High-Res Photo Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Since it's Christmas time, we're entertaining wish lists this week at TheCarConnection.com, and finding ourselves the judges of who's been naughty and nice. As a habit we usually pay more attention to naughty. But this time, with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, we're in the position of having to reward something on both sides of Santa's big book.

It's true--there's plenty about the Evo that's naughty, from its lecherous turbo power and its caffeine-crazed track abilities, down to its investment-grade pricetag of more than $34,000.

But what's nice about the Evo is the same story as its psychographic twin, the Subaru WRX STI. Though the STI hit the U.S. market in 2001, a couple of years before the Evo, they share a mission--to twist the brains of Japanophile drivers with horsepower and grip. Only this time around the STI, and the Evo to a lesser extent, are playing nicer to their owners. Both feel more substantial. Both get richer-looking exteriors and interiors. And both put on a little weight, which seems to affect the Evo a little more than the STI.

The net effect in the case of the Evo is a slightly slower car that's much happier to drive casually than the last version. As Subaru does with the STI, Mitsubishi promises the tenth-generation Evo is a "markedly better car for everyday driving."

Question: is that the kiss of death for the hardcore enthusiasts--or just a huge relief for more relaxed fans who want the look and the speed, without the race-car pains? We took to the track and the road outside Phoenix for a first taste of the Evolution and left wanting more.