FASTEN your seatbelts and prepare for take-off. There's a distinct Top Gun feel to Mitsubishi's latest road rocket.
Part of the reason for that is the throb of a power plant offering in excess of 300bhp and able to propel you to 62mph in under five seconds, pushing you firmly back in your body-hugging Recaro rally seat.
With a top speed of 157mph, the Evo VIII takes no prisoners. And the ludicrously small and indistinct speedometer doesn't make it any easier to hold on to your licence.
Mitsubishi describes the car as boasting "exceptional handling and emotionally spine-tingling driving experience" - that translates as a terrifying drive if this car ever gets into the wrong hands.
There's no hiding the fact that raw power is one of the car's strong selling points, and the bright yellow and red paintwork of the flagship FQ-300 performance model makes sure everyone can see it coming.
Add a whale-tail spoiler and menacing grilles and you've got one of the meanest machines on the road.
The latest generation Evo adds some subtle enhancements to the package of power, poise and G-Force which has always characterised these models, offering more torque, more acceleration and even more sticking power on tortuous bends.
So it's not what you would call a relaxing ride. The suspension is firm enough to put you very closely in touch with the contours of the road - too close at times, when awkward ruts and cambers threaten to flip you off course if you've got too carried away by that seductive throaty roar.
What you're paying for is the invisible technology, developed with the help of the Mitsubishi World Rally Team, which makes this one of the fastest point-to-point cars around.
But the price tag isn't quite as scary as you might anticipate, given the rallying pedigree, with even the FQ-300 checking in under the £30,000 mark.
The car's cabin isn't exactly basic, but it may feel a shade spartan for those accustomed to their home comforts, despite the brushed metal inserts and tilting radio/CD.
The steering wheel is reassuringly solid, but the instrument stalks are standard Mitsubishi issue and the boot lid is light and insubstantial.
Nonetheless it's a more practical car than its performance might suggest, with a roomy luggage area and seating for four.
The formidable power is harnessed through a slick close-ratio six-speed box and the four-wheel drive is sophisticated enough to redistribute torque between wheels when cornering, while offering the choice of setting the active centre differential for driving on tarmac, gravel or snow.
All that adds up to the sort of driving sensation offered by the latest arcade rally video games. Just add an open road, touch the accelerator slightly and you're ready for the off.
But there lies the rub, of course, because not everyone who takes the wheel of the Evo VIII will be a trained rally driver - and normal British roads aren't designed for cars which only come into their own when driven to the limit.
Undoubtedly the Evo VIII, which hits the showrooms next spring, will be up there at the top of the league of boy racers' dream machines, but for most it's a little too over-the-top for comfort.
You don't have to travel far at the wheel to feel as if you've just completed a gruelling forest stage. It's not a car that feels content at anything less than a breakneck pace, and that calls for maximum concentration, especially if driving conditions are poor.
But performance enthusiasts won't hear a bad word against it. Forget about fuel consumption and insurance ratings, this is a lightweight, competitively priced rally machine that's all about driving exhilaration. It just takes a pretty level-headed driver to enjoy the thrills without experiencing any spills...
FAST FACTS
Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancer Evolution VIII
Price: £26,999
Mechanical: 276bhp, 1,997cc, 4 cyl 16-valve DOHC turbo, driving all four wheels via 6-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 157mph
0-62mph: 5.3 secs
Combined mpg: 20.5
Insurance group: 20
CO2 emissions: 334g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited mileage; 6yrs anti-rust