I got the chance to drive some Evo Xs on the Prodrive Track here in the UK on Thursday but only just got home to give my thoughts. Have taken a few photos and a few (very amateur) vids so thought I would share.

Most of my day was spent in the SST version of the Evo and despite "only" 300ps it still had a nice amount of power and torque for the track. Now for those waiting on the SST box in the US I think those that are interested in it will like it. I didnt want one and I still dont. Thats not because its not a good box, its brilliant. Smooth in the auto and paddle shift modes and very quick but still smooth in the sport and super sport modes. I cant quite express how smooth this is for what is almost an auto box. But thats the problem for me and the reason I dont want it. To some degree, even accelerating to and dropping back down from 100mph plus I didnt feel involved like I do in a manual car. I felt like I was on a Xbox game just pulling up and down on the flappy paddles with no clutch to push and little to do with my gear shift arm. You could almost drive it one handed. I suppose in the City this would be perfect but for me personally I want to feel more involved in the driving.

If you do want the SST though dont let me put you off, as a gear box it is absolutely brilliant

On the track it was so very balanced. Speaking to one of the instructors he said the likes of the Subarus go on the track and absolutely rip the tyres to pieces. They got through plenty of sets on the Evo X too but he said he couldnt believe how well balanced they had made it. The tyres were wearing very evenly unlike previous evos. Everyone was universally impressed with this; drivers, instructors and even the media had very very little to complain about on the X.


I drove the SST on the track and the tight adverse handling course - It performed admirably on both. The SST probably made the tight course much easier than it was because you could keep your hands on the wheel, the instructors were very very good to. The manual would have made a tricky course very tough to do it right. Thoroughly enjoyed it though, I was pretty crap on that one. The trick is to be very smooth and allow the car to do the work. I was far too erratic and heavy footed


After the SST I got to try the FQ360, sadly it was only on the skid pan but OMG To say the power difference was noticeable is a massive understatement. The instructor put his foot down and pinned me to my seat from the outset. And may I add the Leather seats with EvolutionX not only looked amazing but were also firmer than the fabric ones, which I liked! I took it on the skid pan with SAWC on and drove like a God. Totally sideways from one side to the other looking out the side window and bringing it perfectly back in line. Then we turned the first stage off. I hammered it again and within two sideways actions I was facing the way I came with the engine cut out! Turns out the car is awesome and Im retard! Same happened when second stage (AYC) of SAWC was turned off too. But it perfectly demonstrated just how good the new SAWC is in keeping you on the road.

Was a brilliant day and really glad I went on it. Was also very very pleased that I ordered the manual, the phantom black and the 360, all of which make a good car a friggin brilliant one

Will now post up photos and very short videos! Thanks for reading. Will try to answer any questions if anyone has any.

 

SST on Track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6wcK_51-5o



FQ360 on Skidpan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhFWyGEQI9w



Skidpan SAWC on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByHSGFRmD68



SAWC off

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ampuABIC5Pk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ley1h08i7iI



Driver View on skidpan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qr8SM53YZ8

 

^ good write up and attachments!

 

Pictures from the day. Hope this works!

 

Wish they would do something like this here in the States for their loyal customers. I already own a X though, but it would still be nice to thrash somebody else's round the track .

Stupid question: why are Prodrive involved?

 

Very cool! Thanks for the great review, pics and vids!

 

I want that book!

 

Good review! Thanks for your input! Unfortunately, I feel a lot of people will say the same tired things about the SST..."but it hasn't got a clutch"...let's get passed this people! Again, not bashing your opinion or review, but you go on to say how amazing it is and then to say "but I still don't want one!"? It's like saying..."man I was making out with this supermodel at the bar...it was brilliant, but in the end, I'm gonna go home with the fat chick!" I mean, the SST-style transmission is the future of all transmissions, hate it or love it. Of course, the SST will have it's limitations when it comes to modding, etc. But in reality, there are prolly very few drivers that can shift as fast (and accurately) with a standard manual transmission car. All the people complaining about not feeling the "interaction, clutch, blah, blah, blah" are the same people that will soon realize that, in the next few years, not only will all the future supercars (GTR, BMW M series, Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, etc) use/offer these transmissions, but "regular" sedans/cars will as well (look at the Lancer GTS). I'm looking forward to being an early adopter and jumping on the bandwagon as soon as the Evo X MR is available. Again, good review, thanks for the stand-still pics!

 

Prodrive, if you dont know, develop cars. They do most of their work for Aston Martin and Subaru. They also have a great track facility http://www.prodrive.com/level2.html?id=22
Because of this a lot of manufacturers, particularly of fast cars use their facilities to Launch their cars in the UK to show them off a bit. Have to say it worked a treat, I cant wait for mine to arrive

 

Its very impressive actually. Its huge like A3 size and full glossy cover to cover giving the history of the Evo from the 70s to the design, development and finally full features of the X. I may ebay it in about 10 years

 

Its not a contradiction at all it is a VERY good gear box and does exactly what its designed to. But I dont want it to! Its designed to change the gear faster than a driver can and give you the ability to keep your hands on the wheel. It does both of these but for me it takes all the fun out of driving. I want to dip the clutch and change the gear myself, which incidentally was a surprisingly smooth change in the 360 manual. I drove the SST round the track and with the SST and SAWC I just felt like a passenger most of the time. I cant fault the SST because it does what it was designed for but I like to change gears and thats why hand on heart I have absolutely no desire to own one which is why Im paying a lot more and waiting an extra few weeks for the 360. They say the 360 SST will be here next year but I wouldnt honestly swap the manual for the SST even a year down the line. It just felt like I was playing gran turismo on the Playstation. Thats the simple facts of my opinion and nobody will change that

 

if the MR will make safe 360-400 whp , would be the best Evo ever.
I would jump into it a next year. But i want to wait untill clears out, how they will tune the Tranny ECU , and the costs.
I dont mind the SMG tranys. I like them.

 

The head of UK confirmed that they are testing the SST box for about a year to make sure it can handle the extra BHP. He said "they are Japanese, thats what they do!"

If you like flappy paddles then you will love the SST no doubt about it

With regards to the ECU, I hears a rumour that you have to ring for a PIN code and once you have used it to alter the ECU then the warranty on the engine is void! Dont know how true it is or if its only in UK

 

well i will modify it anyway, so my warranty will be gone before i know it.
That is why so important for me how the tranny will handle the abuse. That tranny is very costly
And that is a main reason i'm hanging the X forum as well. I would like to know every details before i buy one. I would like to make sure i will not run into a dead end./money wise/

 

is the interior of the MR a lot better than the normal version?