Hindustan Motors will put on roads the most powerful Lancer model till date the tenth generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (also known as Evo X) sometime in the middle of next year.

Featuring a new platform, a new engine along with new exterior and interior designs, the model sports a 2-litre four-cylinder and 16-valve DOHC Mivec turbocharged engine with close to 300 horsepower, generating more power and speed than its predecessor, the Lancer Evolution IX.

It carries a price tag between US$ 30,473 and US$ 32,697 in international markets, depending on the variant. Evo X was first launched in Japan in 2007, followed by major overseas markets including the US and Australia during 2008.

"The Evo X is an entirely new category in our portfolio. It will be launched by the middle of 2010," Pritam Saikia, head (marketing) of Hindustan Motors said in a telephonic interview from Chennai.

The luxury sedan will be imported as a completely built unit, hitting direct competition with entry-level offerings of German luxury car manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi that cost between Rs. 2.8 million (US$ 59,958) and 3.2 million.

Evo X is loaded with the latest super all wheel control (SAWC) vehicle dynamics control system. The company might also fly in its twin clutch sport shift transmission (SST) variant that comes with 18-inch wheels and reaches 100 km/hr in 3.8 seconds.

Hindustan Motors markets, distributes and also manufactures passenger cars from Japan's Mitsubishi Motor in India.