2010 Mitsubish Lancer Evolution SE

Winter is a time when superfast cars are generally absent from our test fleet, so I thought it was a nice treat to get behind the wheel of this raw, rally-bred Mitsubishi. Like our departed Four Seasons Evolution MR, this test car features Mitsubishi's dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and, although I was disappointed to not get the chance to experience the Evo's slick stick shift, this gearbox was perfectly adept at hauling me around the frozen tundra of Washtenaw County at extralegal velocities. The Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 tires helped me enjoy Mitsubishi's so-called Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), and the quick steering solidified my smile. The Evo rides rough, and the seats clearly were designed for high-g support more than long-haul comfort. The SE package means that the chairs are heated, but this package is presently not available on 2011 model-year Evos (our test car was a 2010 edition). Compared with the base GSR, the SE trim level also added the dual-clutch automatic, HID headlights, a small lip spoiler, and an MR-spec suspension. In other words, it was the cheapest way to get the dual-clutch automatic. I hope the fact that Mitsubishi simplified its Evo lineup -- and gave us last year’s model to test – does not mean there is any truth to the recent rumors that the Lancer Evo is a dead man walking … Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor