New Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X - as good as it looks?

Mitsubishi’s iconic Lancer Evolution is now back in the line-up at the head of the tenth generation of the C-D segment Lancer range.

The Lancer range has prices starting from £12,499 for the 1.5-litre GSI 5-Door Sportback and saloon models start at £14,999.

Lancer Saloon Evolution X (10) FQ variants with 300, 330 and 360PS power outputs range from £27,499 to £37,999. A mid-range all-wheel drive Ralliart Sportback model will also be introduced to bridge the gap between the Evolution X and the rest of the range.

There is no doubt that giving all new Lancer models, even the diesels, the sporting Evolution styling ‘look’ has been a big boost for sales.

No longer is the bulk of the range uninteresting so even the customers choosing a pretty standard £15,000 Lancer gets a sporting and stylish looking car, complete with huge rear spoiler and ‘shark’ style nose.

And the latest good news for Lancer customers is that the new models have the best ever residual values with the 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel variants forecast by industry experts to be up to 37 per cent after the usual 3-years/60,000 mile period.

This puts them just behind the Honda Civic but ahead of the Subaru Impreza, new Ford Focus and Mazda3.

When it comes to the new Evolution X models the story is even better with a rating of 39 per cent for the FQ300 ahead of all the competition including the Civic Type-R, Impreza WRX STI and Focus.

Mitsubishi has also introduced a Service Plan for all Lancer models. Non Evo versions cost £200 for 3-years servicing, Evo variants £400. Service intervals have been extended to 12,500 miles for standard Lancers and 10,000 miles, (previously 4,500) for Evolutions.

This is all good news for current and new to the brand Mitsubishi owners. Mitsubishi in the UK say their research suggests that the all-new Lancer Evolution X is drawing new customers into the brand from premium German and other Japanese marques.

A strong value proposition and excellent driving characteristics are just two of the key drivers behind customer decisions.

Their part exchange analysis of customers buying the Lancer Evolution X since it was launched in March 2008 has shown that 38 per cent of the part exchanges offered against the cutting edge Twin Clutch SST (Sports Shift Transmission) have been from premium German brands, while 31 per cent have been from other Japanese competitor brands.

Sales of the manual transmission have been dominated by the FQ-360 variant with 40 per cent coming from existing Evo owners. A further 19 per cent of part exchanges came from premium German marques and 20 per cent from other Japanese manufacturers.

Mitsubishi also say several ‘supercars’ have been traded in against new Lancer Evolution Xs, with one dealer handing over a Lancer Evolution X FQ-300 SST and a cheque for £90,000 against a Ferrari F430.

Great business if you can get it and Mitsubishi’s greatest rival Subaru are now trying the same moves with their new Impreza WRX range getting power upgrade versions from September.

A 255PS version will cost £22,495, the 330PS WRX STI will be priced around £30,000 and perhaps in six months a 380PS model could be on sale.

The official upgrades for Subaru UK come from Banbury based Prodrive and they were first shown at the recent British Motor Show in London.

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