IT'S a Mitsubishi Evo, Jim - but not as we know it. Underneath the sleek, flowing lines of this sporting coupe is the workings of Mitsubishi's rally-developed Lancer Evolution - and it could be coming to the UK very soon.

The Concept-RA, which looks more like a Ferrari than a competition car, is very close to a production model which will become the next-generation Eclipse some time late next year.

And for the first time, executives at the Japanese brand are keen to bring it to the UK.

Its designers say the Concept-RA (the RA being short for the brand's Ralliart performance division) fuses together three elements of Mitsubishi's core DNA - a passion for dynamic driving, stunning design and a heightened sensitivity for the environment - thanks to clean, efficient high-performance diesel power.

The swooping two-seater coupe features S-AWC vehicle dynamics control system driveline (with active steering and active suspension control) and the twin-clutch SST used in the Lancer Evolution X.

It also shares the same wheelbase as the high-performance saloon.

It is powered by a new high-output, high- efficiency ( more than 40 miles to the gallon), low-emission 2.2-litre four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbo diesel engine with MIVEC continuously variable valve lift and timing control.

With piezo-electric injector common-rail direct fuel injection that allows a lower compression ratio and with a variable diffuser/variable geometry turbocharger, the clean diesel unit delivers a maximum output of 204bhp and 301lb ft of torque.

As well as the hard-top there is also likely to be a convertible version.