Mitsubishi Evo VIII 260 review
Mitsubishi Evo 260 Road Test
Test date 13 April 2004
Price as tested £23,999
For Steering, grip, handling, relative civility
Against Gearbox can snatch, short service intervals
The Evo was born in 1992. Mitsubishi wanted to go rallying and had to build 2500 road-going versions for homologation purposes. The Galant VR-4 donated its 250bhp 2.0-litre turbo motor and drivetrain to the smaller Lancer shell and a legend was born.
The Evo II got an extra 10bhp and suspension changes to boost stability. By the Evolution III in 1995, a large front air dam and high-set rear wing had appeared. Power was now 270bhp – enough for Tommi Makinen to win the 1996 World Rally Championship.
A new Lancer led to the Evo IV. Mechanical changes included a power boost to 276bhp and an aggressive aero package. Number V got more aggressive still with bigger wings, brakes, tracks and more torque. 1999’s Evo VI – considered by many the best of all – conveyed Makinen to his fourth rally title in a row.
The 2001 Evo VII was bigger, heavier and more refined. Further tweaks and a new active centre differential kept performance competitive. Last year’s Evo VIII offered more of the same, but with a slightly different nose and a six-speed gearbox. Until recently, it came in standard 276bhp, FQ-300 and FQ-330 form; under Mitsubishi’s new four model alignment, this car replaces the entry-level version, with new officially-imported Mitsubishi Racing 300, 320 and 340bhp models above it.
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