NEW: Evolutionary RS

[Triepsyn]

<center>Evolutionary RS:
Mitsubishi’s stripper Evo may be the ultimate sleeper </center>

By MARK VAUGHN

<center>http://www.autoweek.com/images_content/2003_11/1110n-mitsuRS1.jpg</center>

<center>WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution? An Evolution RS, naturally.

Mitsubishi trimmed 146 pounds of “nonessential” items from its already-stellar Lancer Evolution for even more performance. Those items include the wing; HID lights (replaced with halogens); rear wiper; air conditioning; ABS; power motors for the windows, doors, locks and side mirrors; the entire audio system; trim in the trunk; vanity mirrors; rear assist grips; map lights; lots of sound-deadening material and even that little piece of leather wrapping that goes around the parking brake lever.

Then it added a helical limited-slip differential to replace the Evolution’s open diff, a crossbar over the spare tire hole in the trunk, and a strut tower brace in front.

Is it really better? Maybe on an autocross.

We drove several Evolution and Evolution RS models back-to-back on the big track at Willow Springs in the California desert, where speeds of more than 100 mph are the norm for most of the course, and we couldn’t feel the difference. The RS’s limited-slip grabbed better going into some turns, but the rear wing starts generating downforce at 86 mph, so the non-RS felt a little more stable in the faster sweepers.

Lauchlin O’Sullivan, Mitsubishi’s SCCA ProRally driver, said he thought the RS was lighter under braking and acceleration, and he should know. The spec sheet shows there should be a difference, but it would be a difference measured in tenths of a second, well within the limits of driver error.

Performance measures aside, Mitsubishi says the lack of stuff makes the RS more “customizable.” You can add your own stereo, for instance.

There are no RS badges anywhere, either, just blacked-out door handles and mirrors to let everyone know you’re serious about motorsports. Mitsubishi says the 700 RS models for the abbreviated 2004 model year will go on sale at the end of January. More will come for 2005. Pricing will be under $27,000.

Is it evolutionary or de-evolutionary? That may be for you to decide.</center>

[turboXR]

I had heard that Mitsubishi had decided to bring the RS here and i was stoked. So i went to the Mitsu place in Fay (where i know more than the salesmen, and ive been in there so much that they almost know me by name- i even test drove an EVO with a friend....mmmmmmmm) and asked when they would get some and how many RSs they would get and the guy just stared at me...."uhhhhhh whats an RS?" he said. I had to explain the whole thing to him. And he was like, "oh." dont you love it when you know more than the person selling you the car? LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Mr. Merk]

i'd take the stripped down version, more "race" and more "sleeper" (sorta) and a lot more customizeable :D

:shiftingfun:

[ljasonl]

I'll be damned if I'm paying over $30,000 for a car that doesn't even come with a damn air conditioner. I guess it's great for people in la-la-land where it's always a nice breezy 70 degrees outside year round. Or people who can afford to spend $30,000+ on a track only car (which, you could buy a faster track car for far less :unsure: ). C'mon, it's only 146 pounds lighter? I guarantee that the experience of the driver will make 273 times the difference than 150 pounds will in an autocross or road race scenario, and the guy with the "heavy" car can actually enjoy his on a day to day basis. The LSD is the only thing it has going for it.

I can wait to see the EVO fanboys who used to dismiss the STi as a "stripped down race car" because it didn't have a radio start praising this :rolleyes:

[ljasonl]

:lol: Not to mention Mitsu hasn't released their 04 models yet. Everyone else is already doing 05's. Way to be on top of things :rolleyes: They should just skip the 04 model year completely.