Codemaster’s has kindly sent SPOnG this new bunch of stunning screens from the forthcomingColin McRae: DIRT, due sometime in 2007 on PC, PS3 and 360.

Codies has also updated us on the new proprietary ‘Neon’ game engine which they describe enthusiastically as, “a growling powerhouse of a game engine that will drive the next-generation of the series' impeccable car handling, incredibly detailed vehicles and fantastic living environments. Neon is a multi-platform continuous technical development that's already been in production for over 18 months with over 30 tech experts on the team.”

McRae is one of the Britsoft publisher’s leading and most valuable intellectual properties, so it’s nice to know the next gen version of the game is being lavished with all the love, care, and cold, hard cash that Codies can throw at it.

Speaking of his new baby, Codemaster’s VP of Studios and driving game legend, Gavin Cheshire, said, "Neon delivers an engine that provides us with so much more scope and possibilities than an update of existing tech would have ever allowed. The most obvious result is in the visual detail and physics that produce incredible particle effects. Neon makes it possible to go into seemingly minute detail but will create the most realistic and involving environments in the racing genre."

The detail Neon provides is pretty clear from this new bunch of screenshots – just check out the exhaust smoke, trees, foliage, trackside flags, rainfall and the vehicles themselves. Another nice touch is that cars will create an air rush wake which will effect everything they pass as well as generating a real-time slipstream.

Damage-wise you will see metal crumple, glass smash and everything that you collide with in the environment will be destroyed in a realistic way - small trees will snap and bend; grass will be flattened; wood will splinter and stone will be smashed.

Think back to when you first played Colin McRae Rally on PlayStation a mere eight years ago now. SPOnG clearly remembers mates exclaiming back then, “how can they ever make a game better than this!”

That, of course, was two (videogame) generations ago now. If we could only have begun to imagine what Colin McRae: DIRT would look like eight years into the future, we probably would have wept a little. With joy, you understand.

SPOnG's been speaking with our bezzie-mates at Codemaster's (read:'let us into your office to play this, please!') earlier today, and we will bring you further news, previews and developer interviews on this immense next gen racer all in due course.