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EVO (magazine)
evo is a motoring magazine published monthly in Great Britain by Dennis Publishers. The publication has a reputation for excellent journalism and photography, and frequently tests the world's fastest automobiles all over the globe. evo has nine worldwide editions - the UK, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Middle East, Phillipines and Russia each have a separate edition. The magazine's ethos is 'the thrill of driving' and specialises in reviewing and testing only sports cars.
The UK's Fastest Growing Magazine
evo has proved sensationally popular here in the UK. Last year, circulation increased by four percent while many other magazine titles' circulation dropped by up to twenty-five percent. Editorial Director Harry Metcalfe leads an enthusiastic team of talented automotive writers, from recent recruit Staff Writer Henry Catchpole to Deputy Editor Jethro Bovingdon. Recent magazine projects have included the production of a Westfield XI kit car, and then driving the finished product to the Classic Le Mans, and the modification of a BMW M3 to complete a lap of the Nurburgring Nordschiefe in less than eight minutes.
evo not only tests cars - it can have an active responsibility in the development of them too. Following a scathing review of the Aston Martin DB9, the writers were invited to Aston to talk over their findings. The recently produced 'Sport Pack' for the DB9 is the product of this conversation. Recently, evo joined efforts with Prodrive while they engineered a series of upgrades for the Aston V8 Vantage, and Renault also took the magazine's advice about possible modifications to the Megane 225 - the subsequent 'Trophy' model is a five-star rated car in the magazine.
evo is offered in two different UK formats - the 'Collectors Edition' and the standard edition. The standard edition is the issue offered for sale to the general public in newsagents and magazine stands; the Collectors Edition is sent to subscribers only. The content remains identical, but the cover of the CE is cleaner, usually with just the single imposing cover photograph, under the evo title. Subscribers are treated to a letter from the Editor each month, which has recently gone electronic.
Every issue of the magazine follows the traditional form of - Introduction; News; Reviews; Letters; Articles and Stories; Longtermers; Data Section; and, finally, 'Birth of an Icon', a feature dedicated to the history of a selected automobile.
The eCoTY
Each year, evo and its crew take the year's best new cars on a mammoth test, which is split into two parts, to find the evo Car of The Year (eCoTY). This feature has grown into one of the most influential reports of new cars in British media, and is generally the best selling evo. Leg one takes place in Wales, evo's preferred testing spot in the UK, with cars which are deemed 'affordable', which usually consists of hot-hatches and small-scale sports cars. Leg Two occurs abroad, usually involving a trans-country trip in Europe, with a central hub. In 2006, the hub was in the South of France, near the Alps and the famous 'Route de Napoleon'. The second leg is made up of the two finalists from the first leg, plus a mix of supercars, ranging from Ferrari's 599 GTB to Porsche's 911 Turbo.
The eCoTY completely dominates an issue, and makes for interesting reading as the best affordable cars are pitted against the cream of the supercar crop. A separate journalist is appointed to each leg, but every member of the team give the car points out of ten, which are totalled to give the final score. This year, the Ferrari 599 GTB won.
The evo Triangle
The evo Triangle is their favourite circuit of roads in Wales. For years, the location and precise roads remained a secret until it was leaked recently.
