I’ve finally had a chance to slide my fat behind into the driver’s seat of Mitsubishi’s much awaited Evo X. Unfortunately, time only allowed a very short blast through mid day Toronto traffic, but it was enough to make a bit of a comparison with the Subaru STi following a similar short trip in that monster machine.

Our ride today was a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR, with the 5 speed manual. The car is a pre production model that is destined for the mandatory crushing that PT units receive after they’ve been flogged repeatedly by anyone who has the opportunity. This particular car has seen media road tests, track days and heavy road use. The clutch is releasing fairly high in the travel due to many, many drivers launching it hard. Still, the drivetrain hooks up and leaves no question as to the potential of the beast.
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We’ve all heard of racers who’ve had their quick release steering wheel or shifter come off in their hand. That’s usually the result of some crew member who either didn’t inspect or install a part correctly. I can’t recall hearing of a new car off the showroom floor leaving it’s driver without a go pedal.

One Evo X owner had just that happen, when he brought up the rev’s and popped the clutch in front of an assembled group of Subaru owners. That’s right, right foot goes down, left foot comes up and right foot goes to the boards!

The Mitsu warranty folks apparently have deemed this to be a driver abuse situation and have refused to cover the cost of installing a new pedal. Fortunately, the dealer is stepping up and doing the right thing for their loyal customer. Somehow, I would be surprised if there isn’t some fireworks in the Mitsubishi offices, when the product quality team discover that the warranty people didn’t get that pedal back.

Call this the Ultimate Traction Control device!

Source evolutionm via autoblog

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It has been a while since we’ve checked in with Matt and the boys at Garage 419 and their twice weekly brand of hard core car video. In today’s edition, Dirty Gene Sanchez shoots “>Matt Farah while Matt gets up close and personal with the newest versions of Subaru and Mitsubishi’s modern pony car warriors.

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Welcome back to yet another Carnival of Wheels. Submissions were more than a bit slim this week, with only one submission. In other words, it’s going to be a really quick lap around the auto blogs. Most of our bloggers either spent the week in Tokyo or they are in Mexico cheering for Team California’s Best.

If we’re only going to visit one blog this week, it might as well be a quick topic. Over at Driving Enthusiast, Jeff Fisher is debating whether he should order his EvoX as a 5 speed manual or the new 6 speed SST. Given that the car will be used for some major lapping days, this is a pretty serious decision. So far, Jeff is worrying about top gear speeds. Personally, I’d be waiting to drive the SSt before I made the decision. As my day at Pocono showed, there are vast differences between autoshift systems and a system that doesn’t shift the way you like could make for a miserable track experience.
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Since the embargo on photos of the Mitsubishi’s Evo X was lifted on October 4th, there have been a few galleries popping up here and there around the internet. Now it’s our turn to show off the pre production testers that have found their way to Canada. The silver and black/grey cars are wearing monster BBS rims, with giant Brembo brakes, while the red car is shod with more subtle production type rims. I would suspect the red car is the entry level model, while the other two are full blown Evo X road monsters. Mitsubishi Canada actually seems to have 4 cars, with 3 of them plated. Keen eyed Toronto enthusiasts will likely see these puppies cruising the streets of Toronto The Good over the coming months.

Gallery after the break. I obviously need to work on my indoor photography skills before car show season, as these aren’t quite as sharp as our readers are used to, but they’ll do for now!
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Earlier this month, Mitsubishi showed some teaser sketches of the upcoming Concept-cX which got the blogosphere buzzing. That buzz seem warranted as more details and photos of the vehicle become available leading up to the Frankfurt Motor Show which kicks off on September 15.

With the angular front grille and headlights, there is no mistaking that the Concept-cX is the little brother of the newly released 2008 Lancer. Likewise, the functional horizontally split tailgate is borrowed from the popular 2007 Outlander. With 19 inch wheels and all wheel drive, the Concept-cX seems like it may have a bit of a split personality as it tries to combine sporty with utility. That’s a good thing.

Getting things under way, at least in concept form, is a clean 1.8 liter turbo diesel mated to Mitsubishi’s new twin clutch Sport Shift Transmission that will be found first in the Evo X. This package promises to deliver performance and fuel efficiency.

More details and photos from the Mitsubishi press release after the break
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Mitsubishi’s much anticipated Evo X concept has finally made it to the streets for some real world testing and the sharp eyed Jeremy Kupfer was there to sneak a few shots of the bra wearing test mule.

Arriving in the first quarter of 2008, the Evo looks posed to launch before it’s rival, the Subaru WRX STi, which will not be produced as an 08 model.

For the full views, be sure to visit LeftLane

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