The firm"s Sportback...

The firm"s Sportback previewed the next-generation Lancer at the Frankfurt expo earlier in the year, but this is the clearest indication yet of how the rally-bred model will really look.

As predicted, the thinly veiled production car retains the same grille as the Sportback, and marks a massive departure from the lines of the current Evo IX. The UK will get a full five-door Lancer line-up for the first time, including diesel variants, although the turbocharged flagship Evo will be available only in four-door saloon guise.

Fans of the brand will note the flared wheelarches, aggressive stance and high-level rear wing, which are all Evo trademarks. In addition, the show car boasts a smart air vent incorporated in the shut line where the front wing meets the door. At the back, twin exhaust pipes, white lamp lenses and an under-body diffuser all signal the Evo"s intentions.

Inside, there"s lots of polished metal trim. While the production car"s interior will be toned down, the prototype"s sequential transmission, complete with gearchange paddles mounted on the race-style steering wheel, will make it to the road machine. Power will come from an all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing at least 320bhp.

Although more potent models are likely to be built, a spokeswoman for the firm warned not to expect any power outputs that exceed the 400bhp mark. The Evo X is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in mid-2007, shortly after it hits Japanese showrooms. Prices have yet to be confirmed, but the spokeswoman told us they wouldn"t increase significantly over current levels.