Anatomy of an Advanced Driveline
The rally-inspired 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-X has one of the most advanced drivelines ever fitted to a roadgoing vehicle. Appropriately, at the heart of the driveline is a dual clutch transmission, the major conceptual difference between this latest Lancer and the generations which preceded it.
The high-performance turbocharged four cylinder engine with continuously variable valve timing displaces 2.0 liters and produces 422 Nm torque. It is 12kg lighter than the outgoing unit but produces more power and fewer emissions.
The Twin Clutch SST six-speed automated manual gearbox provides a choice of Autoshift and three different manual modes - Normal, Sport and Super Sport, giving different shift scheduling for a wide variety of conditions. Among the parameters controlled by the mode switch are the speed of the shift, the clutch engagement profile and the throttle mapping. The selection of the different modes also influences chassis settings.
Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control system operates through the 4WD hardware to govern the dynamics of the vehicle. Integrated management of the many subsystems allows control of drive torque and brake force at each wheel to maximize stability and roadholding under a wide range of conditions. Three modes - tarmac, gravel and snow - each use different combinations of settings to optimize performance for particular surfaces and conditions.
Active Yaw Control is a torque vectoring system built into the rear axle and designed to limit the difference in torque applied to left and right wheels, thus limiting the yaw moment on the vehicle. Yaw rate feedback allows accurate determination of cornering dynamics on a real time basis.
Active Stability Control is a new feature designed to stabilize vehicle attitude while maintaining optimum traction. This is achieved by regulating engine power and braking force at each wheel; the system also claims to be able to suppress skidding in an emergency maneuver or as a result of sudden steering inputs.
The Active Center Differential optimizes front-rear torque split in real time through an electronically controlled hydraulic multiplate clutch, achieving the best balance between traction and steering response