As we anticipate finally getting our hands on the Evo X for testing - believe me when this author tells you… WebRidesTV.com’s feature profile will be lightyears ahead of all those other “video sites” - Mitsubishi Motors North America suggested we check out the regular Lancer GT-S first. Why you ask? Apparently, the Lancer shares the same chassis as the new Evo X. As a result, the Lancer’s structural rigidity is far greater than even the CT9A Evo IX / VIII / VII. This leads to sharper steering, better cornering transition and a more efficient chassis. Efficient in the sense that the powerplant and suspension work to drive the car forward and keep the wheels planted to the ground, respectively, than waste that kinetic energy in bending and twisting the chassis.

So once we received the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GT-S from Mitsubishi, our own Larry B. and I took our turns behind the wheel to figure out if all this is true.

Styling

Larry B: “With the aero package, the car looks like the real thing, a go-fast sport compact, which it is not. The styling is an improvement over last years Lancer looking closer to a Lexus IS250 than a econo sedan Civic.”

John C: “It’s an attractive package, far better than the previous generation Lancer. Even the previous generation Ralliart Lancer, with its upgraded wheels and front fascia, still looked out of place. It certainly gives the illusion that this car is sporty, although its performance tells a rather different story.”

Interior

Larry B: “Works well with driver sitting low in the car in the low rider vibe. There is a lot of grained plastic on doors and top of dash, but at 23K it is not out of place. The faux carbon trim is just that, fake but still looks purposeful. The best thing about the interior is the 650 watt Rockford-Fosgate sound system. The GPS with touch screen is state of the art.”

John C: “I didn’t find the faux carbon very tasteful. It looks fake even at first glance. It would have been better off with a fake aluminum-look finish. The seats were rather flat, but decently supportive. It comes nowhere near the support found in Evo seats. The stereo system wasn’t very impressive. The navigation GUI looked cheap; Toyota does the best job as far as this goes. Sound quality was muddy. Rather than tight bass at the low end of the sound spectrum, it was loose and boomy; mids and highs were rather unclear. SQ (sound quality) was definitely not the order of the day with this system. Very disappointing.”

Chassis

Larry B: “This thing rides like a red Radio Flyer wagon! Prolonged travel will yield blood in the urine from the constant jouncing over imperfect road surfaces. One thing we have learned over the years is that a progressive setup, that yields a street able comfortable ride, provides good handling on the track at 10/10ths.

For fast passages in the canyons the stiff suspension can upset the grip and in wet weather will reduce handling significantly over a more compliant setup. On turn in be sure you are off the binders and on the gas or this ride will under steer. Also, jamming on the throttle at the higher RPM ranges will induce wheel spin in the corners. The brakes are excellent on the Lancer GT-S!”

John C: “This is the crowning achievement in the Lancer. Unlike Larry B, I appreciate a tight, stiff chassis. The tautness hides the hidden potential of the chassis. Suspension additions / modification should take well to this car.”

Tranny

Larry B: “The 6-speed CVT w/OD and auto-manual is okay as long as you leave it in auto. The paddle shifter manual mode just sets up the driver for a downer as the engine can’t run strong enough to make the paddle shifter worth while. One thing is curious, and that is in this present day with good on board CPUs Mitsubishi can’t get a rev match on down shifts.”

John C: “I would forgo the paddle shifter and go with the typical 5-speed manual tranny. The paddles just don’t add anything to the driving experience whatsoever. And as Larry B stated, the tranny doesn’t even blip the throttle on downshifts. It’s nothing more than just a glorified automatic.”

Engine

Larry B: “At 152HP and 2 liters this ride doesn’t have the muscle to justify any kind of aero package and paddle shifter setup. Under 4K the engine is sluggish. For the price this GT-S must have 200 ponies like the Civic Si and VW Gti. The buzzing of the engine when pushed hard doesn’t deliver in the sound department either. So, it’s down on power and up on noise.”

John C: “The engine actually pinged a bit when pushed hard. That’s pretty worrisome as you don’t want the thing to detonate and grenade. There was nothing remarkable about the engine at all. Even when MIVEC kicked in, there was no hoopla whatsoever. It made me long for a K20 under the hood.”

Conclusions

Larry B: “With 48 more ponies and more compliant suspension, the Lancer GTS would be a viable alternative in the sport compact class, as it now sits it is just another compact sedan.”

John C: “48 more ponies would turn it into the upcoming Lancer Ralliart, which is basically a detuned Evo, designed to compete head to head with the Suby WRX. I don’t think the Lancer GT-S is a plain platform. The chassis is awesome. You can get the bare bones GT-S without the Navi or the silly paddle shifters for a shade over 18 grand. It’s a good platform with which you can build up a relatively cheap boy racer. In that sense, it’s a good value. And this review definitely provided a glimpse into the performance of the Evo X.”

Sourcebox

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
PO Box 6014
Cypress, CA 90630
1-888-MITSU2007
www.mitsucars.com