Some info for those unaware of the Evos outside the USA.
All countries, except for the US, gets only 2 trims from the CD9A, CP9A and CT9A models, which is GSR and RS. There is though another trim available for LHD countries except for the US which is called the RS2. What are the differences?
GSR - all accessories and performance features inclusive of auto-climate control, SAYC for the CT9A models, Recaro seats, 6-speed tranny for Evos 8 and 9, and 17" rims. The GSR is only available in RHD models, and the GSR is supposed to be the LanEvo for the everyday high performance driver.
RS - ready to race version. No comfort features or amenities at all. No power features, no sound deadening, 5-speed MT, no SAYC for CT9A models, plain jane seats, and steel rims. Available in LHD and RHD models from the Evo 4 to the Evo 6.5. In rallying or in a race, the first stuff usually changed are the seats (they are merely removed with one bucket seat only) and the rims, that is why the RS had steel rims only with no Recaro seats. If anyone ought to get an Evo for pure racing, then the RS was your choice.
A special trim was made available for LHD countries like Italy, Russia, Philippines
, etc which is called the RS2. The RS2 trim is a mix of GSR and RS features. This was only available from the Evo 7 to Evo 8, and was replaced by the GT trim for the Evo 9 in RHD countries. The RS2 had Recaro seats, 17" rims, AYC/ACD, 5-speed MT, and yet, it didn't have auto climate control. As for the Evo 9, the RS2 trim was replaced with the GT trim and the LHD RS versions of the Evo 9 had no Recaro seats and it used a 5 MT gearbox. It still had its wing and diffusers.
So you now may be wondering about the MR badge.
The MR was like a special edition of the Evo. Just like the Evo 6 Tommi Makinen Edition. It was not like "Evo 6 RS" then "Evo 6 GSR" then "Evo 6 TME". It was "Evo 6 TME GSR" and "Evo 6 TME RS". The same goes with the MR badge. The Evo 8 MR was also called the Evo 8.5 and the Evo 9 MR was called the Evo 9.5.
Hence, the MR was never a trim level. It was just a newer model and higher performance version of its baseline model. Hence, you have Evo 8 MR GSR and Evo 8 MR RS.
I believe in the US, the "MR" badge was a trim level right? Well I think you guys were the only ones who had the "MR" as a trim level, hence, the black sheep in the Evo world.
