Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 2000 - 2003 sedan
Championship edition
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI model can be safely called cult. In European countries around it there is a rare excitement, in the automobile press - a shaft of publications. Russia is no exception, specialists and just motorists with a concept speak of this machine with unchanged enthusiasm. We were given the opportunity to find out what is the reason for such a hype. The three of us went to business, deciding that this would provide the necessary objectivity: after all, Evo VI is a special case ... SERGEY IVANOV
To some extent, the car was already familiar to us - exactly a year ago, the Lancer Evolution VI presentation was held on the Khodynsky field. It was not possible to travel then, the presentation is not a test. But Mitsubishi has launched a limited circulation model Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition - named after the four -time world rally champion Tommy Myakinen, who won all its titles driving Lancer. (The name car was first shown in Tokyo last year, in March he went on sale.) This time the car was truly represented at the Dmitrov auto policy. No restrictions on you - except for the red zone on the tachometer ...
Outwardly, Evo VI TMA differs from the basic EVO VI with a front bumper with an enlarged spoiler and wheeled wheels with more rare knitting needles, as well as an exclusive sticker. There are more changes in the cabin, the most noticeable are the recading seats of sports type with embroidered T. Makinen Edition and air conditioning. AYC (Active Yaw Control) has appeared, distributing the torque between the rear wheels. The engine power remained the same - 280 hp. (6500 vol./Min.), Torque - 373 Nm (3000 rpm).
I arrived at the landfill at the forty -fifty fiat uno (on the way it occurred to it that this should give additional acuteness to the sensations that I had to experience) ... A brief pre -flight briefing is completed - I take the driver's seat. Everything is as before, only sitting became even more convenient, lateral support securely recorded me. The start of the engine, accompanied by a characteristic jerky sound - you can go. The clutch pedal is rather tight, but very informative, the programs switch ultra -precisely, with minimal moves, with one hand of the hand - not a lever, but a joystick. Start.
Pushed into the seat, the tachometer arrow jumped up to seven thousand with lightning speed - as if the engine worked on idle, and I just played with gas for neutrals. A small discharge, the second - the story is repeated, then acceleration continues in the same spirit, and so on to the fifth. The dynamics are incredible. In any speed range, the traction supply is colossal. I like to ride in the same way - and Lancer Evo VI TME is ready for this. If you want to go calmer - please, Evo turns into a regular machine with a high -elastic engine.
I begin to wind circles. At high speed, the posterior anti -wing howls, and its racks begin to vibrate. The wing is not a decoration, at the end of the quick rise before the descent you feel a sharp blow to the rear wheels ...
The behavior of the car on the road is incomparable. A rigid short -flowing suspension does not allow significant rolls in corners, there is no delay in reactions to the steering movement. The steering wheel is very sharp and sensitive, the gas pedal is to match it, which in aggregate gives an excellent result. The car is very stable both on straight and in corners, and as if telling the driver what needs to be done in a particular situation. Turns can be held at a huge speed - an ordinary car would have long been blown away by the wind. Evo VI TME has an ultra-neutral rotation and does not show a tendency to anterior or rear-wheel drive reactions. Under the gas, he evenly and progressively shifts out of the turn, which can easily be adjusted with a small turn of the steering wheel without reducing speed, but you can drop the gas and return to a smaller radius ...
And here is a dynamometric road - a straight line of several kilometers with a good coating, where speed measurements are made. I accelerate. In the car there are three riders, and on the speedometer - 250 km/h! So quickly I have never traveled. Braking is a separate conversation. Now I know what it means darkened in the eyes and what is hanging on seat belts ... The pedal force is low with a fairly long course, but you quickly get used to it ... Can you imagine what I was to sit in UNO when it was time to return?
Alexander Nadens
The news that it will be possible to travel to Lancer Evo Vi TME, and even at the training ground, brought me in a festive mood. And here is the car in front of me. Changes in the appearance - a new front bumper with a huge mouth -to -air collection and racing thin -lended wheels - seemed quite appropriate, they added the appearance of dynamism. Huge ventilated brake discs with bright red calipers of Brembo (four-piston in front and binopoy piston from behind) shine through the knitting needles. Serious thing ...
I set up a chair, landing - unambiguous, with hands extended forward (other options excludes highly developed lateral support), but very convenient: each part of the body has its own support. I look around the salon ... Nothing special, there are not very many differences from the usual Lancer. The casing of the gearbox lever will be stitched with red threads, the deep rear seat is obscured for two places. There is a small button on the tunnel between the front seats - to pour water to the radiator if he does not cope with his duties (this is hardly possible if you do not participate in the race). I conquer the engine, and again nothing betrays the racing essence in Evo Vi TME. The engine on idle works evenly, and with smooth touches it does not require pumping, in addition, the clutch is only not much tougher than in the usual Lancer. You can even move without touching the gas pedal, and calmly roll. But if the pedal is served, a powerful acceleration follows, approximately 3500 rpm. It turns simply into a crazy one and then does not weaken until the limiter is triggered. This applies to the first four programs. At the fifth pace of the set, it weakens, and you can safely look at the devices, however, the speed is already strong in 200 (and it seems that no more than 170-180). At this moment I had a desire to check the brakes. I brake. The car immediately sticks into the asphalt ... It is good that the passengers were fastened: judging by how they hung on belts, they would probably have a decent one ...
