The stage is set. January 2003 will bear witness to the ultimate clash of the rally-bred supersaloons - the new Subaru Impreza versus its deadliest rival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII.

When the follow-up to the successful Evo VII arrives, it promises to push the boundaries of road car technology to new heights, with extensive revisions to its engine, gearbox and Active Yaw Control transmission.

But the most obvious change, is to the design (exclusive picture in the latest edition of Auto Express), with a reworked bonnet air dam and a touring car-style front bumper. Under the skin, the 2.0-litre turbo has been tweaked to produce 392Nm of torque. Mated to a new six-speed box, this should see the car sprint from 0-60mph in five seconds and top 160mph. Insiders say an Active 4WD system is being tested, promising even better cornering ability.