Mitsubishi Lancer Evo FQ360 IX

Reviewing the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo FQ400, we and others compared it to the Pagani Zonda, a road-going rally car and Katie Price (that was just us), and found the contenders wanting. There will be no such nonsense regarding the FQ360. This is a fine, upstanding, church-going, God-fearing AWD saloon, suitable for taking grandma to the dentist and little Daisy to ballet lessons.You might have noticed that, despite its impressive numbers, the FQ360 is no match for the supercar-slaying pace of the older FQ400. It'a disappointment for us too that another headline grabbing power output just wasn't meant to be, but this Evo was designed as a more torquey, more driveable, more, ahem, mature 165 mph sled. In fact, although peak power is down, peak torque is up 8 lb-ft over the FQ400 and occurs 2200rpm sooner. The power increase is achieved in much the same way as with the FQ400, namely with the aid of a high pressure fuel pump, a high-flow catalytic converter and a reprogrammed ECU. The suspension, brakes and interior remain stock Evo IX-spec Bilsteins, Brembos and cheap, respectively, but this Evo also gets a few of its own unique touches such as Speedline rally-look alloy wheels and a sharp carbon-fibre front lip.Going slow and listening to the sad, boring drone from the turbo flat-4 at low rpms is still not an easy task, but start booting it and the turbo kicks in with a savage ferocity all the way to the 7000rpm redline. The light and accurate steering, massive grip, dependable brakes and unforgiving ride means grandma isn't having nearly as much fun riding along as you are. The chassis takes as much abuse, indecisiveness and bad driving as you can throw at it without ever biting back, and will reward those who ask for it with ludicrous drifts that make you look like a superstar. Grandma is glaring and wondering where you went so wrong…Our take on the FQ360 is that one of Mitsubishi's unsuspecting execs took the FQ400 out for a spin, scared himself witless, and decided a more manageable car would be more fun, more often. Just don't use your passengers as an excuse for getting one! - by Traian Popescu

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