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Next Evo gets twin-clutch gearbox
10 July 2007
The new Mitsubishi Evo will have an all-new four-wheel drive system and twin-clutch gearbox when it arrives in 2008.
The new Evo, which makes its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, will use an upgraded version of the last Evo’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged powerplant.
The 4x4 system is dubbed S-AWC, or Super All-Wheel Control. It adds Active Stability Control (ASC) to the current car’s Active Centre Differential (ACD), (Active Yaw Control (AYC) and anti-lock brake system (ABS). What this alphabet of initials means is that the car should be better than ever to drive.
Torque and braking at each wheel is tightly regulated, while the yaw control now operates in a similar manner to a limited-slip diff, meaning the driver should be able to get more of the car’s power to the road, more of the time. As before, the S-AWC system has three driver-selectable modes: tarmac, gravel and snow.
The new twin-clutch gearbox (dubbed SST, or Sport Shift Transmission) is essentially the same as VW’s DSG box, with one clutch for 1st, 3rd and 5th gears and another for 2nd, 4th and 6th.
As in the DSG system, that makes for super-fast shifts and slightly better fuel economy than in a manual car. The SST also offers the choice of three modes: normal, sport and super-sport.
So, the next Evo is set to be faster and more exciting than ever. Only problem is, there’s another six months until we get behind the wheel. And when we do, expect the usual Impreza v Evo battle; the next STi looks likely to be every bit as quick. Read more about it here.
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