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  The RVR will be previewed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Photo Gallery

A baby soft-roader is The Big One for Mitsubishi in 2010.

It's an overdue rival to benchmark baby SUVs including the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V and is planned to bring a new group of customers to Mitsubishi showrooms.

The newcomer is called the RVR and first pictures show a vehicle which could easily be tagged as a high-riding Lancer Sportback wagon. It's actually a compact crossover with a 1.8-litre engine. "I wouldn't say it's critical, but it's a big one," says the head of Mitsubishi Motors, Rob McEniry. "It's a Volkswagen Tiguan. That sort of vehicle. In terms of filling a gap, it fills quite a nice gap."

The RVR - which could easily get a different name for Australia - will be previewed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, ahead of production from midyear. "Production for Australia is June, so it will be shipments in July and when we've got enough stock we'll run the flag up," McEniry says.

He refuses to be drawn on price or specification, but admits the RVR will be available as both a front-drive and all-wheel drive package. "It's a soft SUV. The car is designed very much for Europe. We think it will be a very good passenger substitute vehicle."

McEniry says is completes the Mitsubishi SUV family, following the early introduction of the latest Challenger this week. "It allows us to have two fair-dinkum off-road vehicles and one that's got a bit more urban compatibility.

2010 is looking fairly quiet on the new-model front for Mitsubishi, although McEniry says there will be a Colt upgrade including engine changes and some limited-edition action to keep the brand's models competitive.