This is a partial post from Lancerz forum. He said he just bought an Evo over in Japan and that the GTA is the only one now offered with options..he also said that it doesn't come with hoodscopps, etc (which we already knew. Basically he made it sound like the GTA was going to be the "mainstream" offering to the public and the other models will be more stripped for racing, etc. I hope this isn't what we get also...Here is part of what he said:


"I just purcheased the new Evolution VII GT-A. This is the new automatic/manual transmission model. Yes, clutchless 5 speed. The Evo VII GSR is now stripped for racing only with no A/C, power anything no radio, nothing. I figured that with the reputation of the evo, mitsu did this for a good reason. I will be getting it in 12 days from now. I hope it is everything that I was told it to be. I have some ideas to upgrade its performance, but I would like to here from you what you think would work good. Thanks"

 

Wouldn't the stripped Evo VII simply be the RS though, not a GSR?

 

That's what I said also..but here is another post by him:

"I have never owned a car other than a manual. This will be my first time ever to own a semi-manual transmission vehicle. From what I have seen from my research, the transmission is very responsive, and THAT was the only way that I would try this new transmission out. I believe in the Mitsu and I don't think they would ruin the rep of the EVO. Once again, they don't sell the EVO GSR other than the completely stripped version. the manual available for the evo that has the options is the RS and it has lower engine specs (HP, torque. etc) and different gear ratios.

As soon as I get to drive my GT-A, I will inform you of wether or not I will keep it and wither how happy or pissed off I will be at mitsu"

 

Here is yet another of his replies to questions:

"First of all, I live in Japan right now. And the GSR is no longer being sold fully loaded. If it was, I would have bought that, without a thought of the GT-A. I was destroyed when I could not buy the GSR with all the options anymore. I looked into it extensively. And yes, the EVO is the INVEC-II tiptronic 5 speed automatic with shifting on the steering wheel (supposedly with some modifications from one in the galant). The guys at mitsubishi said that I would not be disappointed with the response time when shifting gears. The gear ratios are very close to the GSR. "

 

Wow...why am I not liking these rumors flying around today. This is just getting better...

 

Dam it!! This is exactly what I was afraid of when Mitsubishi pulled the Evo out of Group A rally and into WRC. I was worried the street car would suffer. Looks like I'll be looking for a TME.

 

Actually, I can check into this, but I think the reason that he cannot find a GSR for sale, and only RS's, is that they've sold out on the 10,000 Evo VII's that they developed for the VII run. There probably isn't any GSR's left, and only stripper rally RS's left.

And you might want to tell him it's an automatic. It's a 5-speed automatic with the INVECS system, such as sold in Galants and Diamantes. And it's semi-painful to deal with till 2000rpm...

Paul Hansen

 

Hmmmm, that makes sense. I didn't think of that. So that would mean then, when the Evo VIII is released they should still have RS, RS2, GSR and GTA models.