Broncos take over once you're mounted. Instead it was I who was in control of the two off-the-wall mechanical missiles, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and Subaru Impreza STi 9, once mounted.

Yes, You've seen this movie before, when we pitted these two together without actually road testing them, but now with our own figures in hand, we reckoned we'd celebrate the ninth Evolution's local debut by pitting it against its lifelong nemesis...

And it boils down to the manner in which the latest Evo and STi seem able to control themselves when driven on the limit. To a great degree it's via their oh-so-clever computers that control their AWD layouts, which in fact improve handling characteristics more than traction abilities.

Evo's new and re-tuned Super Active Yaw Control is better suited than before when driven hard. And I drove it hard, very hard. In fact it even seemed too easy when I hurled Evo IX into a corner foot flat and caught the drift hardly altering my throttle input. The Evo in particular, enhances cornering performance by transferring torque between the rear wheels in tandem with the Active Centre Differential.

True icons, Evo IX and STi 9 are nothing short of sensational. From the moment you floor either accelerator you're hurled into another dimension. And should you overstep the mark, just relax. The oh-so-clever computers do most of the rest, both cars seemingly controlled by mechanical gods, with perhaps the Evo a just a tad more positive.

Evo's passage is further aided by high-performance shock absorbers and its ride-height reduced via shorter rear springs, while 17-inch Enkei lightweight alloy wheels are fitted with trick rubber for maximum effect.

Under the hood, Evo's inline-turbo-four now boasts a world first magnesium compressor turbine and Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control System that both improves throttle response and ups power from 195 to 206kW. MIVEC reduces Lancer's turbo lag, varying only valve timing, although the STi has a system that controls both timing and lift. Evo's longer turbo diffuser provides a low-end performance bonus - and it's 3% more fuel-efficient and 3% cleaner, too. Evo IX' innovative all-wheel drive system boasts an Active Centre Differential and yaw-sensing Super Active Yaw Control ECU to transfer as much as double the torque between the rear wheels, while its WRC spec Sports ABS high-performance braking system is Brembo-equipped. A new 6-speed manual brings Evo's transmission in line with the STi at last.

Looking at the STI's tech spec, its now 2.5-litre quad-cam boxer turbo drives its symmetrical AWD system through a 6-speed 'box. A driver-selectable centre diff employs an electronic lock-up clutch and a torque-sensing mechanical limited-slip device that reacts quicker than an electronic unit. STi lacks a stability control but a steering angle sensor operates the centre differential electronics.

Aesthetically, while some may consider the STi more classical in appearance, Evo also benefits redesigned front and rear bumpers and a strengthened pressed aluminium roof, dark-clear halogen headlamp extensions and taillights. Its new front-end design better manages airflow to the intercooler and brakes. Both cars feature Batmobile-like rear spoilers - Evo's being of hollow carbon-fibre - for optimum downforce aided by a rear bumper diffuser. And while both cabins are rather ordinary, the Evo's is highlighted by race-style Recaro front seats that perhaps look more attractive than the STi's - although both offer high levels of support even in extreme driving situations.

Surprisingly, it's the Evo that's now easier to drive with its improved torque in the low to mid rev ranges and quicker than before acceleration response. But if there's a difference between these two banshees, it must be the extra cubic capacity added to the STi. At 2.5 litres it now has more grunt low down than the Evo and it's far easier to drive than when it was a 2-litre.

That said; the new 2.5 STi is not much quicker than the previous 2-litre version due to its lower specific power outputs, although it was quicker than the Evo in our tests. However the extra half a litre of cubic capacity could mean that in the near future, when the specific power outputs are brought more into line, it could become even quicker.

For now though, our figures saw the Evo run the 0-100km/h dash in 5.95 seconds, flattens the quarter in 14.7 seconds at @ 161km/h, pulls from 80 to 120km/h in 4.8 seconds and from 120 to 160 in 4.3 while the top speed is now 250km/h. Not bad for a two litre. But the Subaru beats it everywhere - albeit marginally - no doubt aided and abetted by that extra half-litre...

Simply put, looking at sophistication, the Evo 2-litre's specific power output is 195kW per tonne while the 2.5-litre STi is just 145 - which does, perhaps suggest that there's still plenty to come from the Subaru...

Choosing a winner between the R399 900 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and the latest R385 000 Subaru Impreza STi 9 has always been a rather continuous issue. But now that Subaru has pumped the Impreza up to 2.5-litre capacity, we see it as a cop-out to satisfy the fat-cat driver with the rice rocket the car actually is. Which makes it far easier for this purist crew this time around. The Mitsubishi wins it...