Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX FQ 320

An Icon, no more or less.

A car that took the hot hatch idea to a different level. And what a level. World Rally Car level that is. And all of this in a Lancer. The difference between the Evolution IX FQ 320 (the FQ I have been reliably informed stands for Very Quick) and the ordinary Lancer is as different as Bush and Bin Laden. I hope to be able to convey some flavour of this car to you.

Roadholding. This is the ability of the car to stick to the road going forward and round bends. Well there isn't a bend that this car could not go round at whatever speed you choose. When you turn the steering wheel the response is faster than the thought process you used to make the decision to turn in the first place. I have never experienced anything like it. And when it starts to turn there is no doubt that it can perform the manoeuvre regardless of the ability or stupidity of the driver. The Evo will do it. It's a hard riding car make no mistake and anyone who ever visited an osteopath or chiropractor had better avoid driving or riding in one. If this condition hasn't visited your door yet then I strongly advise you go for a drive in one before they do.

There's all sorts of gadgetry used to make this car work and woe betide you if the computers decide to have an off day. They control everything but not in a sterile or interfering way. They are in the background as your friend not as your controller. Ok, if you try to defeat them they'll take over but you'd want to be brave to get to that state before they click in and takeover and I suspect only rally drivers could reach that limit.

Again like other performance cars the external looks signal its powerful abilities. Huge air intake on the bonnet, huge spoiler on the back and an enormous 5inch exhaust that makes the most glorious garrulous sound. When I had to put something in the boot I was surprised at how light the boot lid was with the spoiler. It must have been made of carbon fibre or something similar and there was no unnecessary lining on the boot lid either. Excess weight slows a car and there is no room for excess weight in an Evo.The rear underside has these groves for optimum airflow leading to that all important ground effect. The faster you go the more the car is sucked to the ground - the opposite of lift that you want in a plane the faster you go.

Inside the difference between the Evo and the ordinary Lancer were better half-leather seats. (Oh and a speedo that could actually read up to 180mph) Apart from that I was hard pressed to find anything else that was different. You spend your money on an Evo for its performance abilities and nothing else. It's not Spartan but certainly not special. Remember this car can compete, performance-wise, with the best of cars in the exotic category including our friends Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

I drove this around Meath and Louth on some of my favourite roads and nothing fazed the Evo. Infinite power, perfect poise and a wonderful sense of driving security made every trip immensely enjoyable. Like any thoroughbred it's costly to own with servicing intervals a lot less than the norm nowadays and the Evo dines on only the best super-unleaded. I can only imagine the glee on the insurers face when you are looking for a quote and I never cease to be amazed at the young faces of the drivers of Evo's that you see out and about on our roads. Howe do they do it?

Would I buy one? There is an age limit to buyers of this car. For everyday use you'd need to be fit and under 30. As a trophy car for weekend use anyone could buy one and I'd certainly like to be one of those able to do so.

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