This is just a short list of cars I found when having a discussion with a work colleague regarding the supposed 'dulling' of the Evo's steering. By all means form your own opinions - it is less sharp than the IX, but as a comparison to other cars out there, it's still way way more responsive. I believe we are talking only small degrees of change, not huge variations. I also realise that the weight increase (whatever it turns out to be) will affect the polar moment of inertia, however, most of us fit stiffer ARB's, springs, dampers etc. So I'm - personally - not too concerned.

Evo IX – 13.0:1 (lock to lock = 2.1)

Evo X – 13.3:1 (lock to lock = 2.27)

BMW 335i and therefore likely the 135i too 16.0:1 (lock to lock = 3.0) – unless you go for active steering

Nissan GTR (R35) – no data found on steering ratio – other than its variable (lock to lock = 2.7)

Porsche 911 GT3RS (2007) 13.8 – 17.1:1 – variable (lock to lock = 2.6)

Infiniti G37 12.1 – 20:1 (variable) (lock to lock = 2.7)

2008 Subaru Impreza STI – 15.0:1 (lock to lock = 2.8)

 

Wow, if the turns lock to lock is directly related to how sharp a car feels, then the auto makers are dumb! Seriously, that has basically nothing to do with how sharp a car feels. Suspension and chassis rigidity have much more to do with it than the steering ratio. Put a quick steering ratio in a 1970 Cadillac, is it now a sharp handling car?

 

here you go, steering 101

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/steering2.htm

especially this: "Generally, lighter, sportier cars have lower steering ratios than larger cars and trucks. The lower ratio gives the steering a quicker response -- you don't have to turn the steering wheel as much to get the wheels to turn a given distance -- which is a desirable trait in sports cars. These smaller cars are light enough that even with the lower ratio, the effort required to turn the steering wheel is not excessive. " (minus the lighter part )



chassis rigidity: has been been improved on the X, so to his point, steering should remain sharp,

suspension: that can always be corrected with springs or coils

i think that what we will experience with the new X is that the feeling will be refined so the overall experience is not as nerve racking where your steering wheel pulls in all directions on an uneven road, like a go-kart

 

Your argument is at best...specious.

It is clear from the cars I list that I'm talking about outright performance cars (The Infiniti listed barely classifying as one) where there are common themes of a firm suspension and a rigid chassis.

Comparing a 1970 Cadillac to an Evo is worse than apples to oranges, it's more like apples to potatoes.

So, just for you, I shall belabour this point.

All things being equal (weight and weight distribution, chassis rigidity, suspension geometry, spring tension, damper rates, sway bar stiffness, tire profile etc.), if you compare two identical sports (read rigid and stiff) cars and change only the steering ratio, they will both 'feel' as though they have a different responsiveness to steering input - slow racks feeling dull and uncommunicative; fast racks feeling connected, responsive; alive.

As it's been mentioned on here, some aspects of the new cars design are within our power to change easily, for - relatively - small sums of money. Chassis rigidity is not one of those, but thankfully Mitsubishi have done that for us. Suspension, Engine power and even weight can be changed by the owner - depending on how deep their wallet is and how committed to the cause they are. So taking this car (the Evo) to where we want it to be is something we CAN do. It is something owners have been doing with all generations and I don't believe the X will be any different.

In essence I was trying to point out that for those people who have expressed concern that the Evo has lost its edgy steering. I don't believe it's going to be as bad as you think.
In comparison to other cars in a similar performance category it will still feel much more connected to the road than most road cars and I don't believe there are many cars in it's class (4 door saloons) that will respond as quickly.

Secondly for those who've expressed the desire to switch marquees from the Evo to the BMW 135 or 335; that car really isn't designed for the same purpose the Evo is - given a large portion are bought by men and women as a status symbol who have no interest in driving per se...just how raw and sporty do you feel they make it?
If the reason for your switch is because you've had enough of raw and you now want comfort, great! Enjoy your new car. But if you're changing because you think the motor won't be as good as the 4G63 so you want something you can tune...I really think you've jumped to an unsubstantiated conclusion.

My take is this. Mitsubishi can't build a 335 and expect it to sell; they don't have the name for it. So what they can do is build an alternative for people who want something different or sportier than the BMW but who still want luxuries too. This is what Mitsubishi have been doing. If they try and build the BMW it just won't sell - we won't buy it because it's lost what it means to us. BMW buyers won't get one either, because it doesn't have the name and status they need. Mitsubishi know this.

 

I'm glad to see that there are at least a few members here who know what specious means...

Regarding your above statement, although I hope this to be true, the subtext coming out of Japan is that they are INDEED attempting to create a 335... and somehow don't comprehend that the Mitsu name badge won't let them sell that car.

 

Let's actually drive the car before we make all kinds of speculation about handling.

 

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with you, let me ask you this.

If you see a fantastic woman with a great rack, do you say to yourself "No, no, I'm not going to think about what that feels like until I actually touch them." Or do you...

I know that's somewhat flippant, but, my point is you can make an educated guess about something based on the data presented, before you get to prove your guess to be correct when you actually experience a thing.

 

what about an 80000USD Nissan GT-R?

 

I know its off topic, but the offical price for the GT-R is now $69, 850.

carry on.

 

typing from my calculator shaped phone (yes, i'm an evom freak)

while the numbers look great on a page, they dont translate directly into real world applications. from the all the articles that have been written, it's clear that the "feel" of driving the X is a clear departure from the 8 or 9. that's fine for some folks (especially their new target consumer who happens to be the same guy who will consider a 3 series, a4, g35, etc), but dissappointing to guys who have fallen in love with the overall driving experience of the current evo.

the new evo x is a clear departure in the driving experience category from the current evo...at least based on all the articles written so far.

but, i will still be one of the first in line to test drive it in...

 

Articles that are written so far did have some differences between the previous model to the X. But nothing major or significant to really disappoint the enthusiasts. I mean all we've done was read and not a single test drive to justify opinions and speculations.

I know the "fantastic woman with a great rack" analogy was mentioned; while it may look nice, we all know there is a difference between naturally round and big (whichever fits your description as being "great") to silicone implants (or whatever term they use). And if that's the analogy we're looking at, would you hit it with real or fake ones?

That's a nice analogy though!



BTW, that's an awesome price for the GT-R using Porsche 911 Turbo as a benchmark. Nissan did well!

+1 Carry on...

 

Redcoat- You say that all thing being equal the steering ratio will make a car feeler quicker more alive, that is true. NONE of those cars on your list are equal though, so it makes as much sense as comparing it to a 1970 Cadillac.

Another very large thing you miss in the equation is steering wheel size, this is obviously a direct relation to the steering input to the rack.

The point I was getting at is that a sharp handling car cannot be figured out by looking at the turns lock to lock, that is pretty ignorant. There are SO many other factors that play into it. One of the biggest ones was listed in the explaination you used earlier, weight. If you had 2 identical cars with identical spring weights and steering ratio's, but one was 1,000 lbs heavier, they are not going to react the same. A Lotus Exige has a steering ratio of 15.8:1 and 2.8 turns lock to lock, are you telling me the Evo is sharper handling than an Exige? A 2008 Honda Accord has a steering ratio of 13.08:1 and 2.56 turns lock to lock, so that handles even sharper than an Evo and Exige, right?

I think you had better start searching more on what makes a car "sharper".