Mitsubishi Evo

The Evo IX estate is without doubt the fastest-cornering estate on the planet. But as Mitsubishi plans to manufacture a mere 2,500, with none destined for export, you can put the car down as another Japanese rocket that got away.

We'll let you in on a little secret. Mitsu-bishi has been trying to build an estate from its rally-inspired Lancer Evolution for the past four years.

Thing is, the firm has always faced opposition... either from old technical partner DaimlerChrysler, or from internal disputes over the future direction of the company. Now the German giant is out of the picture, Mitsubishi has pulled together to breathe life back into its estate project.

Based on the Evo IX saloon, the car has a 2.0-litre turbo engine, six-speed box and all-wheel drive. Ignore the roof- line and it's near-identical to its brother, but it's blander inside. The grey colour is uninspiring, and except for a leather-wrapped gearshift and a three-spoke steering wheel, there's too much plastic. But there's better news when you fire up the engine and hear the exhaust note.

Official output is 280bhp, but we think it is more like 315bhp-plus. The suspension is very firm, and the body displays the same rally-bred rigidity as the saloon. Predictably, the estate feels rock-solid in corners, with minimum roll. But while this car does share its brother's Active Centre Differential with three-way Tarmac/Gravel/Snow control, it doesn't get the Evo IX's highly rated AYC traction system. One engineer suggested that price was an issue, but we don't think this model needs it!

Grip levels are sensational, and cornering speeds on the test track are race-car fast. If you are looking for the ultimate in performance and practicality, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX is the machine you have been waiting for.