Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII

Rally fans rejoice! The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is expected to go on sale January 2003. We don't know whether it will be called a 2003 model or a 2004 model, nor do we know whether it will be called an Evo VII or Evo VIII, but Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America confirms it will be available.

Teenagers who play rally games on their Playstation or PC will know what we're talking about, as will those of you lucky enough to receive the Speed Channel on your cable TV. One of the most popular racing series shown on Speed Channel is the World Rally Championship (WRC). Rallying in the U.S., which can be described as driving as fast as possible on a dirt road at night in a driving rain, is clearly on the upswing and this new Lancer Evo could fuel this trend.

Cars that compete in the WRC are required to be based on production versions sold in relatively large numbers each year. Four-wheel drive and 300 horsepower are the minimum requirements to be competitive in this form of racing. (Excellent tires and brakes, a crack crew, a fearless navigator, and a skilled driver with guts don't hurt, either.) The rally cars are totally different from the production versions, but Mitsubishi and Subaru are looking pretty smart right now to produce road-going versions of these cars for the rest of us.

So just what is so special about this upcoming car? We recently got the chance to try one first hand in California. Mitsubishi's PR department quietly imported a production Evolution VII from Germany not long ago so journalists could try the car.

The Evo VII is the seventh iteration of the Lancer-based homologation special. A look at the specifications shows just how powerful the Evo VII is: the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 276 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 275 pounds-feet of torque at 3000 rpm. That's quite a bit of power for a 3,100-pound car. It has a five-speed manual transmission, power-assisted rank-and-pinion steering, and a modified suspension. Brembo disc brakes and calipers are visible through the spokes of the O.Z. Racing alloy wheels shod with fat 17-inch Yokohama tires. Large front and rear spoilers and massive fender flares make it stand out.

Inside, it has great hip-hugging Recaro bucket seats. A few touches of carbon fiber trim add a high-tech look. Otherwise, there is little changed from the regular Lancer. The interior is functional, but far from racy or exotic.

Two controls set the Lancer Evo apart. A button on the dash is used to select three different settings for the all-wheel-drive system for tarmac, gravel or snow. It changes the power bias between front and rear wheels through an electronically controlled active center differential. That is a way cool feature for a rally enthusiast to say the least. Another small button in the center console is used to direct a spray of water onto the front intercooler for the turbocharger to help cool it down quicker when the car is being driven hard. It can be set for manual operation or left on automatic. It's obvious that Mitsubishi expects this car to be driven hard!

One word describes driving the car: fun. Surprisingly, it is docile at low speeds. It is basically as easy to drive as a stock Lancer with a manual transmission. But put your boot to the floor and the car rockets forward once the revs get above 4000 rpm. Gearshifts are crisp and quick. Until you get used to the exhilarating boost of power it's all too easy to reach the red line before you've got time to shift up to the next gear. Evo VII can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, according to published reports. That puts it up there among the supercars.

The Evo VII handles like a dream and sticks to the road thanks to its permanent four-wheel-drive system that makes it just as good on wet surfaces as on dry. Chuckable is the word used to describe the way it goes round corners. It grips the corners so tenaciously that one often wishes they were sharper. The steering is so accurate that the slightest twitch of the steering wheel cause the front wheels to immediately start turning. It's like a go-kart. It feels like a somewhat bigger Mini Cooper S.

The bright yellow car we drove for this preview had more than 13,000 miles on the clock and had been driven by dozens of auto writers at speed, but it was still in very good shape. There were no rattles in the body or odd noises emanating from the engine compartment. This bodes well for the average owner as it probably represents 60,000 miles of use by one driver. This is not a specialized car that has been cobbled together as a performance version impractical for every day use. Instead, it's a practical sedan that goes like stink on any surface.

Unlike the OZ Rally edition, which is nothing more than a stock Lancer with a set of fancy wheels and some spoilers bolted on, the Evo VII is a real four-door sports car. What's more it should retail for less than $30,000 when it goes on sale in January 2003. Yes, that's more expensive than the WRX but the Evo does offer more power.

Teenagers love the Evo VII for its eye-grabbing looks and the way it handles on their computer screen. Twenty something enthusiasts in Asia and Europe love the car for the way it performs on the road. Rally enthusiasts love it for the way it performs on unpaved roads. Soon U.S. enthusiasts will be able to enjoy this car, bringing some needed competition to the Subaru Impreza WRX.