Digital preview of ECOTY 2009 issue

News
The Tokyo show introduces the exciting Toyota FT-86, a front-engine/rear-drive coupe with a flat-four motor, and an all-new Honda CRX. Elsewhere, Porsche reveals a new Speedster

Drivens
Lexus LFA, Renault Megane 250, SEAT Leon Cupra R, Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Vauxhall Astra 1.4 SRI

Letters
Only venture to the Ring with your eyes wide open, says one reader. Don’t imagine the new McLaren supercar has Ferrari too worried, says another. Get some milk and bread on the way home, says the missus

There can be only one...
The breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Skye plays host to evo’s Car of the Year contest 2009. No fewer than 13 contenders venture to Scotland to battle it out, from the Renaultsport Clio 200 to the Lamborghini Murcielago SV, via the VW Scirocco R, Artega GT and Lotus Evora. After two intense days of driving, the field will be whittled down to a final five, and only as the sun sets on the third and final day will we crown the winner. The new champion then gets to meet last year’s winner, the Nissan GT-R, in a sort of Champions League (a small one)

The Best and Worst of 2009
As well as naming the Best Modified Car, Best Concept, Best Technical Innovation and Engine of the Year, we also name and shame the lame ducks, titter at the cock-ups and award that least coveted of all gongs, the evo Turkey of the Year. We’re going to need a lot of stuffing for this one…

Track Car of the Year 2009
We don’t use a race track to help decide Car of the Year but some of the contenders – including the Focus RS and 911 GT3 – go toe-to-toe with more specialised machinery such as the Mugen Civic, Radical SR8LM and Caparo T1 at the Bedford Autodrome to decide 2009’s best track car

Hypercar of the Year 2009
Immense power, astonishing performance and enormous price tags. Henry Catchpole sorts the must-haves from the wannabes, the high achievers from those with merely high hopes, on the way to revealing our Hypercar of 2009

Subscriptions
Apparently John and Edward have signed up for their three trial issues plus free book. Don’t miss out

Long-term tests
A Mercedes SL63 AMG joins the fleet, the LP640 goes in for open-engine surgery, and we’re £5K into the BMW 135i mods, so just watch that lap time tumble
 
Buying Guide
Bag yourself the last of the great Mitsubishi Evos, the IX, for £14K

Ask the Experts
What’s a flat-plane crank? The off-side rule of engines explained

Birth of an Icon: Citroen SM
If you’re an SM fan, hunt down the clip of Burt Reynolds driving one in The Longest Yard