dynamho

Looks solid overall. Nice proportions. Appears heavier, which is a good thing as long as it's actually not.

The lines of the tail lamps are peculiar with respect to the trunk line, almost as if someone forgot to align it.

Interior, which was current EVO's weak spot looks much improved!

Appears to be another iconic tarmac terror.

This part worries me though:
"This new, larger and more sophisticated Evo X might not be the rally-bred car we remember" - Edmunds.com

I for one like the late EVOs because they are rally-bred.

Steiner

Ask the BMW nuts which M3 was the funnest to drive. Ask the international Evo and STi nuts too. It'll always be the lightest one. That's why people bought those gutless effeminate Miatas in droves when I was a kid. The thing was a like a little go-kart. You can always modify the engine's power but removing vehicle weight is typically an exercise in futility if you like your back seat and the comfort of knowing there's a spare tire in the trunk. From a tuning potential I think people have traditionally looked at the Evo as a blank canvass. It's one of the big draws. Right now these cars are a roll cage and some r-compounds away from a weekend road course warrior status. I'm worried that's gonna change now.

9291150

Also wonder how the alloy block will compare to the current iron block in terms of ultimate strength once the mod crowd has their way with it.

Playdoh, a few points I'd debate...

Your assertion that high speed stability is related to weight. I think it's more a function of aerodynamics, suspension tuning, or even simple things like a wider track, longer wheelbase...not weight. And you don't need weight for chassis rigidity either, a well engineered and rigid frame doesn't need to be heavy, just well engineered.

And we can go on forever about your belief that lap times make the car. I'd never buy a car or bike on stats alone. Why even have an 8 if you believe that?

playdoh43

I am a bmw nut and im in the local M3 club and i beg to differ, theres always two camps of people many of which like the E46 or E36 over the E30 as far as fun goes. and Plenty of people I know prefer EVO 7-9 over the earlier ones too. i dont see lighter weight automatically translate into more fun or better feel. As far as im concerned, i consider it more fun if it can make its way around the track better, turn better, accelerate better etc. eitherway, weight is not everything when it comes to feel.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

ooooh doggy i cant wait, i will buy it as long as i get to keep my 8. but then again i would rather save up for the gtr, any news on that yet?

playdoh43

id also never buy a car based on stats alone, but Id never judge a car based on weight alone either.

playdoh43

ohh well, theres nothing else to argue about due to the subjective nature of "feel" and "fun" i respect those than emphasis "feel" more than quantifiable characteristics like lap time. everyones different, there are romantics and realists and all kinds of other people. respect for those who are different is whats most important.

dynamho

Playdoh, sound logic on the weight's relationship to stability. It's a natural phenomenon.

However, are you sure about the result of that Best Motoring high speed test? I think I saw that episode and the drivers said that the late BMW 3 series' high speed zigzag felt scary to them ("kimochi warui" = bad feeling) and the RX-8 felt ("kore ii" = this is good).

playdoh43

from what i remember they said the 8 felt scary. im not leaving out the possibility of remebering it wrong though since it was a while ago. the video should be on google or youtube somewhere

Ike

There were people in the Evo community thinking that the Evo X would weigh less or about the same as the same as the current car. Some of those same people were the ones complaining about the safety and creature comforts of the car. Now some of those same people are complaining that the Evo is going to weigh more and that the 4G63 is gone...

In this day and age of increasing safety regulations and car buyers demanding more gadgets and creature comforts cars are just going to keep getting heavier. It's a shame if you ask me. I don't need cruise control, climate control, a 650w stereo, less cabin noise, and side impact airbags. I knew my Evo didn't fare well in side impact crash tests and it was a risk I was willing to take.

The Evo will certainly lose some of its rawness, but it remains to be seen if that will take away from the fun of the car. I'm not ready to assume a heavier car means less handling and fun. In recent times we have the 350Z as an example, it has gained weight since it was first released but the current MY is an improved car over the lighter early models. Some would and have argued that the E36 M3 was a better car than the E30 M3 despite it being heavier.

All that being said we don't know how much the new Evo will be up in weight. What we do know...

1.) The chassis is 200lbs. heavier
2.) The engine is 60lbs. lighter
3.) There are more luight weight aluminum body panels
4.) There are lighter weight aluminum suspension pieces
5.) There are more creature comforts to add weight
6.) There are additional airbags

What all that will add up to in the final tally is hard to say. It could end up being less than 200 lbs. When it comes down to it if it's around 200lbs. or less then is about the same thing as driving your car with a full tank of gas vs. being low on gas. One might feel a tiny difference, but it's hardly something that is going to make or break a car.

No matter how it turns out current Evo owners should be happy. If the Evo X turns out to be not as modable and not as fun as the previous models my resale value will skyrocket even higher than it is now. If the Evo X is better in just about every aspect then I'll go buy one. It's a win win situation. It could even turn out that both happen. Older Evos will be in high demand because of their power potential and rawness while the Evo X will still be a much better car even if it isn't as modable or as fun.

I just hope that if for some crazy reason Mitsubishi blows it with the Evo X that Suby does not do the same with the new STI.

dynamho

I think so too. However, I hope that it's an esoteric thing leaving open the possibility of getting EVO IX's for cheaper.

Similar thing happened with the MX-5, no?

Ike

There's a decent chance that the Evo 8-9 could end up being like the past Supra. The Evo already has the best resale value of any car on the market according to several sources. I could turn around and sell my car now for the same or more than I paid over a year ago. I think they're either going to keep holding value as well as they have or they're going to get even pricier. The one time where it will probably be easier to get a used Evo for cheaper is right when the Evo X is released and there are a larger number than usual of used Evos sitting on lots. Once those are gone the resale values could creep up and up much like the Supra has. This will all depend on the Evo X being far less mod friendly than the 8 and 9.

Shev22

i think its ugly

captain mercury

thats what she said

dillsrotary

you beat me to it, if the evo X shows potential to continue the evo line into this new model, then i could see myself buying a slightly modded IX mr (or if i'm lucky an unmodded IX just off an original owner lease)

Ike

They don't lease Evos.

dillsrotary

I didn't know that (i said lease mainly in hopes of an unmodded one being returned to the dealer)

JRichter

Same here. I remember how excited I was when the EVO RS was released a few years ago. This type of car appeals to me. I think it was stripped of every unnecessary option including AC and spoiler. I went to look for one not long after its release and I don't remember finding one anywhere. This type of stripped out car doesn't appeal to many Americans...

JRichter

You got that right!

Ike

More news and videos

http://www.worksevo.com/

http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...hi_prototype_x

Ike

Quick PS of what blue would look like...

dynamho

Interesting! I didn't know that.

dynamho

The more I see and read about X, the more I like the current Evos.

It's most likely just me, but I like the exterior styling of the current version better. It has more personality, kinda like natural vs silicone . The new car reads like a bit of a compromise. The current Evos have a clear vision.

playdoh43

i kinda like the current one better also look wise. i think 7-9 are the best looking ones.

Design1stCode2nd

I'll be interested to compare the sales totals for first year of the IX and X (at least 2nd-4th quarters) I'd put money down that they will sell at least 2x as many X's (unless they over price it).