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Mitsubihi Evo IX Gallery
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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This is what an Evo's all about really: it's a driver-focused rally replica that majors on superb entertainment. Key to the enjoyment is its steering, which is one of the best power-assisted units on the market; it's linear and smooth, with outstanding feel and accuracy. The Mitsubishi jiggles over pitted roads, but if you're pressing on, the hard ride translates into impressive body control through corners and exceptional agility. The Evo delivers impressive levels of grip and, once that runs out, it remains controllable and adjustable, and marginally more responsive than its nearest rival, the Subaru WRX STi.
Like the Evo VIII, the IX has 4WD and active yaw control that dishes out power to the wheels that want it most, which is particularly noticeable on corner exit, where a dollop of power goes to the back end to tighten the cornering line beautifully. Conventional 4WD cars would be scrubbing wide because the front wheels are overwhelmed by coping with 50 percent of the power and the steering at the same time.
The Evo is not quite as at home cruising or around town as it is on the open road, but visibility's good and the engines are tractable enough, though the clutch is firm and the turning circle large.
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