Mitsubishi Evo

Performance car fans everywhere, rejoice! Mitsubishi has made its sensational Lancer Evo VIII even faster and more powerful than its predecessor. The all-wheel-drive, revised suspension and uprated engine combine to create a car with few peers. However, the cost of this remarkable turn of speed is in the standard of refinement. Few people will be content to live with this Evo on a daily basis.

With 342bhp, revised suspension and a tuned four-wheel-drive system, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII has raised the performance car ante yet again.

Aimed directly at Subaru's Impreza WR1, the Evo VIII MR FQ-340 looks similar to the company's previous flagship FQ-330, but promises a very different driving experience. We got behind the wheel to find out what it's like.

After the £32,999 price tag, the first things that hit you are the revised headlamps, gunmetal paintwork and bright red MR badging (it stands for Mitsubishi Racing). Aerodynamic roof winglets are fitted to improve airflow, and the engine management system has been reprogrammed to raise the output to 342bhp, while improving throttle response.

Uprated Bilstein suspension smooths the ride a bit, but the car is still far from refined. A toughened steel synchro on the six-speed box has made gearshifts slicker, yet this latest Evo is an animal. Acceleration is brutal, with 0-60mph in only 4.4 seconds. The competition-style anti-lock brakes need to be warmed up before they really bite into the huge discs, while grip from the Yokohama tyres is astonishing. But as with previous Evos, the MR has been designed purely for speed - and despite having a practical four-door body, it soon becomes uncomfortable on long motorway journeys. The performance is a big improvement over its predecessor, but the price you pay is rising all the time.