
it sounds about as good as your average economy car. Using Bluetooth audio and
hands free calling is pretty easy and safe thanks to some steering wheel
controls and large screen buttons.
This
EVO lacked a navigation system to play with. It seemed a little pointless to
have a navigation type screen with no navigation system. There are quite a few
optional packages that EVO buyers can choose to personalize their car, and it
just doesn’t make sense to leave that off the standard equipment of a car
geared towards a younger buyer.
Finished
in a sleek Octane Blue paint, the car’s standard BBS wheels and Brembo brakes
give the car a race ready look without busy stripes and stickers. Bilstein
shocks, and Eibach springs, also come standard on the MR, further adding to the
car’s impressive ride quality. If you like a heavy dose of track work on the weekends
you’re already on your way with this car.
By
far, the best part of the EVO MR is its completely aggressive and timeless
exterior styling. From every angle, the EVO is purely alluring and totally
awesome. If looks could kill the EVO would be one of very few cars remaining
under $100,000. Even down to the non-functional hood scoop/fender vents and
completely planted look, I relished in the numerous stares and attempts to race
on several city streets.
Based on looks alone, I can see why the EVO has
enjoyed such a huge cult following. With its standard race inspired parts and
Japanese engineering it’s no wonder so many have turned these stunning blank
slates into some completely modified machines. Due to its lack of common
standard equipment, unadorned interior and lacking performance, I can also see
why Mitsubishi is ending the EVO’s production run.
While Mitsubishi doesn’t plan to replace the
EVO with a successor, it’s easy to say that the 2015 Lancer Evolution MR is the
last clearly defined sports car to leave the Mitsubishi plant.
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