Eight Lives

I have always like the performance of Evolutions, but not necessarily their looks.

The first to fifth iteration look a bit too much like Protons for me. Number 6 is obviously legendary, but again the 7th attempt looks a bit half-baked as the front grille is too similar to the base Lancer.

The Evolution 8 is the first Evo whose looks I really like, with its square-jawed, gaping front and stretched fenders conveying a sense of muscularity and menance. So when you take the range topping MR version and bolt on a tonne of quality JDM parts, you get this magnificent example.

LOOKS - INGS body kit, with a carbonfibre bonnet up front and boot out back topped off with a Voltex GT spoiler. The cumbersome stock side view mirrors are also replaced with aerodynamic Ganadors

GO - Basic bolt-ons like HKS Super flow intake and HKS Hi Silent power exhaust, combined with higher boost (HKS EVC5) and aftermarket engine management duties courtesy of a APEXI Power FC, equates easily to approximately 350 bhp.

STOP - With a proven race heritage in F1, WRC, NASCAR, Indy Car and the likes, the Alcon 6 pot mono block calipers are combined with 343mm rotors produce mammoth and fade-free stopping force. The 17" Buddy Club P1 rims allow the huge calipers to be proudly displayed through the thin 6 spokes.

TURN: The MR's centre of gravity has been lowered by the use of aluminium for the roof panel and weight reductions to the upper half of the body. Other handling improvements are to the electronic 4WD system - to the ACD (Active Centre Differential) + Super AYC (Active Yaw Control) handling systems. To this already potent mix, an set of Tein Monoflex coilies are paired with EDFC to allow for fast, in-cabin damper adjustment.

A practical, good-looking 4 door sedan with the ability to let 95% of all cars on the roads kiss the dust... What more can an enthusiast ask for?