Matthew Hermsen started his car-buying quest in search of the perfect tuner car. His criteria were perfectly standard: a new car that runs off the lot and a few extras like a sunroof and fog lights. Hermsen had narrowed his selection down to the Scion tC, Toyota Corolla and Kia Forte. But when he saw the Mitsubishi Evolution X’s sleek body lines and performance specifications, it was enough to turn the other vehicles into distant memories. The only problem was the price. The 2009 Evolution X was in the mid-$30,000 range. For the same look of high performance, Hermsen could get the sporty Mitsubishi Lancer GTS for less than half that price, so he decided to go in that direction. While he’d be sacrificing nearly 300 horsepower, which came standard on the high-end model, the 168 horses that seemed asthmatic in comparison could be easily upgraded with a large stable of aftermarket parts.
The vehicle Hermsen purchased was already equipped with gunmetal gray 18-inch MKW M71 wheels and Nankang NS-20 tires. So Hermsen turned his attention to the naturally aspirated engine, adding an Injen short ram intake for better breathing capability. Next, he blacked out the front bumper and added 5000k HID headlights. To let traffic know he was coming, a full catback Tsudo N1 exhaust helped open up throatier bass tones.
Night shows are always tricky. Getting the most out of your car and striking the fancy of wandering crowds means lighting up the night from your vehicle. Hermsen decided to add a full underbody neon lighting system as well as accent lighting under the dash. He installed more light-emitting diodes behind the radiator and grill. To keep his ride’s performance from going unnoticed, a dual gauge pod was mounted on the car’s driver’s side A-pillar to monitor oil pressure and air/fuel mix. A WORKS short shifter kit was installed for quicker gear changes.
| Stats box |
| Engine: 2.4-liter, dual overhead cam MIVEC four-cylinder |
| Performance: Injen intake, Tsudo N1 catback racing exhaust, Eibach Sportline lowering springs, WORKS short shifter, RRM aluminum crank pulley |
| Wheels: Gunmetal gray MKW 18-inch M71 wheels with Nankang NS-20 tires |
| Exterior: 3M 30-percent window tint, PlastiDip front bumper, PlastiDip chrome grille surround, DDM Tuning 5,000k HID low beams, smoked LED taillights, LED underbody kit, custom red vinyl front/rear badges, 2-inch Perrin short antenna, Rally Armor mudflaps |
| Interior: LED foot well kit, custom red vinyl interior trim, LED red interior map lights, GlowShift narrow band air/fuel gauge, GlowShift oil pressure gauge, RexSpeed Evo X A-pillar double gauge pod |
Hermsen added Eibach Sportline springs and staggered the configurations to give the car more height in the back and a raked orientation for peak weight transfer in turns. With a higher center of gravity over the back wheels, less grip is created to stifle high-speed turns. Of course, since Hermsen isn’t racing the car, it’s just a great story to tell his friends.
Sometimes it’s all about advertising feats that are never pursued — a marketing strategy that automobile companies build their reputations on.
What do you drive? A 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS.
Why do you drive it? It’s basically my toy. I love how it drives and the looks I get from those I pass by.
What makes this car so special? This was my first car that I had actually wanted and purchased. All vehicles before this one were always on the “need” basis. I had saved up for some time to get something that I finally wanted, and here I am now.
What is your most memorable driving experience with this vehicle? I would say my most memorable experience would have to be cruising up and down Coastal Highway in Ocean City. I love to cruise, and having dozens of people stare and point as you drive by makes it that much better. It’s also a small pat on the back when I get mistaken for either a Ralliart or an Evo X.
What was the first vehicle you owned? My first vehicle was a 1993 Ford Escort sedan. It was teal in color and was given to me by my uncle. I hated everything about the car, but after I had gotten rid of it, I did miss it.
What kind of music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? On any given day, it would range from metal and progressive rock, to hip-hop and trance. I listen to a little bit of everything.
And your first ticket? What was it for? Speeding! I had been driving six years prior to getting the Lancer and never got a ticket, but within the first three months of owning it, I had gotten pulled over three times. Fortunately, I was only ticketed once, but since that time, I’ve learned my lesson and have been watching my speed.
