STi; 300HP, 300lb.ft.
Evo; 271HP, 273lb.ft

but then...Mitsubishi comes out with this;
http://www.supercars.net/cars/2003@$...20FQ-300g.html

305HP, 300lb.ft of torque, direct from RalliArt. Pretty neat I think! I think the article mentions that this is for the European market only. This one has the 2.0L engine. Maybe SOA will do the same.

The new generation of sports car supremacy battles have started. It used to be the domestics, but now its time for something more up to date

 

well

UK only model..

to counter the PPP

anyway.... that battle is almost over..

we are not really getting any piece of it

till MMA wakes up and whop themselves into shape

 

Yes Mitsu will probably release the Evo. 300 to compete with the STi, but I'm sure Subi will fight back and bring us perhaps an STi RA spec C, or maybe an S202, who knows.
Its like a cat and mouse fight. One always has to come out with something bigger and better.

 

prodrive performance package

300 hp 299 lb torque.. just a prodrive ECU flash and a exhaust..


STi w/ PPP is 500 pounds more than a Stock Evo 8

most Brits buy PPPs.. thats why MIts getting pissed


They gunning it over in UK

but here at states.. STi clearly has the upper hand

31 K is sweet!!!

 

Does anybody know if Mitsu might release a detuned Evolution as a direct competitor to the non-STi WRX?

That would be cool indeed

 

I was told buy a Mits salesman, that they would be doing this. What would they do to water it down. I guess they will just slightly upgrade the Lancer engine and turbo it and slap on some better wheels, and probably remain FWD. I think it would be just good enough to be in a class having more hp than a Mazdaspeed Protege and same or less hp than a Neon SRT-4.

 

If the detuned Evolution wasn't AWD, I wouldn't take a passing glance at it. However, if it was a direct competitor to the WRX, it would warrant a closer look. As it stands, I'd take an STi over an Evolution, if I could afford either that is

 

Yeah! That'd be really nice to revive some of the 90's RWD import compact sports cars like the 240SX, MX-6, RX-7, and Supra. I doubt the supra will make a comeback. The RX-7 may; I've been hearing rumors that the RX-7 will return in the near future.

Out of all the above, the one I'd most like to see is the 240SX. That was a beautiful car. They should have brought the SR20DET stateside, but it was a great car nonetheless. Even with the success of the Z revival, I doubt Nissan would bring back the 240. Aside from drivetrain, it would be a strong competitor to their own Sentra SE-R and would probaby hurt sales on that car. But with the SE-R at 175HP and Z at 287, a revived 240 in the 220-240HP range would be a great mid-ground if it sold in the low 20K range. If the 240 was brought back, I'd take it in a heartbeat over a WRX.

 

PPP = 'Prodrive Performance Pack'

- Janq

 

The RX-7 is hear today...its called the RX-8.

 

Hardly. A really watered down "RX-7" at best. However, Mazda is thinking of releasing a true revived RX-7;

From MotorTrend's Future Vehicle Forecast. This info can be found in many other reputable places on the net as well;

"2006 Mazda RX-7: If the RX-8 is the success Mazda is banking on, a two-door RX-7 may follow for 2006. On the drawing board is a shortened, lighter car boasting 280-330 hp."

 

Ni3Frontier,

The RX-8 is actually pretty cool in concept and design.
Saying its "watered down at best" is a bit off-base considering the relative performance to the previous generations NA & Turbo models:
200 HP @ 6500 RPM & 196 lb/ft @ 3500 (NA '91 RX-7 @ 2,987 lbs)
255 HP @ 6500 RPM & 217 lb/ft @ 5000 (Turbo '93 RX-7 @ 2,789 lbs)
250 HP @ 8500 RPM & 159 lb/ft @ 5500 (NA '03 RX-8 6M @2,940 lbs)

As indicated above the RX-8 makes 98% of the '93 Turbo's (last model) horsepower though its down on torque by 19% as compared to the '91 NA (last NA model). The Turbo only made 25% more power than the NA so applying the same to the RX-8 might result in a yield of roughly 313 HP (!). For torque the Turbo also made about 11% more and again applying the same to the RX-8 might result in about 177 lb/ft. But keep in mind this is all coming from only 1.3L of displacement.

I'd say respectable for a 2+2 sport coupe (sedan?) at only $28K, and the good folks at Car & Driver (this months edition) seem to agree.

Overall the RX-8 is the better than any of the previous generation RX-7's. Oh, and since when is MotorTrend known a reliable or believeable source?
They are equivalent to Road & Track, the 'People' magazine of auto rags. Now if you had said AutoWeek or even Auotmobile then maybe I'd believe it.

- Janq