Evo is best when it’s on track

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution may be a one-trick pony, but that one trick is sure to knock the socks of anyone who can appreciate a true sport sedan.

Utter the word ‘Evo’ and any car enthusiast will instantly think of Mitsubishi’s acclaimed sporty compact sedan. More specifically, they’ll conjure up images of a turbocharged car that can be taken to the extreme on race tracks the world over.

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The last time we drove the Evo, it was on a track in Quebec - just the kind of place where it’s right at home. We saw just what kind of trick this thoroughbred can pull off in its natural habitat, and it was awe-inspiring. Taking the Evo onto the packed, broken streets of a major downtown city makes a person look at it in a different light altogether.

Autonet’s tester is the upscale MR model, which features, among many other things, Mitsubishi’s fantastic Twin-Clutch Sporttronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). The only transmission available in the MR, the TC-SST reportedly shifts faster than any driver using a fully manual transmission could.

Interestingly, this is the transmission that is preferable when you think about driving the Evo through stop-and-go rush hour traffic - you can let the car do all of the work and keep your left foot from constantly reaching for a clutch. It’s clear though, that just about everything else about this car proves that it’s best on the track.

The MR also gets, among many other things, infinitely-supportive Recaro seats with suede inserts (great for keeping your body firmly planted during racing manoeuvres but difficult for getting in and out of), HID headlamps (so much better to see the quickly-oncoming road with!), a big ol’ rear spoiler (it spoils the driver’s sightlines, but it is functional), and FAST-key system (no need to put the key in the ignition when you jump in your car to race - take that Porsche and your left-side ignition!).

It’s almost pointless to tweak the different drive settings the Evo MR employs. Changing it from Normal to Sport mode allows for quicker shifts that come at higher RPM, but it’s rare that you’ll be able to use that. And unless you want to burn fuel pointlessly, Super Sport mode is best only when on a race track.

The tightly-tuned suspension can also get old fast. Of course, this is exactly how you want it to feel while you’re ploughing around a corner at insane speeds, but over broken pavement it’s a different story altogether.

Again, this is the more upscale version of the Evolution, and Mitsubishi doesn’t try to hide the fact that this car is meant to take on vehicles from luxury makes like Infiniti and Audi. That said, the Evo MR gets a lot of standard equipment, from the aforementioned FAST-key system, to a wireless Bluetooth phone system, exterior chrome accents on the beltline and grille bezel, leather sprinkled throughout the interior, and fantastic steering wheel paddle shifters. Even with all this stuff, and with this clearly being the most upscale Lancer ever made, it’s still difficult to put this in the same category as any given luxury model.

It’s a lot of money to throw down at once, but the Evo MR isn’t some lame attempt at making a stock race vehicle. It employs cutting-edge technology to make for something that belongs on a track. It looks amazing and has a lot of standard features.

Just don’t expect to feel the magic this car possesses when you’re not on a race track.