Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 2005 - 2007 sedan
In the color of the sakura
To get acquainted with the new Mitsubishi-Lenser to his homeland, to Japan, Sergey Voskresensky, the owner of the editorial Lancer, now went to the previous generation. I never managed to see the flowering Sakura - an integral symbol of Japan. Enjoy the fragile tenderness of the flowers, mysterious aroma. Alas, a distant and distinctive country decided to save part of its secrets. The new Mitsubishi-Lenser, for the first time represented by the Russian press, also retained a certain halo of mystery. Like a flower of sakura, in these sunny moments of the spring Far Eastern equinox he has not yet been completely revealed, allowing the creators to bring the last strokes into the already established picture. Well, the more desirable the appearance of this car in Russia: after all, he, like his predecessor, is primarily oriented towards our market.
Love with your eyes
The Lancer family has never been stylistically bright, individual cars. This does not apply to the muscular and temperamental Evo, whose true purpose is just to attract attention. I'm talking about ordinary workhorses, solid, reliable, but completely deprived of the desire to stand out. Until recently, they were deprived of a bright design, and additional aerodynamic elements only emphasized everyday life. The current car resolutely breaks all stereotypes. And the point is not only that Lancer has become higher, wider, longer and now has a common platform with Outlander XL. A completely different one is striking - a bright style and a huge craving for individuality. Expressive headlights, a matte black slot of a radiator grill, a dissecting embossed front bumper, slanting lanterns of a mighty stern drawn in Italian style. And at the same time - a peace -loving and very familiar, almost previous profile. All this seems incompatible, but it turned out!
The interior looks much more restrained, although there are many highlights in it. A convenient and memorable steering wheel, still regulated in only one direction, a stylish combination of devices a la Outlander, a window of a route computer (only in the spirit of German machines), and the climate installation. The massive front panel looks richer and faster, more space around the driver and front passenger. However, there is no riot of fantasy inherent in the appearance of the car in all this. Rather, clear rationalism dominates. Much is familiar - as in an apartment, updated after repair. In its places, familiar tooths of heating the seats, the hand gropes for the native armrest, standard windows and mirror control keys. But there were no disappointments. Quite unexpectedly, the driver's seat is less convenient compared to my Moscow Lancer. A short back and too soft, an amorphous pillow worsened the landing. Oh, these Japanese standards!
Two against ten
This is the alignment of forces in the army of cars that are waiting for us at the modern auto policy two hours from Tokyo. Minority - budget lansers with 1.5 -liter gasoline motors, mechanical and automatic transmission. The rest are two -liter versions (150 hp), armed with the latest Variator InVecs III. By the way, in 1.5-liter machines, the steering wheel amplifier is electric, while the more powerful is the traditional hydraulics. It was suddenly to deal with all the innovations in the greenhouse conditions of the landfill to the plans - no tabs - no slippers and slippers of tires. To drive only smoothly and as quieter as possible, they say, so the environment suffers the least
Feeling directly to the green, I sit behind the wheel of a 1.5-liter version with mechanics. An almost imperceptible hitch when touching (apparently, the wheel -grown up to 16 inches of the wheel) - and the extremely even, not causing emotions acceleration. Comfortable? Undoubtedly! Although my Lancer, with whom it has been lived for three years, seems more burdensome. The newcomer is just as vigorous and clearly allows you to jerk off the gears, without hesitation reacts to the movements of the accelerator, but there is some kind of inertness in it that is not inherent in the previous machine. In addition, the rattling voice of the motor, easily penetrating into the salon into the silence of the smooth roads of the landfill, painfully and annoying.
Frankly, the four -speed machine is not impressive - the switching seems too sharp and untimely. Lancer becomes lazy and heavy. It’s not up to comparison with his predecessor - I'm afraid that the newcomer is designed for the most calm and very calm drivers. But two liters with a fashionable variator are now unexpectedly well suited to the new Lancer, partly thanks to the box. At first, nothing unusual - he pressed the accelerator, the tachometer arrow smoothly lay down at maximum power and the car began to accelerate - quickly and in three -tolvoye boring. However, everything is changing, it is worth working with steering wheel petals. The transmission almost instantly reacts to the driver’s commands, allowing you to easily intervene in the process of fixed transfers. And Lancer immediately becomes fast, temperamental and extremely obedient. Here we would evaluate the work of pendants, handling, settings of the steering wheel, alas, we will receive answers to these questions already in Russia.
The creators do not hide the hopes assigned to our country - here (and possibly, possibly in America) Lancer Sedan will be popular. A hatchback is aimed at Europe, which will appear in June next year. But the station wagon, alas, will not be. The new Lancer has every chance to win the sympathies of the domestic consumer. Well, we will wait for the beginning of summer when the first cars appear in the interior of official dealers. Both the configurations and prices - Lancer (by the way, adapted to our conditions) will cost $ 17,990-23 140. Against the background of competitors, the amounts are quite acceptable, and therefore sales should go violently. Perhaps the same as Sakura blooms in the spring.
Mitsubishi Lancer - grew up, buried, acquired new equipment and, as a result, added in price. Although the latter is unlikely to frighten buyers.
Ryago Nakao (Ryugo Nakao), head of the project development project of Mitsubishi segment from
The hardness of the new generation of Lancer compared to the current model increased by 56% to twist and 50% per bending. This made it possible to significantly improve handling and comfort when moving. The predicted level of security corresponds to 5 stars according to the classification of Euroncap.
Sergey Voskresensky
Source: The magazine "Driving"
