I also think its weird... But from either standpoint, I think they are targeting a broader audience. C&D still puts the 0-60 times at 4.6. I'm not sure how they pulled those numbers as I believe it to be a little slower than this, BUT: for the added weight, and the improved stying + amenities of the car I think its impressive personally. I grew up around a lot of porsches as a kid and the statement I always heard was, "it's not how fast you go, but how you go fast." I know they didn't make it up or anything but that statement stuck with me, and I'm reminded of it when I look at the X. People looking for the absolute fastest evo in stock form will not find it in the X. People looking for a car that is nearly as quick, with quite a few more options, safety features, and a car that every uninformed motorist isn't pointing and laughing at (ie most people in their mid 30's and up) will find a nice fit with the X.

To say its not competitive is relative. It does compete with the new STI quite well. When I consider the looks of both, the X becomes an easy choice for me. I think mitsu wanted to put themselves in a position where there really were visible roots extending to their base model, from their top end production car. Not good for the EVO enthusiast in every regard, but good for Mitsu - and a win for the average consumer. They finally get a base lancer that doesnt look like hell, and with the ralliart on the horizon, they have upsell options a' plenty. I personally think it was rather intelligent of them to develop an EVO that grew with its audience. Not everyone wants the super aggressive boy racer look of the 8's and 9's. I personally wish I could get the performance of the 9 in the look of the X. Not to say I am sad to have the IX, its just a preference of mine. I personally believe that to *most* people buying a car, evo or no, its not just about the 1/4 mile times. Its a combination of style, performance, *affordability*, practicality, and safety. Cars are getting more and more expensive, its not just the evo. I think in nearly all aspects that I've mentioned, the evo will meet or exceed the expectations of the prospective buyer. To those who are looking for pure performance, the introduction of the X means cheaper 8's and 9's... A win win for all.

 

Buying a x would not be a disappointment for someone who has never owned a 8 or 9. It's just a different car now, hate it or love it.

 

i plan on being one of the peeps here who is gonna go from never owning an Evo to getting an X. i'm personally excited. the one thing that makes me want the X over the IX is the superior handling of the X over the IX. the power isn't as important to me seeing as how i'll be going from a FWD 245whp eclipse to an Evo X.

 

Guys dont get me wrong ...the X in comparison to the STI is HANDS DOWN the better looking/handling car. I just thought it was weird the route they took with the redesign

 

Take up your own advice. It won't take you long to see proof of the ability of modern aluminum engines (eg. competition Vauxhall Astra). Is AMS or Buschur going to be releasing a 900+hp EvoX any time soon? Probably not. Can the drive train even take that kind of power? I have no clue. Will it hold the 400-500 hp mark that will satisfy a large majority of it's demographic? I'd bet money it will but again, time will be the best proof. Despite your assumption, I am not speculating presumptuously or speaking out of ignorance. I'm well aware of the difference in strength between aluminum and iron. However, it would be misguided to think that is the only factor in building a successful engine.

Then I'm sure you'll be pleseantly surprised. The EvoX is not slow. It may not have as much 'in-the-pants' power out of the box as the previous models, but it is quick. Also, the handling difference here will be even greater than that felt in Japan and the UK as it is the first model to arrive in the US with AYC. Good luck with your purchase, hope it works out without you being robbed too badly. caveat emptor

 

The same thing was talked about when FORD came out with their 4.6 modular motors outdating the 5.0 models. Time will tell. The 4B11 will most likely hold up to a great standard

 

That's precisely why dealers get such a bad rap! The bad ones make an impression on consumers and often times forgets there are good ones out there (albeit scarce). Price gouging is messed up, especially when these fools can't even sell those "hard to keep on the lot" vehicles

 

I am hitting my nuts for not getting a IX when I could have. I don't own it, but drove it enough to know how fast the car is. I could only hope the X is the real deal.

 

Maybe X's feel slower because the power curve is way more linear than the 8/9's

As far as the iron vs aluminum block nonsense I hope everyone in here knows that the new X has ductile iron sleeves. Just in case no one knew.

 

The aluminum choice on Mitsubishi's end was crucial in cutting back on weight. It also utilizes a direct valve actuation set up further cutting back on weight. Aluminum is not as strong as an iron block but in this engines case it's more reliable due to the separate cooling chambers in the head and block.

I almost bought a IX a few months back but didn't because I wanted to wait on the x and I love the x now after reading and hearing about it and sitting in it. I can't wait to see the full potential of the 4b11. A lot of the complaints about the x seem to derive from Mitsubishi's choice of making a greener, safer, more comfy evo when before they only sought after seeing how fast they could make the it go.

 

"[QUOTE=evofan_08;5376165]The aluminum choice on Mitsubishi's end was crucial in cutting back on weight. It also utilizes a direct valve actuation set up further cutting back on weight. Aluminum is not as strong as an iron block but in this engines case it's more reliable due to the separate cooling chambers in the head and block."

THe 4b11 aluminum engine that weighs 27.5 pounds less then a 4G63T.
Did you ever holded in hand the 4G63T exhaust manifold? If you change that only then the difference will be what? IF the 4G63T got the Mivec exhaust system too , what is a really difference being greener? 4b11 is a safer engine? How do you know? The 4G63T has planty of cooling already , guys are running on 30+ psi on it, so no worries there.

 

So I guess that is somehow going to negate the couple hundred pounds the Evolution has put on over the IX? 30 or so lbs..... Some X-lax and a few less burgers a week could have accomplished the same thing, and still has twice the strenght with the 4G63

 

twice the strength? Thats just an assumption... Will it hold as much stock as a closed deck iron block? Probably not

Most owners will mod, but most won't get past 400 and tuners are there now almost without a tune

I understand why your upset talon... The 4g63 was beloved but its been around forever.... You have to move on .. Mitsu needs to ensure a future and with higher safety standards and emmisons here now and getting stricter ; they need to ensure the evolve with that

I think thy did an admiral job making the almost as fast in a straight line and finally giving us the sawc of past evo's making the X handle better than usdm 8 and 9's

They have to have to evo resemble the base lancers and ralliarts to sell them also.... Nobody would mistake a evo 8 with a oz lancer... And that was actually a problem since the base lancers were the bread and butter car and people didnt associate them together

This new evo x is everything it HAS to be for mitsu to suceed in the future

The evo 9 is a phenominal car nobody will deny that , but the evo x is also

And not all of us dealers are stupid or jerks.... And there is no way I could give you $29k for your 9 mr unless it was mint with under 5k miles... LOL ....

I hooked my buddy up and gave him more for his is350 than carmax, under $30k miles and it was a $40k car new... And it wasn't much over 30

 

Because your dealer won't give $29k doesn't mean that the car isn't worth that. I wouldn't give any dealer my car for less than $25k and it's got 48k miles on it.

He could get $30k+ from a private seller easily.

 

Kind of like my trade in that was going to be wholesaled out... Two days later, I stop by and see my old car with a $4,000 mark up sitting on the lot ready to be sold.