Share

Evo or Impreza? Which 90s rally-based performance sedan would you choose?

accreditation
<i> Image: Supplied </i>
<i> Image: Supplied </i>

The 90s was a time of 'Fresh Prince', Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) from 'Friends', all-white outfits and denim-on-denim aka the 'Benoni Tuxedo.'  

That era saw the world witness South Africa flourish under a new democracy and the Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup.

More than 14 000km from Ellis Park in the Land of the Rising Sun, two Japanese manufacturers, Mitsubishi and Subaru, were battling in the World Rally Championship. 

The former is called the Lancer EVO while Subaru chose Impreza WRX (World Rally eXperimental) for its car. 

Subaru's Impreza 555 won its first championship with Colin McRae behind the wheel in 1995 grabbing two wins, five podiums and 90 points to win the title by five points. 

If you want to win, employ a Finn 

But in Minato, Tokyo where Mitsubishi is based they had other ideas. Ralliart, the high-performance and motorsport division of Mitsubishi, managed to convince Finland's Tommi Mäkinen to join the team in 1996 and went on to win four championships in a row in the Lancer Evolution.

Mäkinen's dominance in WRC in the Evo III, IV, V and VI led to the Evo becoming a cult road car as the firm cashed in on its motorsport success.  

Which one would you buy? 

There was a simple choice if you wanted a fast, four-door rally car for the road, the Impreza WRX or the Lancer EVO? 

While South Africans were only able to buy the eighth, ninth and 10th generations of the Lancer, we had access to every version of the WRX from the GC8 in 1996. 

Their 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines produced prodigious power figures and their intelligent four-wheel drive systems meant they could handle most driving conditions. 

We want to know, which fast, four-door Japanese car would you park in your dream garage? Mail us your answer here. 


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE