Thus in ascending order of speeds the Lancer clocked 5.63 seconds to reach the 60kmph mark, 9.13 seconds to whizz past the 80kmph mark while 100kmph came up in 13.00 seconds flat. The quarter mile came up in a best of 18.90 seconds and the standing kilometre in 34.35 seconds. However the lack of top end grunt saw her register a top speed of just 172.5kmph. Do what we could in either of the transmission modes, this was the best max speed she hit over our two-way top speed run.

The manual mode also gave us the chance to test her in-gear speeds. Through the gears the speedo error increases from a one per cent error in first gear to a 5.5 per cent increase in fourth gear. Thus in first while she actually does around 65.3kmph she is showing an error of 66kmph whereas in fourth the speedo indicates around a 182kmph to a true speed of 172.5kmph. What the figures don't tell though is the strong tractability in the 80 to 130kmph band where the large hearted Lancer comes up trumps.

The 184mm ventilated discs on the front wheels and 180mm drums at the rear ensure adequate braking. From 80kmph a dead halt is achieved in 35.26 metres within 3.12 seconds and from 100kmph the same is done in 49.37 metres within 3.35 seconds. However the pedal action feels spongy and though the figures do tell a better story the braking does not feel as confident nor sharp HM could perhaps have also explored the potential of the ASS system which would give the INVEX that much more of an edge. After all lesser cars have successfully incorporated the system at marginal price hikes.