There's no denying the RA is a real head-turner. Thanks to a shark-like nose, a high rising waistline and bulging wheelarches that house massive 21-inch rims the newcomer really stands out. Clearly drawing inspiration from American Fifties Hot Rods, the Mitsubishi sports an engine that pokes out through a whole in the bonnet. Further visual flair is provided by graceful gullwing doors.

To keep the weight down, engineers have used aluminium for the structure and plastic composites for the body panels.

Inside, the cabin is a blend of cutting edge and traditional. The driver and passenger sit low in front of a wraparound dash featuring hi-tech dials. Elsewhere the use of soft leather and aluminium trim gives the interior a hand-finished feel.

Engineers at the company have made sure the RA goes as well as it looks too. The motor that's clearly visible through the bonnet is a 201bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel unit. With a hefty 420Nm torque driving through a rapid-shifting twin clutch SST gearbox, the two-seater Mitsubishi should offer stunning performance.

However, the really clever stuff is found in the chassis. Using Super-All Wheel control technology, it promises to have razor sharp driving dynamics. To the Evo X's electronic yaw control, the RA adds active steering and suspension. Company bosses claim the result is high levels of grip and stability, even in extreme conditions.

Sadly there are no production plans for the Concept-RA. However, expect to see many of the innovative features filtering their way into other Mitsubishis in the not too distant future.