If you took away the LSD from the ITR, do you think it'd make a difference in its handling? Of course it would. Mitsu did the same thing with the US Evo: They took away the mechanical LSD in the front and put in an open diff, the Active Center Differential is replaced with a less responsive viscous-coupled unit and the rear electronically controlled plate-clutch type LSD is a mechanical unit.

As for the power ratings.. in Japan, she was underrated. She was actually pulling numbers in excess of 300 hp to the crank so we are seeing a significant detune in the US version. Getting a turbo downpipe, hi-flo cat/test pipe and 3" catback should help gain back the losses.

All around, pretty disappointing considering that the Evo's handling characteristics were my chief consideration. Watering down the powertrain components detracts from exactly what the Evo stands for.