Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 2005 Review

I am not sick – perhaps love sick after spending a week in the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.

This car talks to you, no, roars at you – drive me.

It's the latest and greatest Evo from Mitsubishi and is the last in this generation. The next Evo will be new from the ground up and a bigger car.

That's a few years away so in the mean time, we will be spoiled by the presence of one of the quickest point and squirt cars on the block.

It's better than ever having shed a few kilos and gained some grunt. The transmission of power to all four wheels is better controlled and improvements have been made inside.

Better yet, the price has come down by about $6000 compared to the Evo 8. The RRP is now $56,789.

It's a powerful lot of performance car for the money – a low 5.0 second bracket 0-100kmh proposition and has a truckload of go fast goodies like massive four pot Brembo brakes MIVEC engine, close ratio six speed manual transmission and a sophisticated drive system that actively counters body roll and loss of traction.

The engine is a refinement of what we have come to expect from Evos : a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder with 206kW/355Nm output.

This time variable inlet valve timing optimises engine performance to any given situation. It would also assist reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

The new six speed manual gearbox helps too, offering easy access to everything the engine produces.

Mitsu has been able to run all dynamic controls through one computer.

These include ABS, super active yaw control and the active centre differential.

The car rolls on 17in alloys with low profile Bridgestone rubber and rides on a strut front and multi-link rear suspension. It's all fairly mainstream stuff – just optimised to the max in the Evo.

It has a tight chassis and the bodywork is less fussy than before although a Ralliart options kit can take it over the top.

Inside is not quite to luxury car standards but is a vast improvement over the previous model featuring Recaro sports seats, velour/leather upholstery, premium audio, climate control air and a Momo steering wheel. The dash is livened up with metallic fascia inserts and the instruments are simple and clear.

To keep it yours, Datadot theft protection is used.

How does it go?

How do you think?

Super quick, think Porsche 911 and you will not be far wrong. It has incredible grip through corners and precise steering spoiled a bit by an over large turning circle. It's a noisy beast but the mechanically attuned will appreciate this.

Being last of the line could make the Evo 9 a collector's item although availability is not an issue on this model, it fully complies with volume import regulations.