At first I go into turns with a margin, but gradually I increase the speed, more and more - overloads are already serious, and the machine steadily holds the trajectory. But finally rubber surrenders, and smooth demolition begins out with all the wheels. I add on the arc more, but the demolition remains the same. It seems that the car ignores the laws of physics, in any case, the centrifugal force does not affect it. Just science fiction!
It turns out that this is how the proprietary contrasting system AYC (Active Yaw Control) manifests itself in the work. In fact, this is a differential controlled by electronics, which, depending on the conditions, redistributes the torque between the rear wheels. So, when passing the turn under the traction, he transfers a larger moment to the outer rear wheel, thus helping to keep the car on the trajectory. I wonder how this system will behave in a drift?
It turned out to be very difficult to disrupt EVO VI TM. Forward, on a slippery coating - in a puddle. I accelerate, pass the snake marked with cones and fly into the water at the exit from the last turn. The car falls sharply into a deep skid, the discharge of gas, the steering wheel to the side is equally sharp and unexpected stabilization.
Let's try differently. Again acceleration, snake, ski, but now instead of reset - the pedal to the floor. It was much smaller to twist the steering wheel, and the car, gaining speed, is smoothly stabilized. Incomparable. From the outside, my experiments probably look very impressive - turning the fan ...
I almost forgot about the gearbox - it is no wonder, it works very clearly, and I can only say that during the test I never made a mistake with the programs or with the clutch ... Lancer Evo Vi Tme made a strong impression on me. Distinguished by outstanding speed qualities, he is logical in his reactions and forgives even gross mistakes - this car can be trusted to a person who does not own extreme driving skills. But in order to get more driving pleasure, it is better to pre-pass special training somewhere on the racing highway.
Sergey Yakubov
It seemed to me that Evo VI TME should certainly be red - like meakinen. At the landfill, we were waiting for a silver car ...
Doubts were dispelled when we came closer: another front bumper and a sticker on the trunk cover - Evolution Vi Tommy Makinen Edition. It turns out, in addition to the red (basic) color, Evo Vi TME is painted in white, black and silver.
The car is beautiful. Civil Lancer features are barely guessing. Huge 17 -inch wheels of classic sports design stand out - they somewhat violate the proportions of the car, but I even liked it. The asymmetric front bumper gave him aggressiveness. Another couple of spotlights ...
The shape of the sports seats sheathed with nubuk does not allow to straighten the shoulders, it is implied that the place for the hands is on the steering wheel. Another difference from just Evo VI is a leather (sorry, not suede) steering wheel MOMO.
The simplicity of managing the standard modes was struck. No effort is a light steering wheel, soft and informative pedals. You can easily move on idle. He sat down and went, no adaptation is required. It seems that even a completely green driver is capable of managing Evo VI TME. The only thing you need to get used to is to short and hard KP.
On a dynamometric line after 4000 rpm., When a turbine is turned on, acceleration is hurricane. The head rests on the headrest again and again - in each gear, until the fourth inclusive. Everything happens very quickly - you do not have time to follow the speedometer. It was just 130 - and now 250. The light at low speeds the steering wheel has noticeably hung up ...
The machine perfectly holds the straight line, clearly working out all the irregularities of the coating. Aerodynamic noises overlap everyone else. The posterior anti -wing is especially trying, adjusted to the maximum angle of attack - this provides the greatest clamping force.
The five -kilometer straight line suddenly ends. Singing up to 220 km/h, slow down on the floor. Everyone hangs on belts - almost to a complete stop. Blood rushes to the face (then estimated - the overload was more than 2.5 g). The path that the car went after the start of braking was surprisingly short - with an unchanged trajectory.
Before my eyes - a veil. I get out of the car, my face is on - I can imagine what color it is. You can hear the crackling of hot brakes ...
Riding along the narrow winding paths of the landfill gave special pleasure. Evo VI TME is well obeyed by the steering wheel, uniquely combining power and obedience in its manifestations ...
Yes, this car is a real drug, and very strong. It’s easy to get hooked, it is almost impossible to jump. They returned home in silence - the effect of the drug affected.
It's time to summarize. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Vi Tommi Makinen Edition today is one of the best road sports cars with fantastic temperament. Driving gives great pleasure, and if you still get up with control ... extremely obedient and responsive, regardless of external conditions and traffic mode, the car allows the car. This is a real champions car.
Source: Magazine Motor
