Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Mitsubishi

The European-designed Lancer is the centrepiece of Mitsubishi's display - though the models UK buyers will be most interested in are missing.

The two high-performance four-wheel-drive versions - 240bhp Ralliart and 295bhp Evo, both with 2.0-litre turbo engines - are being held in reserve for a while longer, as is the five-door hatch, which Mitsubishi will call Sportback.

So, for the time being, we're left with the four-door Sports Sedans that are unlikely to find too many buyers in the UK, where the practicality of hatchbacks is generally more popular.

The engine range includes 110bhp 1.5- and 144bhp 1.8-litre petrol units, as well as a 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel bought from Volkswagen.

The four-door and high-performance versions are due on sale in the UK simultaneously next spring, with the hatch to follow a few months later.

The new Lancer is based on the same platform as the company's Outlander 4x4, and Mitsubishi has a concept car at Frankfurt using the same underpinnings.

It's called the Concept-CX and is yet another compact 4x4, which is hardly in the spirit of the green theme running through much of the show.

However, this one displays the 1.8-litre 'clean diesel' engine Mitsubishi is developing and which is due to replace the VW 2.0-litre unit across the company's line-up in 2008-09.

Mitsubishi also showed off the i-EV, a battery-powered concept based on its i car. It has a target battery range of 100 miles and can be quick-charged in 30 minutes or in seven hours using a standard charge from a house socket.

Its range will be boosted by an engine that powers a generator, although no maximum range has been revealed. It is hoped the car will have a top speed of just over 90mph.