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evo 227 on sale now! Hyperhatches, Hakosuka Skyline and more

Has the new VW Golf GTI Clubsport S become our favourite hot hatch? Find out in this month's issue

If you’re a fan of the latest breed of hugely powerful hot hatchbacks then this month’s edition of evo magazine will be an essential purchase.

We’ve pitched the all-new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S – fresh from a lap record at the Nurburgring – against the Ford Focus RS and two previous ‘Ring record holders, the Honda Civic Type R and SEAT Leon Cupra 290. We then put the winner up against another previous record holder and our current favourite hot hatch, the Renault Sport Megane Trophy-R – which would you buy?

This month’s news kicks off with a look at cars that are dragging manufacturers out of their comfort zones, from Lamborghini SUVs to mid-engined Corvettes, while our leading road test is a comparison between the Jaguar F-type R AWD and the Mercedes AMG GT. We’ve also driven the McLaren 540C and Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Following our hot hatch test we’ve driven an even hotter one, in the form of Peugeot’s 308 Racing Cup. With touring car-style pace from Peugeot’s latest one-make racer, will Peugeot follow up with a hotter road version?

For a change of pace, literally and figuratively, Dan Prosser writes an exclusive review of the Rimac Concept One – a 1073bhp electric supercar from a company set to make huge waves in the electric vehicle industry not just as a manufacturer, but as a skilled consultancy that can best even Tesla for innovation.

In contrast, Jethro Bovingdon has finally got his hands on an example of the very first generation Nissan Skyline GT-R, dubbed the ‘Hakosuka’ by its fans. If you think GT-R is all about high technology and all-wheel drive, then you’ve been missing out on the beautifully boxy starting point to the GT-R legend.

Elsewhere in the magazine you’ll find Henry Catchpole’s take on the Chevrolet Corvette (and a spot of mountain-climbing too), a look at the personal car collection of a legendary Japanese racing driver, and read the latest on evo’s long-term ‘Fast Fleet’, including a new arrival in the shape of a Mini JCW Challenge.

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