The Great Rally Car Showdown: Subaru Impreza WRX STI WR1 vs Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 MR-FQ 320
Over the years, Subaru and Mitsubishi have been locked in a heated competition to outperform each other in their road-going rally cars. This rivalry is not just about horsepower, handling, and speed, but also about one-upmanship when it comes to the quantity of letters and numbers after the car's names. The latest addition to this ongoing battle is the Subaru Impreza WRX STI WR1, which faces off against the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 MR-FQ 320.
What Matters Most: The Stick
When it comes down to it, there's only one true way to determine which of these two cars is the fastest: by taking them on a rally course with four-wheel drive and an active control differential. As the Stig takes his place behind the wheel of the Evo, he launches off the line clearly, leaving any initial worries about the weight of all that badging in the dust. The car handles well into Chicago, with plenty of tire squeal to boot, but it's very tidy indeed. However, as we approach the Hammerhead, things start to get interesting - there's a bit of under steer, and can the Evo pick up the pace when it gets to the follow-through?
Hammerhead: The Real Test
The Hammerhead is the real test of these cars' mettle, and the Evo launches off the line like a shot. It's clear that the Evo has got this one in the bag - it's not just fast, but agile and responsive as well. As we take on Gambon and approach the final corner, it becomes clear that this car is something special. The Stig crosses the line in an astonishing 1 minute 20.6 seconds, which puts it nearly three seconds ahead of its predecessor. "That's a very, very quick car," he remarks, with the Evo clearly up against it.
The Pressure is On
With the Evo leading the pack by nearly four horsepower and nearly three seconds, the pressure is on for the Subaru to come out on top. As the Stig takes his place behind the wheel of the Impreza WRX STI WR1, he notes that the car "smoking off the line up to the first corner" - but it's not all smooth sailing from there. There's under steer, and more under steer as they take on the Hammerhead. Despite some impressive cornering skills, the Impreza is struggling to keep pace with its Mitsubishi counterpart.
A Close Call
As we approach the final stretch of the course, it becomes clear that the Impreza WRX STI WR1 has got this one in the bag - at least, initially. However, as they take on the penultimate corner, things start to get a bit hairy again - more under steer, and another blistering exit from Gambon. The Stig remarks that he's "never heard so much tire squeal" from any car out there, but it seems like the Impreza is still in contention.
The Verdict: Mitsubishi Takes the Win
And then, just when you thought it was all over, the results are in. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 MR-FQ 320 takes the win, with a blistering time of 1 minute 29.4 seconds - only a fraction of a second faster than its predecessor. The Stig remarks that this is the car "that's a good boy's car," while the Impreza WRX STI WR1 is relegated to a respectable third place.
The Verdict: Mitsubishi is the Better Car
As we ponder the results, it becomes clear that there can be no doubt - the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 MR-FQ 320 is the better car. With its exceptional handling, speed, and agility, it's a true rally car at its finest. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI WR1 may put up a good fight, but ultimately, it falls short of its Japanese rival. And so, we can say with confidence that Mitsubishi takes the win in this epic showdown between two of the world's most iconic rally cars.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enover the years Subaru and Mitsubishi have been locked in combat trying to outperform out handle and out horsepower each other with their road going rally cars and the other thing is every time they launch a new model they try and outdo each other with the quantity of letters and numbers after the car's names so these are the two new models this is the Subaru impressor STI WRX wr1 this is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 Mr fq 320 now we could have just done an ordinary road test on these cars but to be honest that's not the point what really matters between these two is which one is the fastest and there's only one solution to that it's called the stick right the Evo launches clearly off the line I was a bit worried that the weight of all that badging might slow it down but it seems pretty good so far hard breaking into Chicago lots of tire squeal but it's very tidy now we come down of course towards the real test shortly Hammerhead we'll see what happens with four-wheel drive and a clever active your control differential there's a bit of under steer there so can it pick up the pace when we get to the follow through let's see oh that's much better oh look at that two corners to go almost on the grass there sting thinks he's actually in a rally sing into Gambon and across the line in are you ready yes go on 1 minute 20 six exactly is that's nearly as quick as the Lamborghini guyardo I know that is that's a very very quick is where's the old one gone down here look so it's about two nearly 3 seconds faster than the old one and there's the old impress to 13 so I mean that is a very fast car very fast car which means the pressure really is on the Subaru let's see how it does so the Subaru really is up against it smoking off the line up to the first corner and there's under there that's not a good start Chicago now and more under steer right another real test through the Hammerhead oh my word that is awful the impress are already four horsepower down on the EVO so it's got to out handle it to beat its time good through the follow through maybe oh look at that maybe it can pull something out of the bag much better in the penultimate corner there more under steering gamb on and acoss the line I've never heard so much tire squeal from any car out there I know it was astonishing wasn't it I'm not expecting a fast time no well it is 1 minute 29.4 n n so it's only a bit faster than the old one was 13 we can remove and it's actually slower than the old evo8 fq 300 yeah so there we are I think the Stig actually got up when one of his rare utterances he said that the Subaru was a good boy's car but that the Mitsubishi is a man's car see there we go another question answered now we know this is the faster car therefore the Mitsubishi is the better carover the years Subaru and Mitsubishi have been locked in combat trying to outperform out handle and out horsepower each other with their road going rally cars and the other thing is every time they launch a new model they try and outdo each other with the quantity of letters and numbers after the car's names so these are the two new models this is the Subaru impressor STI WRX wr1 this is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 Mr fq 320 now we could have just done an ordinary road test on these cars but to be honest that's not the point what really matters between these two is which one is the fastest and there's only one solution to that it's called the stick right the Evo launches clearly off the line I was a bit worried that the weight of all that badging might slow it down but it seems pretty good so far hard breaking into Chicago lots of tire squeal but it's very tidy now we come down of course towards the real test shortly Hammerhead we'll see what happens with four-wheel drive and a clever active your control differential there's a bit of under steer there so can it pick up the pace when we get to the follow through let's see oh that's much better oh look at that two corners to go almost on the grass there sting thinks he's actually in a rally sing into Gambon and across the line in are you ready yes go on 1 minute 20 six exactly is that's nearly as quick as the Lamborghini guyardo I know that is that's a very very quick is where's the old one gone down here look so it's about two nearly 3 seconds faster than the old one and there's the old impress to 13 so I mean that is a very fast car very fast car which means the pressure really is on the Subaru let's see how it does so the Subaru really is up against it smoking off the line up to the first corner and there's under there that's not a good start Chicago now and more under steer right another real test through the Hammerhead oh my word that is awful the impress are already four horsepower down on the EVO so it's got to out handle it to beat its time good through the follow through maybe oh look at that maybe it can pull something out of the bag much better in the penultimate corner there more under steering gamb on and acoss the line I've never heard so much tire squeal from any car out there I know it was astonishing wasn't it I'm not expecting a fast time no well it is 1 minute 29.4 n n so it's only a bit faster than the old one was 13 we can remove and it's actually slower than the old evo8 fq 300 yeah so there we are I think the Stig actually got up when one of his rare utterances he said that the Subaru was a good boy's car but that the Mitsubishi is a man's car see there we go another question answered now we know this is the faster car therefore the Mitsubishi is the better car\n"
