Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 2003 - 2005 sedan

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII

Between a real sports car, performing at world -class competitions and what they sell to citizens who want to feel like great riders, the same difference as between Walther combat and children's plastic pistol is sure and proves the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Evolution Editor and proves the editor -in -chief of the autopilot Nikolai Fomenko. People want to feel their involvement in great sport - money gives them such an opportunity. Factories for the production of sports illusions are fully powerful.
Some people love the motorsport so much that they are ready to buy a racing machine, not having watched a single report to the end. They do not understand that managing a real rally car is not entertainment, but hard work that requires not only a desire to press the pedal, but also the ability to do this correctly.
For them, for viewers, Mitsubishi Motors has long and successfully produces a car, which, in unknown and in fact, can be accepted for sports. This is Lancer Evolution. It is sold so long and successfully that the Japanese have mastered the release of the eighth generation of evolution.
Recently I tried it. And that's what I say. I did not understand why dealers want to get 40 thousand dollars for this car. I did not see a special difference between him and a simple, 13,000-strong Lancer. At the same time, the difference between evolution and a combat rally vehicle - as between a Volga car performed by a taxi and a car with the same name, which was prepared according to a special order for the Moscow City Hall - with an English engine, Japanese air conditioning and Karelian birch.
 
COLLAPSE. When I got behind the wheel of Evolution, he immediately introduced himself to his buyer. I worked for a long time and nervously. Nervously bought a car. Nervously sat in it and pressed the gas pedal. Maybe before that, also from excitement, he put his hand on the knee for the girl. He began to accelerate. Up to 5000 revolutions, Evolution shows itself as the most ordinary machine, a dead machine. On this, it seems, you can’t do anyone from a traffic light, although a huge tail in the trunk promises a lot.
At the same time, the gearbox and clutch, apparently, are standard here. The switching is long, and while you are moving from one program to another, the revolutions have time to fall: about the actual Power Attack, when acceleration is conducted with constant gas to the floor, there can be no question.
But there is one bright moment. As soon as the arrow of the tachometer overcomes a 5,000th mark, an explosion occurs, collapse-name it as you like, but, believe me, a simple person is not ready for such a thing. The machine opens, and a rapid inertial acceleration begins, which our nervous driver, nervously bought a car for 40 thousand dollars, will hardly control. Firstly, the driver may not lose consciousness, then gets lost from such pressure-the engine actually develops a monstrous torque. Secondly, having received such incredible agility, the car, unfortunately, becomes almost uncontrollable. The flu about the front, as the professionals said, that is, the ability of the car to hold on to the road with the front wheels is not enough even on dry wheels, let it and not quite even asphalt of Khodynka. It is possible that the buyer of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, who never sat behind the wheel of a real rally car, will think that what was happening is exactly what the Rally Tommy Myakinen or Colin Makrai championship in the world's routes.
Alas, we will have to upset our buyer. WRC participants do not drive such civilian cars, so this whole circus is for him. And he will receive sensations in full. When accelerating, the physiognomy of the car rises, and Evolution begins to go on the rear axle where it came to mind. The situation is complicated by slurred steering - the amplifier could simply be thrown out of here, without any regret. Or at least reduce the gear ratio of the steering mechanism. But the very first step is to remove ABS from the braking system or at least make it disconnected. I had a complete impression that I did not want to slow down Evolution, as well as to stay in braking on a straight line. If ordinary users dare to do something like that for Evolution, I'm afraid the dead will be hung in trees. Without ABS, at least it will be easier to understand in which place you can expect a car stop. By the way, I went out later, looked at the brake mechanisms. Brembo is written on them. Why is this inscription? Showing boys - look, do I have Brembo? To put real, combat Brembo, you need to replace half the car.
Vivaldi. SEASONS. ABS, as I said, does not turn off, but the driver has a transmission control key: for snow, for gravel, for asphalt. It remains to add: for dry windy weather without the sun. The user can assume that with the help of the key, he, as it were, tolerates the balance. I twisted the car and Syak, until I was tired of it. Do you think that the advanced transmission controlled by electronics did something to try to bring the car to the straight line? She had to figure out: something is wrong! A real rally car will stay to the end - you are already in a ditch, and it will pull you out. Nothing like this! Evolution dutifully spun in place, burning rubber. Of course, it is not as easy to start in Lancer as an ordinary car with front or rear-wheel drive, but it is also impossible to say that all-wheel drive gives some special advantages here. I tried different transmission modes - the result is zero. I generally have a suspicion that these buttons do not lead anywhere - if you disassemble the panel, it turns out that the wires coming from them hang in the air.
 
