Auto Rebellion Evo–STI Meet 2025: Rally icons, rain, and a day of boost
On Friday, 29 August 2025, more than 20 examples of the two rally-bred legends lined up, each modified, tuned, and sharpened well beyond factory spec
In the late '90s and early 2000s, no rivalry in the performance car world burned hotter than the one between Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution and Subaru's Impreza WRX STI. Both were born for rally stages but bred into road-going icons, each carrying its own brand of engineering philosophy.
On Friday, 29 August 2025, that rivalry came alive again at Auto Rebellion's Liqui Moly Evo–STI Meet 2025, powered by Elite Motors, hosted at the Cargo Parking lot of Jamuna Future Park.
The afternoon rain threatened to cut the party short, soaking the tarmac and leaving doubts in the air. But as the clouds broke, enthusiasts poured in, and the damp surface turned reflective—perfect lighting for what would become the largest gathering of Evos and STIs in Bangladesh. More than 20 examples of the two rally-bred legends lined up, each modified, tuned, and sharpened well beyond factory spec.
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Among the cars on display were some with serious motorsport pedigree. Avik Anwar's Mitsubishi Evolution X, a three-time Rallycross Championship winner, stood alongside Zaer Zubab's Evolution VI, fresh off its victory in the Drag Duels 2025 manual cars category. Joining them was Sarwar Hussain Chowdhury, who clinched first place at the 4th Rallycross Championship in his Evo V, though for this meet he showcased his Evolution IX MR. Their presence underscored how deeply intertwined the Evo nameplate is with Bangladesh's competitive motorsport scene.
The star of the show was a heavily modified Evo IX, a build that blurred the line between road car and track tool. With its iron-block 4G63 engine, the Evo IX remains the tuner's dream—a motor that thrives on bigger turbos, forged internals, and ECU wizardry. Add to that Mitsubishi's famed Active Yaw Control (AYC) and Super All-Wheel Control systems, and you get a machine engineered to slice through corners with surgical precision. In rallying, this meant the Evo could dance on loose gravel and still launch out like it was glued to the ground. In Dhaka, it meant a street weapon—low, wide, restless, and unapologetically aggressive.
Facing it down was a blue Subaru WRX STI hatchback. While the Evo's strength lay in electronics and sharpness, Subaru played a different card. The STI's 2.0-litre EJ20 boxer engine delivered its punch with that signature offbeat rumble, the sound of unequal-length headers and flat-four cylinders firing in rhythm. The STI's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive gave it the traction to deploy torque in all conditions, with a mechanical toughness that made it a favourite for tuners who valued brute strength as much as finesse. If the Evo was a scalpel, the STI was a hammer—but a hammer that could still dance when asked.
And the Evo–STI duel was only part of the story. Every car on display had been fettled, breathed on, or outright transformed by the tuning community. Nothing was in their stock form. The supporting cast included a Mitsubishi 3000GT, its twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel-drive system representing Japan's early push into the supercar arena. A pristine Toyota Starlet GT, light and feisty, proving that horsepower isn't everything. An AE92 GT and AE86 Levin, the cult heroes of Toyota's performance past. A mid-engined MR-2, playful as ever. A retro RT-40 Corona and KP60 Starlet, both testaments to how far the scene's roots go. And finally, a Nissan GT-R R35, Japan's most fearsome contribution to the supercar arms race, standing tall among the old guard.
