Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 2003 - 2005 sedan

Ninth round

Europe saw the first Lancer in 1973. Now the ninth generation of the model is already on the way. The official premiere will take place at the Moscow Motor Show, and the new Mitsubishi was presented to reporters in the Finnish Juvian.
 
For seven years, new cars with this name have not been sold in Europe, since the previous version was not supplied here. The current Lancer is not oriented to any regional market and will spread around the world, and produced only in Japan.
 
The novelty has two types of body, sedan and station wagon. Motors - three: 1.3, 1.6 and 2.0. There will be no hatchbacks and diesel modifications, which is dictated by the current structure of demand for cars.
 
The idea of \u200b\u200blinking a new rounded, open face of Lancer with lines reminiscent of the history of the model does not look completely indisputable and justified: the car in both versions of the body looks good, but a little eclectic. The horizontal break of the side characteristic of the 1995 model, which disappears on the front wing of the new shape, is adjacent to the highly concave doors inherent in the models of the early 90s. The back of the sedan causes associations with EVO VII. However, if you do not particularly delve into style, appearance seems to be quite whole.
 
The interior is ergonomically formed, which is characteristic of Japanese cars. Here nothing requires addiction, reflection on how to control this or that device: all pens and keys are in traditional places.
 
Design options - two: Comfort and Sport. Sports flaunts Momo leather steering wheel, seats with enlarged lateral support, technogenic pads that replaced the black tree of a comfortable version, and white devices (where without them!).

The range of longitudinal adjustment of the front seats is large, which, together with the variable pillow height and the ability to adjust the steering column, allows you to take the most convenient pose. Between the rows there is enough space for the knees of the rear passengers, for the services of which is a convenient armrest with cup holders.
 
The cargo compartments are fully consistent with the modern ideas about the capacity of class C machines. But for some reason the lid of the trunk of the sedan is deprived of upholstery, and the castle mechanism set does not look too attractive.
 
For the first time, the honesty of the car was discovered on the roads of Finland: it is easy to communicate and does not hide anything from the driver. For a utilitarian, in general, machine response to manipulating the steering wheel is extremely fast and light. Moreover, the moderate version with the 1.6 engine in this regard is not inferior to a two -liter, which has a smaller clearance, the spacer between the front supports and the wheel wheels of the increased diameter. Imarines undoubtedly improve handling, however, a less powerful modification has a lighter front part (the difference in the axes of the axes is 35 kg), which compensates the negative impact of a higher tire profile and a slightly lower steep hardness of the body. The only thing the sports version is unconditionally leading (in the aspect of controllability) is the information content of the steering.
 
The test drive route ran, in particular, along the long ground segments of the roads used during the non-scheme, which delivered a lot of pleasure to the experts. The reader will notice: what have I to do with it? I am not attracted by the demolition of the axes in turns and jumping with springboards. Well, fair, especially since there are practically no similar roads in Russia. But we have a long winter, and a soil test (and the soil in Finland is very slippery and insidious) allowed to get a general idea of \u200b\u200bhow Lancer would behave in snow and ice.
 
Firstly, and this becomes the rule for the new generation of Mitsubishi, the car is completely subject to the driver, and not the electronics of security, which simply does not exist here, so the car will not present any surprises in a critical situation. Secondly, Lancer very easily changes the direction of movement. To the slightest discharge of gas in the bend, the car responds with instant readiness to dive inside, and it is possible to set it slightly sideways and without releasing the accelerator pedal - the power of the steering wheel. Gambling and pleasant activity! We will answer the fears that this threatens with a skid of the rear axle: with adequate actions of the driver, such a scenario is unlikely. Better recall how many front -wheel drive machines lies in the cuvettes outside the turns of winter tracks. But the reason for this is precisely the fairly pronounced insufficient rotation that is safe: the driver is simply not able to turn in time.
 
The completely independent suspension of the new Lancer, the scheme of which has long been used by Mitsubishi, did not cause any complaints. Comfortable and energy -intensive, it provides constant confident contact of the car with uneven road and good behavior on the arcs of speedy turns. It is not planned to spoil the verified settings to Russia.
 
Engines differ in power, but demonstrate approximately the same character - confidently taken at medium speeds. Below, the motors are empty and large promotion also do not support. Although the limiters work far (for more than 7,000 min-1) and softly, it is not worth looking for power reserves in this area: the craving here fades smoothly.
 
The brakes on all modifications are very effective thanks to the EBD system, which is rationally distributing the force between the wheels. On the laundry, the car literally digs on the road when pressing the pedal. On the asphalt - ordinary convenient brakes.
 
Passive safety is provided by two basic air cushions. Additionally, a pair of side pillows and a pair of inflatable curtains are installed.
 
In Russia, Mitsubishi Lancer will cost from $ 13900 (1300 Comfort sedan in minimal configuration). We liked the cars of the new family: practical, economical, environmentally friendly (comply with the EURO IV standards), they are qualitatively performed and enjoy riding.
 
Text: Dmitry Sokolov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel