It’s been a while since we last heard about Mexico’s Mastretta and its MXT sports car. The good news is that the company is still alive and well, and has even started sales of its MXT in the U.S.

And we now have word that Mastretta is planning a more hardcore version of the MXT to provide a link between the sports car and a new racing version also in the works.

Autocar is reporting that the new hardcore MXT will be called the MXT-R and make its debut later this week at the 2013 Autosport International motorsport show in the UK.

The MXT-R will ditch the MXT’s Ford-sourced Duratec four-cylinder engine in favor of the Blue Oval’s more potent 2.0-liter EcoBoost mill. This same engine is found in the Ford Focus ST but in the MXT-R the turbocharged and direct-injected engine will be tuned to deliver close to 285 horsepower.  

Visually setting the MXT-R apart from the MXT will be a sports body kit based on the design planned for the MXT race car, which itself will likely be called the MXR. Key components will include an aggressive front splitter and a new rear wing.

Otherwise, the two cars will be much the same, which means a standard five-speed manual transmission and mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Mastretta is reportedly keen to keep the MXT’s day-to-day liveability even with this hardcore model.

Mastretta’s new MXT-R is still in the final stages of development, in fact the car on show at the Autosport International will be a prototype, so availability and pricing are yet to be announced.