What Is It?

A slightly more comfortable version of the iconic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. As its name suggests, it’s based on the Evo MR, with its six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. The Evo MR Touring presents a somewhat subtler visual image with its less obnoxious rear wing while making occupants a bit more comfortable with full leather upholstery, more sound insulation, heated seats, and a sunroof. Auto headlamps and an insulated windshield round out the Touring trim, which is considered the flagship of the Evo line. A classier center console with improved materials also comes along for the ride to dress up the interior, as it does for all 2010 Evos and higher-end Lancer trim levels.

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America’s love for sedans is, like a lot of American quirks, not universally embraced beyond our borders. More practical five-door hatchbacks are the rage in Europe and Asia, and as such, Mitsubishi had to build one to be competitive overseas with its Lancer compact sedan. The only question is whether that hatch should come to the U.S.

Well, whether it should or shouldn’t be coming, it is. Sales of the 2010 Lancer Sportback wagon commence around September 1. The 168-hp GTS starts at $19,910 with a five-speed manual and $20,910 with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The 237-hp all-wheel-drive Ralliart with a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual starts at $28,310, just a couple hundred dollars higher than the sedan.

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The fastest and most powerful production version of the Lancer Evolution X to date, the FQ-400, has been officially introduced by Mitsubishi’s British arm. Set to on sale in the UK in June, the new FQ-400 comes with a retuned 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 403bhp at 6,500 rpm and 525Nm or 387lb/ft of torque at 3,500 rpm sending the sports sedan from standstill to 62mph (100km/h) in a mere 3.8 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155mph or 250km/h.

The power increase from the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged MIVEC engine’s 293bhp was achieved through a series of upgrades that include among other things, high-flow fuel injectors, a new turbocharger featuring low-friction bearings, a high temperature turbine and strengthened thrust, an enhanced intercooler, a new exhaust system and the remapping of the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

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The British always liked to fettle around with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the tenth generation model is no exception. Now they have come up with yet another higher-power version of the Lancer EVO X that goes by the name FQ-330 SST. This F….g Quick (honestly, that’s what it stands for) combines the upgraded FQ-330 engine to the 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission. Under the hood, the 2.0-liter turbo engine benefits from a bevy of improvements.

These include an ECU re-map along with the addition of a high performance exhaust and downpipe, an intercooler piping kit, racing suction pipe, and upgraded CAT, all of which help deliver an additional 36 bhp and 22 lb ft over the FQ-300 SST, for a total output of 329bhp at 6,500 rpm and 437Nm (322-lbs/ft) at 3,500 rpm.

The result is a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.4 seconds, or 0.3 seconds faster than the FQ-300 SST, and a top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph.

In the UK, the FQ-330 SST is available immediately for order. Buyers can choose among four different colors – Cool Silver (M), Orient Red (M), Lightning Blue (P) and Phantom Black (P), all of which are included in the basic price of £35,999, which is £3,000 more than the standard FQ-300 STT variant.

Standard equipment:

* Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC)
* 18″ Enkei alloy wheels
* Brembo braking system, including 2-piece front brakes
* Eibach coil springs
* Bilstein shock absorbers
* HID xenon headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
* Recaro front seats
* Bluetooth hands-free system
* Leather sports steering wheel with audio controls
* Front, side, curtain and knee airbags
* Privacy glass
* Front fog lamps
* ISO Fix
* Automatic headlamp and wiper sensors
* Remote central locking
* CAT1 approved alarm/immobiliser
* CAT5 approved tracker system + 1 year free subscription
* HDD satellite navigation system
* Rockford premium audio & Music Server – 6 premium speakers + subwoofer
* iPod/MP3 auxiliary input port

Mitsubishi told us way back in June that it would debut the five-door Lancer Sportback and Sportback Ralliart at the Paris Motor Show in October. They were close, as images of the two models have surfaced on the web today just a week before the big show in Paris. The new Sportback model adds all the versatility of Subaru’s similarly shaped 5-door Impreza models, which should be a big hit in Europe where they’ll go on sale first.

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