The Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart – which will rival the Subaru Impreza WRX – will make its world debut at next week’s Paris Motor Show.

Using a detuned version of the Evo X’s 2-litre turbocharged engine, the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart will develop 240bhp and sit, performance wise, in between the standard Lancer and super-hot Evolution X.

View images of Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

But the most interesting thing about the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart will be its availability as a hatchback – known by Mitsubishi as ‘Sportback’.

Based on the 2005 Concept-Sportback show car, the Sportback was designed for the five-door hatch-loving European market and should provide direct competition for the Subaru Impreza WRX.

Performance figures haven’t been released as yet, but we’d anticipate the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart to accelerate from 0-62mph (100kph) in around 6.5 seconds and have a top speed approaching 150mph.

Available as a hatchback or saloon, the Lancer Ralliart features a permanent four-wheel drive system similar to the Evo and five-speed semi-automatic gearbox known as Sport Shift Transmission (SST).

Like with the Lancer range, the Ralliart will be highly-specced up for its price.

Prices start from £21,500 for the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart when it goes on sale on January 1.

View images of Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

The entry-level Lancer will also be available as a Sportback and will go on sale at the end of October.

We’ll be reporting live from the Paris Motor Show so don’t forget to come back for all the big news and events as they happen.