The Road Crime Unit of the South Yorkshire Police will use the Evolution X radio cars, along side a fleet of Evolution VIII and IX police cars, to trap speeders. In addition to the speed, the style and the scary image it presented in your rear-view mirror, the cars come equipped with the new Automated Number Plate Recognition system. The Evos will "hunt" in packs of three in order to provide a deterrent for anyone in the mood to end up on the BBC News.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE HUNT IN PACKS WITH THEIR LANCER EVOLUTION TRILOGY

* Lancer Evolution X to be used in the Road Crime Unit
* Inspector praises Evolution’s strong visual impact, performance and safety credentials
* All-new Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system adds extra value to crime stoppers

Evo X Has Excellent Pursuit Capabilities
The new Police specification Evolution X has arrived with South Yorkshire Police to the great delight of its drivers, and the chagrin of local villains. The new car will be used alongside the ever present Evolution VIII and IX in the Road Crime Unit where proactive road policing is the mission and officers will be driving the new car in cases involving drug dealers and car thieves. “The Evo X was the car of choice because of its excellent pursuit capabilities and the fact that so much time and effort has been put into maximising performance whilst minimising the risk of accidents” Inspector Slack explained.

The Hunted Will Give Up
The new member of the team will be used on the same missions and at the same time as its previous-generation siblings, creating such a strong visual impact that the vehicle being pursued will often simply give up the chase and pull over, knowing they won’t be able to out-run the RCU. What is more, the Police Evolutions ‘hunt’ in packs of three, which, Inspector Slack explained is often enough of a deterrent that high-speed chases are avoided.

Evo X Has The Latest Software and Hardware
Not only will the new Evolution X be one of the most capable performing cars, it will also be fitted with the latest Police hardware and software combinations. The onboard Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system allows officers to check who the vehicle is registered to and if there is anything remotely suspicious about the vehicle.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Driving sucks in New York. Not only are the roads pot-holed, third-world battlefields, but local drivers treat them as such, doing everything possible to kill their fellow commuters. All this is made worse by the cops; their numbers swollen post-9/11, they prowl the streets like sharks, looking for anyone that stands out to punish with the full force of the law. You'd think driving a bright red Evo here would be a bad idea, but the thing is, it's not.

In MR trim, the Evo gains sound deadening, higher-quality suspension and bunch of toys like a decent stereo and satellite navigation. Then there's the gearbox. Called Twin-Clutch SST, it's Mitsubishi's version of a dual-clutch automated manual, and it's probably the best I've ever used.

Those features combine to create a car that's smooth-riding, well-controlled, quiet inside and that makes carving through gaps in heavy traffic completely fuss-free. None of that should sacrifice performance, while the suspension and gearbox will actually work to improve it.

Swipe the shifter that looks like it belongs in a manual over to the left, and you're in full-manual mode. No computerized brain tells it when to shift, leaving you in complete control. Well, at least once you've pulled away. The lack of a clutch to dump keeps take-off (and attempted donuts) wheelspin-free while high-rev launches require the use of a special launch control only available in Super-Sport automatic mode. Shifts are immediate and come when called for, never once beeping in protest instead of delivering the downshift required.

Cruising along slowly through the overcrowded suburban roadways, the MR's promise is ever-present in its immediate direction changes and ability to leap out of merge lanes. Its classier, toned-down looks don't draw attention the way the carbon-clad Evo IX I pass does, maybe due to the proliferation of down-market models like the Ralliart that share near-identical body addenda. The rear wing remains huge, but too many wannabes mean that, now, wings no longer signify performance. Cops we pass hardly take a second glance, more upset by Mitsubishi's manufacturer plate than the car's intent to speed.

Inside the MR you feel like an escaped convict, the car's promised performance making itself evident through the aggressive shifting, fierce acceleration and immediate responsiveness, but conveying those experiences in a manner that's positively refined. Cover up the plasticky interior, and this combination could spell M3.

It's really hard to write a remarkable review about an unremarkable drive. But maybe that's the most remarkable thing about the MR. Not only did it make the shittiest roads in the world tolerable, but it did so in a package supposedly capable of rivaling cars like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS or Ferrari F430 once the going gets more glamorous. To that ability I can't attest, but stuck in rush hour, I know which car I'd rather be in, and I'm excited about the possibility of owning a car of this caliber that's equally capable in the everyday grind. 

Photography: Björn Schütrumpf

The auto shifting flappy-paddle manual makes sense in a sports car like the Evolution X, but we're having trouble figuring out what place it has in a 3,500 lb crossover. Where's the demand for such a system? What's the market? Is there some Outlander Autocross circuit we don't know about? [CarScoop]

But what an Evo is really about is the handling, so HKS also provides a chassis upgrade kit with new suspension parts. You can complement the low stance with 265/30R19 Advan tires mounted on 19" Advan Racing RZ alloy wheels. To give it the full treatment, the styling package has an aerodynamics-enhancing body kit, as well as carbon fiber mirror caps, hood scoop, side protectors and front apron. So all well and good, but let's be honest—if you could get your hands on a mint Evo VI TME, which would you really want?
[CarScoop & Velocidadmaxima]