Lancer quick on the draw

Making its worldwide debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the four-door is the firm's eagerly awaited Ford Focus rival.

As you can see from this official sketch, it looks just like the stunning Concept-X design from the 2005 Frankfurt expo. The Lancer debuts Mitsubishi's global platform, which will also underpin its Outlander SUV, while engines will come from a line-up developed with DaimlerChrysler and Hyundai. These include a 109bhp 1.5 petrol powerplant and, for the first time in a Lancer, a turbodiesel.

There will be a Ralliart-badged 'warm hatch' and a flagship Evo X with a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit, four-wheel drive and a bold bodykit. It is set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show next October.

A five-door hatchback will be revealed at September's Frankfurt expo and reach showrooms in 2008, but the four-door Lancer will be on sale in summer, priced from £12,000.