Skip advert
Advertisement

Mitsubishi Evo VIII

It's early August, and our brand new Mitsubishi Evo VIII FQ-300 is missing. Where its bright yellow bodywork once sat in the street, there's now a huge gap. It's a serious shock, and I can't help pacing up and down the road, hoping there's been some mistake. The optimism doesn't last, though, and 10 minutes later I'm on the phone to the police, reporting the vehicle stolen... The fastest car Auto Express has ever had on its long-term fleet, registration 8CCC, has lasted a mere five days with us.

Find your next car here
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

It's early August, and our brand new Mitsubishi Evo VIII FQ-300 is missing. Where its bright yellow bodywork once sat in the street, there's now a huge gap. It's a serious shock, and I can't help pacing up and down the road, hoping there's been some mistake. The optimism doesn't last, though, and 10 minutes later I'm on the phone to the police, reporting the vehicle stolen... The fastest car Auto Express has ever had on its long-term fleet, registration 8CCC, has lasted a mere five days with us.
Six hours and three taxi rides later, I am still in a long queue in a police station waiting to give a statement. The cops are interested, but not hugely - until it emerges that I am the vehicle's keeper, not the owner. For a moment you can almost see the suspicion in the officer's eyes... Nothing is said directly, but the questioning seems to suggest the law is keen to eliminate me from their enquiries.
The story could have ended there, but just as it looked like we had lost our long-termer for good, Mitsubishi swung into action. It delivered a near-identical Evo VIII (9,000 miles on the clock, registration 1CCC) just in time for a trip to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
After popping into the N

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £9,920Avg. savings £5,132 off RRP*Used from £5,990
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £11,550Avg. savings £4,501 off RRP*Used from £11,185
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £9,990Avg. savings £8,966 off RRP*Used from £9,929
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £8,899Avg. savings £3,628 off RRP*Used from £7,000
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

EV drivers brace for £1 per kWh charging prices as standing charges skyrocket
Fiat 500 connected to a Gridserve rapid charger

EV drivers brace for £1 per kWh charging prices as standing charges skyrocket

A new impact assessment of operator standing charges estimates the cost of plugging in could exceed £1 per kWh before VAT and running costs are even c…
News
12 Nov 2026
Car Deal of the Day: Popular Jaecoo 7 hits a new low at £222 a month
Jaecoo 7 - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Popular Jaecoo 7 hits a new low at £222 a month

The Jaecoo 7 has taken the UK by storm – and it’s easy to see why at these prices. It’s our Deal of the Day for 11 November.
News
11 Nov 2026
New Dacia Spring 2026 review: a lot of car for a very attractive price
Sebastian Friemel with the Dacia Spring

New Dacia Spring 2026 review: a lot of car for a very attractive price

More space, improved comfort, and still an affordable price tag. But does the second generation Dacia Spring finally drive like a real car?
Road tests
13 Nov 2026