Put an end to shift work

After driving the latest missile from Mitsubishi, it’s safe to say that the traditional manual transmission is obsolete.

Now, before all you shift-for-your self fanatics turn apoplectic, try the Lancer Evolution MR with its ultra-quick twin-clutch automated transmission that can swap cogs faster than even the most proficient gear jammer.

For the uninitiated, the Evolution is the all-wheel-drive performance derivative of Mitsubishi’s front-drive Lancer sedan and is the for-public-consumption version of the company’s competition rally vehicle.

Although the Evo is in its 10th iteration, it has only been in the United States since the eighth-gen version landed for the 2003 model year. Up to that point, it was a treat only for Mitsu’s home market of Japan.

The all-new 2008 car is far more substantial than its predecessors and comes loaded with lots of premium gear as befits its status as Mitsubishi’s “halo” vehicle.

The Evo’s devilish side is readily apparent the moment you twist the key and punch the throttle. This engages the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that spools out 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.

In base GSR trim, the Evo is equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox, which received a through sampling around the rough and twisty back roads near Mt. Tremblant, Canada, about a 90-minute drive north of Montreal, Quebec, in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains. Here, the Evo’s permanent all-wheel-drive system proved its worth, along with the assorted dynamic stability and traction controls that help keep the car under control and somewhat protected from the kind of over-exuberant behavior that is a natural consequence of piloting this beast. Although the extra-stiff suspension and the area’s frost-heaved and pot-holed secondary roads were a bit hard on the kidneys, the Evo seemed to handle it without breaking a sweat.

In truth, the GSR’s manual-transmission worked well, delivering precise shifts in a smooth and efficient manner. If this was all the Evo had to offer, it would still earn a high passing grade.

Our 100-mile driving loop ended at Le Circuit Mt Tremblant, a challenging 2.5-mile, 15-corner former Formula One race track with wild elevation changes. It was the perfect place to try out the Evolution MR, equipped with Mitsubishi’s Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST). This unit is less complex and is lighter than a traditional automatic and can be controlled by flicking the steering-column-mounted paddle shifters or by using the floor console shifter. It can also be left in the “Drive” position, where it functions much the same way as an automatic. While one gear is engaged with one clutch, the next gear has already been pre-selected by the other clutch. As a result, both upshifts and downshifts occur in rapid fire without any drop-off in engine power. The TC-SST even “blips” the throttle during shifts to match the engine and transmission speeds.

The TC-SST offers three separate driving modes: Normal, for stop-and-go driving where fuel economy is important; Sport, for quicker shifting and higher revs between gear changes (ideal for driving on mountainous roads, claims Mitsubishi); and S-Sport, for at-the-limit driving such as on a race track. In S-Sport, the shifts occur at or near peak engine speed and are the quickest of the three modes.

The Evo MR’s power-packed engine and confidence-inspiring four-wheel-drive system felt at home at Le Circuit. But the real fun came when leaving the car in “Drive” and shift mode set at S-Sport. Here, the Evo seemed to learn the track, all by itself, upshifting and downshifting at precisely the right moments and always leaving the driver in the correct gear upon exiting the corners. All of the focus was directed to steering and braking, without fumbling for the right cog. For both novice and expert drivers, average lap speeds are demonstrably higher when compared with old-school shifters.

After numerous laps in dry and wet conditions (the Evo loves the wet, by the way), it’s impossible not to become a convert to the TC-SST. Systems like it are already showing up in Volkswagens, BMWs and Audis and will be offered on the 2009 Porsche 911.

Manual transmissions will probably stick around for a while, but the Evo MR and its ilk will one day rule the world. They’re simply that good and more fun than you can imagine.

Malcolm Gunn is a feature writer with Wheelbase Communications. He can be reached on the Web at www.wheelbase.ws/mailbag.html. Wheelbase is a North America supplier of automobile news, reviews and features.