| First Drive | Sardinia, Italy | Mitsubishi Lancer saloon |

To an enthusiast, Mitsubishi's Lancer nameplate means a lot; it conjures up images of Tommi Makinen cresting a rise in his red and white Evo, not to mention the endless stream of road-going versions of the Evo Mitsubishi's UK arm has gifted us with. However, the non-Evo Lancer has gone unnoticed in this part of Europe for many years and Mitsubishi aims to change all that with an all-new version.

Don't worry; there'll still be an Evo, and it's just around the corner, but for now feast your eyes on the new Lancer saloon. It's not half bad is it? You probably can't remember what its predecessor looked like, but the new car is not only one of the most distinctive cars in its class, it's also one of the best-looking. Sure, the rear end is reminiscent of the Alfa 159's, but hey; if you're going to 'take inspiration' from another car, it may as well be a great looking one. At the front, the Lancer is all Mitsubishi, being the first showroom car to boast the new 'jet-fighter' nose we've seen on several Mitsubishi concept and show cars in the past few years. It really works too, lending itself well to slight alteration to differentiate the various models.

The interior isn't half bad either, certainly in terms of design. It's smooth, cohesive and even a little sporty in nature thanks in part to the hooded instruments. It seems well put together too, though the rivals' interiors from VW and Ford are nicer to touch. Mitsubishi should make up for this fact with a good standard level of specification.

First up, we're in the 1.5-litre petrol model and though the performance numbers won't excite anyone, it drives remarkably well. This engine will struggle to cope with a car full of people and luggage, but two-up it was up to the task of the mountains in Sardinia. Although the engine is not unrefined, it is loud and this is augmented on the motorway by the lack of a sixth ratio in the manual 'box. At the motorway speed limit the rev counter shows about 3,500rpm and it's a boomy experience. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine gives the Lancer a much more grown up persona and it's a more relaxing car to drive too, despite this engine's tendency for a little harshness at idle. It's mated to a six-speed 'box, which makes all the difference.

It's not the engines that dominate the experience though, as the Lancer proved to be a bit of a giggle to steer. The 1.5-litre feels more agile, which is no surprise given the 200kg extra the diesel model carries around, but both cars are surefooted and feature safe handling at the limit, though not at the risk of the driver's enjoyment. Turn in is keen and there's actually some communication from the tread blocks too. Back off mid-corner and the rear helpfully comes into play, but no more than is necessary. Even over some nasty undulations, body control was kept neatly in check by the excellent damping, though the test routes didn't really allow a decent assessment of the car's ride quality - we'll do that back home once UK cars are available.

Details of the final UK specification cars have yet to be announced, but it looks like entry-level will be taken care of by the 107bhp 1.5-litre petrol model we tried, followed by a 142bhp 1.8-litre; both petrol models feature Mitsubishi's MIVEC variable valve timing. Diesel customers will only have the option of the 2.0-litre model with 138bhp, as supplied by the VW Group, though Mitsubishi's own state-of-the art diesel will come on stream before the end of the decade.

In terms of body styles, British buyers give small four-door saloons a lukewarm reception, which is one of the major reasons why Mitsubishi will launch a five-door version of the Lancer, to be called the Sportback. We were shown a photograph of an early clay model of the car and it looks like it will compete head-on with the likes of the new Subaru Impreza. At this stage there are no plans for an estate.

However, there is another derivative on the way that should interest keen drivers, and no, we're not getting back to the Evolution. Mitsubishi will preview the new Lancer Ralliart in Geneva next year. It will have a milder body kit than the Evo X, but its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine will pack about 240bhp and it will retain a four-wheel drive system, though probably not as sophisticated as the Evo's. It's about time Mitsubishi bridged the gap from the regular models to the halo cars. The Lancer badge is about to become a lot more familiar.