Wednesday 4th July 2007

New Evo and Scooby STi out testing

The next generation test at the 'Ring

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New Evo X undergoing final testing

Here’re the latest pictures previewing one of the big battles looming within performance motoring.

Both the new Mitsubishi Evo and the forthcoming Subaru Impreza STi have been undergoing testing at the Nurburgring – one virtually showroom ready, the other rather more mysterious...

The protracted saga of the new Evo has been grinding on for a while now, with even the most recent showing at the Geneva Motor Show still being dubbed as a ‘concept’ despite seeming finished. Nevertheless, as these pictures show, the production car is now undergoing final development work with only the lightest of disguises.

RHD Evo braving the weather

Expect Mitsubishi’s latest S-AWC3 four-wheel drive system and MIVEC4 valve control for the famous two litre turbo engine.

The official production car will debut at the Frankfurt motor show before going on sale in the UK in March 2008.

The Scooby is a different tale. This heavily disguised new Impreza looks as if it will be quite different from the regular – and much maligned in the looks department - new WRX Impreza turbo (just launched in Japan, due in the United States, but NOT coming to Britain).

Wide arch STi at the 'Ring

Key features include the heavily blistered wheel arches that we assume hide a wider track, a large rear roof spoiler a quad exhaust pipes.

The new STi should have at least 300bhp from a 2.5 litre ‘boxer’ engine and use the latest version of Subaru’s four wheel drive system.

Looks like the war will continue for some time yet…

More Evo X images:

More Impreza STi images:

 

[dave_Sw1]

would like to have an Evo but the thought of 4500 mile service intervals is a bit frightening!

the scoob seems to have lost the plot, its unlikely to be any cheaper than the old STI so you are going from paying 27k for a fast saloon to paying 27k+ for a hatchback, which is a lot of cash for a small car? seems like they want to give up on the performance market and become more ford focus mainstream boring high volume cars.