Due to be unveiled in April the Evo VIII comes standard with a factory performance-tuned 2-litre DOHC, 16-valve turbocharged engine with 206 kW at 6 500 r/min and 392 Nm of torque at 3 500 r/min.
It has a front-mounted air-to-air intercooler, a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, full-time all-wheel drive with electronically governed Active Centre Differential and driver-selectable mode: Tarmac, Snow or Gravel.
It also has an aluminium front fenders and hood, four-wheel ventilated BREMBO) disc brakes with 4-channel ABS, as well as 17 inch x 8 inch wide ENKEI alloy wheels fitted with W-speed-rated Yokohama P235/45 ADVAN high-grip soft-compound tyres.
On the outside there's a big colour-keyed boot spoiler with a carbon-fibre airfoil, air-flowed front styling, and side skirts, while the interior gets front Recaro Sport bucket seats, a leather-wrapped MOMO three-spoke steering wheel, a 140-watt CD audio system with six speakers, and a keyless entry system.