For comparison. Riding as quickly as on Evolution, I can at my BMW X5, although I am aware that the suspension will have to be changed twice as often as on Mitsubishi. At Evolution, it is very strong, although not very sports: in the turns of Lancer it is torn almost the same as the Volga.
Because this is not a sports machine, but its illusion, a special product of the automotive entertainment industry. It is clear to sellers of illusions that the buyer wants. For example, he wants a MOMO steering wheel. And he receives this clown steering wheel. Why clown? Yes, because it has no idea to sports. First of all, this bagel should satisfy the numerous safety requirements adopted for public machines.
They dictate the shape of the steering wheel, its size, permissible materials. Only the design remains from sports. It resembles racing overalls from Schumacher in a store for fans (in which it is forbidden to participate in sports competitions).
Tell me, why on the steering wheel in Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII you need ebbs indicating the position of the hands on the rim? It is really important to the rallyists to have such guidelines, they have buttons on the steering wheel, they switch the programs as in the formula: Chku-Kochka. Why fool your head to a simple consumer?
And at the same time, Marco Martin is going somewhere and the Sebastian Leobes rides. But for such athletes - more precisely, for such athletes - cars are specially made. But their cost is calculated not by dozens, but hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 
Learn and study. What remains for our not so rich amateur of motorsport? I would advise you to go to learn abroad for a couple of weeks in a real rally school, such as Prodrive. There you will make a couple of roofs, leave ten thousand dollars and all illusions regarding motorsport. Ibid a very simple thought will open: in order to ride a real rally car, it is not enough to have only money and desire - health and skill are necessary. And as soon as you understand this, you will think right away: in fact, why should I buy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII? Sitting is cramped, wet, a tape recorder, a tape recorder is not heard due to a roar, the girls are not paid much attention.
In extreme cases, he can find a replacement. The option is cheaper-buy a VAZ-2108 and invest another 15 thousand dollars in the eight. The option is more expensive - to purchase Audi A3 Quattro and do nothing with it.
It is only important to understand for what purpose you need such a car.
Text Nikolay Fomenko, photo Andrey Danilov

The first car with the name Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution appeared on sale in September 1992, and in 1993 performed in the World Rally Championship. He changed Galant VR-4: Lancer compactness provided better handling. After that, most competitors also began to lower the basic models of their rally machines in the classroom.
In order to meet the requirements of group A WRC, for 12 months it was necessary to release at least 2500 copies (this makes the car serial), but the high demand allowed to sell twice as many representatives of the first generation of Lancer Evo. The machine existed in two versions. RS was intended for racing and was distinguished by simplified finishes and configuration: the riders still redid the salon to their liking and got rid of excesses. Street GSR received air conditioning and electric windows. A two -liter engine with a turbocharged 4G63 on Lancer developed 247 hp. However, the best results of the first EVO were only the second places in several stages. This gap was fixed by Evolution II, which, thanks to the electronic control system of all -wheel drive, managed to achieve victory at the 1995 Sweden rally. The first generation of Evolution II was also characterized by a higher power (256 hp), a larger spoiler, increased by 10 mm base and ruts, which increased its stability. Further, EVO changed on average every one and a half years. Principal changes have occurred in Evolution IV: it was made on the basis of the next generation of Lancer. And in comparison with its predecessors, it was a completely new car. The engine was deployed 180 degrees, a sequential gearbox and an active all -wheel drive system appeared, which reduces the scan.
The now produced Lancer Evolution VIII, like EVO VII, is made on the basis of Lancer Cedia, which is sold only in America and Asia. However, unlike the seven, the current Evo received a new proprietary cladding. From the predecessor EVO VIII is distinguished by a new system of active control of the AYC screening installed on the rear bridge. A change in engine setting for Europe reduced the power from 280 to 265 hp, however, it helped to raise torque at low (for this type of car) speed. A fundamental difference from competitors is the use of a multi -disc couple with electronic controls to distribute the moment between the axes instead of viscous.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
4-cylinder gasoline engine with a turbine and producer cooler
Working volume (cubic meter) 1997
Power (L.S. at about/min) 265 at 6500
Moment (nm at rpm) 355 at 3500
The permanent drive is complete
Gearbox 5-speed mechanical
Length/width/height (mm) 4490/1770/1450
Wheel base (mm) 2625
Equipped mass (kg) 1470
Maximum speed (km/h) 245
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 6.1
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 15.4/8.3
Price in Moscow from $ 43 900
Car & Driver, these machines inspired by rally races - like Evolution - which in Europe and Japan have long become a phenomenon on the market - for America the most vivid and most exciting event in recent years. We have to admit a simple fact: the last generation of hot-rods like Mustang and Camaro simply did not lie nearby with these Japanese cars.
The auto brakes are excellent - a solid pedal, a powerful slowdown and later the inclusion of sports ABS, which contributes to the course stability during braking in turns. The suspension remained assembled, but-finally! - I got rid of the dental stiffness. This is a consequence of the recalculation of shock absorbers to more comfortable settings. Fortunately, this did not affect the controllability: the rolls are still minimal, the reactions to the turns of the steering wheel are whole and very fast.
Sport Auto for the title of sports car of the year in the price range from 38,000 to 50,000 euros fought Alfa Romeo, Alpina, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, Mercedes, Porsche and Renault. However, our readers gave the palm of the championship Lancer Evolution VIII, which bypassed the BMW Z4 3.0 and Porsche Boxster S, who, respectively, took second and third place.
Auto Motor und Sport Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII is the strongest pathogen, and when we go on it, and when we just look from the sidelines. No other car is so close to a real rally car.
Euphoria cars are a moment a moment when the ass ... the spinal cord feels that exactly 0.1 with this body of increased hardness and improved aerodynamics will leave directly instead of turning, and there will be a gap the size of Mitsubishi Evo VIII in roadside bushes . Farewell, comrades, you can’t deceive everything in places, the spinal cord can not be deceived ... however, there is something electronic controlled inside the car, four wheels dig into the asphalt and, contrary to the vestibular hysteria, continue to accelerate and obey the helm!
CAR acceleration is accompanied by a strong jerk, after a turbine is turned on behind a mark of 2500 revolutions. You will feel that your spine begins to contract, and this means that the next 4000 revolutions will pick up the engine like by clicking with your fingers
 

Source: "Autopilot"