Combine those super-sticky yokohama tyres with advanced yaw control and the ability to send torque to whichever wheel has the most grip, and you have a point-to-point machine that will redefine your notion of what constitutes a fast road car. More than just a turbo whacked on to the lancer's 2. Well, excuses about the clutch, at least. The car has a fairly neutral balance when cornering under hard acceleration, where the evo vi tme would often break into power oversteer on full throttle.

On dry roads you can make a really fast start with about 4,500 rpm, and she just goes off; no wheelspin - that's all taken care of - and no stalling; the evo viii just hurtles off with a roar. It just goes, turns and stops like nothing you've ever driven before. And while australian drivers missed out on the angular evo vii, we've been gifted with the curvy evo viii, and with it comes a new look, an easier-to-live-with disposition and a few new go-fast goodies, best of which is that maniacal 2.

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