Quick Spin: 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR

Mitsubishi’s Evolution is a nearly perfect performance car, so it is easy to dismiss some interior materials that are of questionable quality and stock tires that have the lifespan of a housefly. Those are minor quibbles for such a capable car – be content that the engine doesn’t have to be swapped out after every race and the tires after every 50 laps. Since significant changes run the risk of doing more harm than good to an existing vehicle, the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR attempts to only add a bit of polish to what is already a shining package.

In exchange for $800, the MR package delivers front and rear Bilstein shocks, 17-inch one-piece BBS forged alloy wheels, an aluminum roof panel, foglights, high-intensity discharge headlights, antilock brakes, and aluminum trim on the foot pedals and shift knob. That knob controls a six-speed manual transmission, unique to the Evo MR. Also exclusive to the MR is a carbon fiber brake handle, silver gauge trim, wheel locks, and gauges for volts, oil temp and turbo boost. Above the rear window is a strip of what looks like small shark fins – termed the Vortex Generator, this feature basically directs air to the massive carbon fiber spoiler situated atop the trunk lid. And for tunes, buyers of the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR will have to be satisfied with the stock 140-watt sound system, for the 315-watt unit is not on the MR’s options list, which also lacks a sunroof option.

Standard on all 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models is a new electronic active center differential (E-ACD), designed to improve the Evo's responsiveness to varying road conditions by allowing the driver to select between pavement, snow, and gravel settings. In a further effort to improve the Evolution's performance, the front helical limited slip differential previously available only on the RS has been added to the standard Evo and the MR. The new model year also marks the deletion of the intercooler's water spray feature.