First look: The Evo has (almost) landed!

MITSUBISHI’S highly-anticipated Lancer Evolution X is expected to come to Australia in two specification levels for the first time – including a track-ready MR model with a standard twin-clutch DSG-style sequential transmission.

The Evo X will not be launched in Australia until April next year, but will be launched globally on Tuesday (2 October) before making its local public debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney on 11 October.

As well as the fast-shifting six-speed transmission – which Mitsubishi calls Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission, or TC-SST – the flagship Evo X MR will sport an upgraded suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs, big Brembo brakes and 8.5 x 18-inch BBS wheels.

These details have emerged from the United States, where the official embargo was broken by a magazine.

Japan may continue to get a lightweight “stripper” model designed for competition use only, but the international base model will be called the GSR and be distinguished by a chrome-ringed grille.

The GSR should come here with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the TC-SST as an auto option, and will feature Mitsubishi’s latest four-wheel drive system dubbed S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Drive).

This system brings together a number of electronic control systems that add considerably to the car’s acronym list – an active centre differential (ACD) to control drive between the front and rear axles, active yaw control (AYC) to vary drive from let to right, ‘active’ electronic stability control (ASC) that can be switched off for track use and a ‘sport’ ABS system that Mitsubishi calls S-ABS.

Local pricing is a long way from being finalised, but prices revealed in the US suggest that all the extra equipment on even the base model will see an increase of five to ten per cent over the current $56,789 list price of the Evo IX.

Based on US estimates, we expect the MR will cost as much as $10,000 more than the GSR.

As expected, the new 2.0-litre intercooled and turbocharged four-cylinder 4B11 engine officially produces 206kW at 6500rpm – which is the voluntary power cap in Japan and therefore the same as the previous model.

However, torque leaps over the Evo IX, rising from 355Nm at 3500 to some 422Nm for the Japanese model, but we expect that to diminish slightly for Australia and be more like the 400Nm maximum of the US model.

Do not necessarily expect a subsequent big leap in performance, though, because the Evo X is about 45kg heavier, despite the use of an aluminium bonnet, roof, front guards and bumper beam.

Much of the extra weight is a result of being based on the slightly bigger new-generation Lancer (released in Australia last week), while there is also extra reinforcement in the body to further improve torsional rigidity and handling.

Mitsubishi would not comment on allocations for Australia, but indicated there should be “a sharp increase” over the current sales level of about 45 a month.

Read more:

Brochure reveals Evo torque fest

Dual clutch for Evo

Cashed-up Mitsu reveals more Lancer details

First look: Mitsubishi concept points to Evo X

First drive: Upmarket style, safety, price for Lancer