The sense of precision--the feedback through the leather-wrapped steering wheel--had me grabbing the paddle shifters to extract every last ounce of enjoyment from the drive.

An afternoon playing with friends on their autocross course confirmed my road-trip impressions. Not only was the car almost effortless in its apex-cutting abilities, but when the time slips were compared, I was not the only one who was surprised.

The vehicle's premium components contributed to the sense of excellence. In the case of handling, that means Bilstein shocks and Eibach performance springs. As if to justify its lofty price, the suspension components contribute to the sense that you're driving a highly tuned, driver-focused car.

It took a bit for me to dismiss the suspicion that the Evolution MR-Touring is just a modified version of the ES I had previously driven. In the final analysis, though, I can say the Evolution MR-Touring offers a higher level of overall performance than anything else available in its price class, including the high-priced European spreads.

And while I've never been a parent, I can appreciate this is a car with a back seat, and with its almost-stealth appearance, it is a near-perfect dual-purpose sports car. The Evolution MR-Touring is tractable enough to haul the family during the week while providing grin-inducing thrills at the track on the weekend.

The Evolution MR-Touring might be as close as you can get to owning a street-legal rally car. And certainly, no four-door sedan that carries a sticker price of $41,735 can match its combination of performance and versatility. But with Mitsubishi's announced plans to revise its lineup by 2013, time may be running out to situate yourself in those Recaros behind this vehicle's leather-wrapped steering wheel. --Richard Truesdell