Split personality - 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR

Photos: Rahin Sadman Islam

The Evolution X is apparently the last of the legendary Evo series, and it's the only Evo to be offered with a 6-speed Dual Clutch Automatic transmission, labeled the SST in the MR variant, which is supposedly faster than the manual GSR counterparts.

Although this might look like a bread and butter Lancer EX given the amount of people out there putting Evolution body-kits on their 1.5L Lancers because of how similar they look right out of the box, don't let the subtle looks fool you. If the muscular wheel arches and the huge Brembo brakes peeking out of the 18-inch BBS alloys aren't enough, there is always the big gaping intercooler up front and the red MR badge at the back to let you know this is the real deal. The exterior is mostly left stock on this particular example except for the aftermarket lights. Despite the fact that Mitsubishi chose to go for a subtler approach with the X in contrast to the Lancer-on-steroids we used to see, it's still a handsome looking thing in standard form.

The Lancer Evolution X looks largely like the standard Lancer on the inside - aside from the leather Recaro seats and a few extra buttons on the dash, you wouldn't even know what this car is capable of. That initial impression disappears once sport mode is engaged and you are exposed to the g-forces of AWD grip and 300 ponies thrusting you forwards with split second breaks in between as the dual-clutch transmission changes gear, complimented with a loud thwack to let you know the next gear has been engaged.

Remember the ballistic 2JZ-GTE powered Toyota Crown we featured a year ago? Yeah, this Evo X is owned by the same person - Salman Farsy. If you've read the previous review, you'd know how fast and wild and unruly the Crown is. Compared to that this is enormously more tamed, the AYC system and AWD inspires confidence when Salman likes to show-off the handling capabilities of his Evo, it grips the road like a terrified toddler clasping onto their mother. And when all of that gets a little too much, the large two-piece Brembo stoppers will throw you forwards in the same pace as you descend to a halt in a controlled fashion, very unlike the skidding lunatic the Crown was. Despite the similar power levels and same driver, it was a whole different experience.

After a good hooning session, the car can be turned back into normal mode with a press of a button and suddenly it turns into a purring Lancer that cruises along smoothly, shifting automatically at low-rpms, it becomes quiet and comfortable leaving you confused as to whether this is the same ballistic fire-breathing Evo you've just experienced. The MR also gets Bilstein suspension with Eibach springs as standard which could explain the soothing ride.

The Evo is a perfect 4-door family car with just the right amount of grunt, practicality and also is one of the best tuning platforms out there. It'll do every day to day task you throw at it with ease (if you can afford the fuel bills) and at the touch of a button, can be transformed into a fire breathing monster machine. That split personality gives it an edge over other performance cars and that's why they are so popular not only in Dhaka, but all over the world.