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.

Pros
  • Massive performance, handling, saloon-car versatility, exhaust system emits a great sound
Cons
  • Theft of the original model, fuel economy, uncompromising ride, a 'boy racer' magnet
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

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,462 off RRP*Used from £11,847
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,406 off RRP*Used from £14,850
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,647 off RRP*Used from £13,800
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,970 off RRP*Used from £8,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025
Skoda Enyaq vs Toyota bZ4X: which SUV is the perfect family EV?
Skoda Enyaq vs Toyota bZ4X - front tracking

Skoda Enyaq vs Toyota bZ4X: which SUV is the perfect family EV?

Things don’t stand still in the world of EVs, and Skoda’s Enyaq and Toyota’s bZ4X have both been updated. We put them to the test...
Car group tests
13 Sep 2025
New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025