Here at Evo Towers we’ve blown hot and cold over the tenth version of our namesake Lancer, primarily because of its technical advancements and more polished finish. As a ground covering tool it would be hard to find anything more efficient and there are fleeting moments of greatness, but we miss the interaction and rally-raw feel of the old Evo IX.

The optional SST twin-clutch gearbox introduced with the X did little to help the new car’s case. Up until now, however, the SST ’box was only available on the basic FQ-300, which led us to conclude that it wasn’t beefy enough to cope with more power. Well, apparently it is, as now the 324bhp FQ-330 can be ordered with it too, and the great news is that it makes for a far more intriguing package.

The bias of the Evo’s four-wheel-drive system is rearward and here it has enough power to give the driver more options, with both power and lift-off oversteer on the menu. The blink-and-you’ve-missed-it gearshifts are more in keeping with this new-found feistier character too. The great news for Evo lovers, then, is that some of the missing spirit has returned.