Miraculously, I was able to borrow a Lan Evo X.
Although we weren’t able to make full use of its performance, we made sure to check out the amazing throttle response and driving feel that you can’t see from the outside, and made a video of it.
Summary at the beginning
This Lancer Evo makes no attempt to hide its powerful acceleration.
If you press the accelerator even a little, it will start accelerating rapidly.
Whether you bring it to the public road or the world of motorsports, you’ll feel like you’ll be left behind in front of this powerful acceleration and high-level turning power. But it fits in your hand.
There is stimulation that you will never get tired of.
Comparison with Impreza of the same generation
On another day, I test drove a 2010 Impreza WRX STI sedan. (This time, the Lan Evo X is a 2007 model).
When we compared cars, the Impreza lost out mainly in terms of body rigidity and interior texture. It was a surprising result that it was no longer a contest.
A simple comparison cannot be made because the new price of the Impreza is about 1 million yen cheaper.
However, the Lan Evo X runs with a body rigidity comparable to that of modern cars.
On the other hand, the Impreza has a body rigidity comparable to that of the early model Hachiroku, and its feel in the city driving range has a fuzzy movement typical of older low-priced cars.
The Impreza is more thrilling to drive around, but when I drove it, it was in a completely different category…
However, I saw someone who drove an older model (7-9) Lan Evo comment, “When I drove the 10, the body was so different that I felt miserable about my car.”
いつか旧世代のランエボ・インプを乗り比べてみよう。
About the exterior and interior
exterior
It’s a car that I rarely see, but I was familiar with it from racing games, so it wasn’t particularly unusual. If you look at it up close, the opening in the front bumper is large.
It has Brembo brakes.
Interior
A cover was wrapped around the steering wheel. Since it was in this model year and price range, I thought it would be torn apart, so I looked around for a used one, but it didn’t seem like that was the case.
The genuine leather on many CR-Zs is peeling off.
Simple meters.
ARC mode switch is on the left side of the steering wheel.
The automatic version is loaded with DCT, which is often referred to as various things.
As long as I drove it, there were no problems with its operation. If you maintain it properly while avoiding excessive power-ups and rough driving, there is no need to worry too much.
Pull up on the ring to change gears like in a manual car.
Honestly, with this straight type, it was difficult to use because my left hand tended to be inconvenient when operating it.
At the bottom right there is a switch to switch to sports mode.
Here’s handbrakes and cup holders.
Very easy to use air conditioner control panel.
The operation feeling when turning the switch is not bad, but the installation feels loose .
There are three meters in the center of the vehicle.
From the left are the battery voltmeter, oil temperature gauge, and boost gauge.
The oil temperature gauge is a guide to the end of warm-up and engine heat generation.
The boost gauge is interesting because you can see and feel the internal control of the computer.
Although it is not a push start, the smart key allows you to start the car by simply turning it while stepping on the brake.
Authentic Recaro seat.
To recline, turn the triangular dial, but it’s a little difficult to reach.
There is a button labeled “PUSH” on the tip of the turn signal stick.
I went to look at the owner’s manual on the official website, but I couldn’t figure out what it was about.
By the way, even if you push the turn signal stick all the way in, you can’t turn on the high beams all the time.
Pull it all the way to the back and switch it on and off.
About the specs of the test vehicle
It’s a 2007 GSR Evolution X.
New car price is around 3.8-3.9 million yen
- Vehicle size is 4495 x 1810 x 1480mm
- 2 liter straight 4 turbo
- Maximum output is 280 horsepower (6500 rpm)
- Maximum torque is 422Nm (3500rpm)
- Vehicle weight is 1540kg
- Minimum turning radius is 5.9m
- The genuine tire size is “245/40R18” for both front and rear.
I referred to the specifications page of the Goo Net Catalog.
Actual driving impression
Engine
It’s amazing how quiet it is in the low rev range, even though it exhibits its quirks every time you step on acceleration that can be life-threatening to some people.
There is resistance to starting the engine late at night in a residential area and idling in a cold start state. However, once it starts moving and warms up, it is surprisingly quiet.
Whether it’s due to variable valve timing or the addition of hardware and software that were specialized in this area from the design stage, the engine’s expression changes noticeably once the engine revs exceed 4,000 rpm.
The change is so drastic that you can tell even if it’s racing while stopped.
Sport mode allows you to fully experience the characteristics of this engine.
Sorry for the unreasonable wording, but would it be easier to imagine if I said “VTEC will be included”? The number of revolutions at the dividing point is approximately 4000 revolutions.
In sport mode, the gears are always shifted to keep the engine speed above this line.
If you slow down a little, it will shift mercilessly and make the engine roar. Both the hardware and software are ready, and if you step on the accelerator even a little, you’ll be blown away.
I definitely have enough left to ride on public roads. When I put it in sports mode on a mountain road, it reacts too sensitively to even the slightest accelerator operation, making it jerky. It’s probably a circuit/competition only mode.
It boasts a radicalness that is unmatched by the GT-R’s Nismo Sports Resetting.
The overall impression is of a ferocious throttle feel that makes no attempt to hide the intense acceleration.
If you step on it even slightly, the car will accelerate rapidly. I want you to operate with caution.
Handling that sucking in
This Lance Evo has magical handling.
Among cars of this type, the body size feels a little large, but there are areas where it seems like it can bend smoothly with some magical, unknown force.
The handle itself is light.
It has a mysterious feeling that the more you cut it, the more you are sucked into it.
The amount of roll itself is large, and it feels like it creates a solid load transfer and bends.
It’s not an understeer that emphasizes stability, but rather it’s fun because you can see how far the car is trying to turn. It seems to demonstrate stability and fun at any speed range.
About ride comfort
Reeds are basically hard. Unfortunately, it feels like it’s always shaking.
However, the ride quality is not unbearable, and it just barely maintains the appearance of a sedan-type passenger car. I feel like it’s possible to do long trips like 6-10 hours a day, but if it were me, I’d pack a good cushion and take frequent breaks.
About brakes
It’s easy to ride because it doesn’t come with a bang when you first step on the pedal, but the rise in braking force relative to the pedaling force is modest, giving the impression that it’s a bit disappointing.
I have a good brake kit made by Brembo, but with the stock pads, the brake side feels too dull compared to the throttle response.
I have often complained that I don’t like brakes that work too hard from the beginning, but the brakes on this Lan Evo feel like they’re a lost treasure, or rather, they’re not being utilized to their full potential.
If it were me, I would change the pads first.
Research before test drive
It was introduced in 2007 with the catchphrase, “The evolution surpasses the times in an instant.”
The frame is shared with the Galant Fortis, but it seems that a special suspension member is used.
Adopts solid aluminum roof.
The AT model uses DCT.
It is equipped with a 2-liter straight-four turbo engine with an all-aluminum block, producing 280 horsepower and 430 Nm. Horsepower regulations had already been abolished, but it seems that they were suppressed with the intention of avoiding unnecessary output competition. Minor changes have increased the horsepower to 300.
(Tesla’s Model 3 FR model seems to have 375Nm. I’m looking forward to seeing what the acceleration performance is like.)
The vehicle weight is approximately 1.5 tons.
