MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER

The 'Mitsubishi Outlander' is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors. It was originally known as the 'Mitsubishi Airtrek' when it was introduced in Japan in 2001, and was based on the 'Mitsubishi ASX' concept vehicle exhibited at the 2001 North American International Auto Show. The ASX (Active Sports Crossover) represented Mitsubishi's approach to the industry wide XUV trend for retaining the all-season and off-road abilities offered by a high ground clearance and four-wheel drive, while still offering car-like levels of emissions, economy and size.^[1]
The original Airtrek name was chosen to "describe the vehicle’s ability to transport its passengers on adventure-packed journeys in a 'free-as-a-bird' manner",^[2] and was "coined from ''Air'' and ''Trek'' to express the idea of footloose, adventure-filled motoring pleasure."^[3] The Outlander nameplate which replaced it evoked a "feeling of journeying to distant, unexplored lands in search of adventure."
The Outlander was given a modified front grille and headlights which increased the overall length by approximately 130 mm (five inches) when it was introduced in 2003, and the two models were manufactured in parallel thereafter.
The second generation of the vehicle was introduced in 2005 and many markets, including Japan, adopted the Outlander name. It was built on the company's GS platform and used various engines developed by Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and PSA.

Contents

First generation

Second generation

Annual production and sales

Footnotes

External links

First generation

The Airtrek was first introduced to the Japanese market on June 20 2001, priced from ¥1.7–2.3 million. It offered a choice of either a 126 PS (93 kW) ''4G63'' 2.0 L or a 139 PS (102 kW) ''4G64'' 2.4 L GDI, mated to a standard ''INVECS-II'' 4-speed semi-automatic transmission. Both front- and four-wheel drive were available. The four-wheel drive version uses normal ("open") differentials for the front and rear axles, with a viscous coupling unit for the center differential. A high performance model, using a detuned version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution's ''4G63T'' 2.0 L turbo, was introduced in 2002.^[4] The engine produced 240 PS (176 kW) and 343 N·m (253 ft·lbf), although in export markets the Outlander version's output was reduced to 202 PS (148 kW) and 303 N·m (223 ft·lbf).
The Outlander arrived in 2003. A detuned version of the ''4G64'' powerplant was offered first, while a ''4G69'' 2.4 L SOHC MIVEC I4 producing 158 PS (116 kW) and 220 N·m (162 ft·lbf), and the turbocharged ''4G63T'' appeared in 2004. All had the option of front- or four-wheel drive.
The North American version was available in two trim levels, ''LS'' and ''XLS'', with a ''Limited'' trim introduced in 2005. In Chile it was known as the Montero Outlander, to benefit from an association with the strong-selling Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Mitsubishi Airtrek (japanese spec)

Second generation

On October 17 2005, Mitsubishi launched the second generation model, dropping the ''Airtrek'' in Japan in favour of adopting the global name.^[5] It features a new DOHC 2.4 L 16-valve MIVEC engine; ''INVECS-III'' continuously variable transmission (CVT), Mitsubishi's AWC system which features electronically controlled four wheel drive and stability control, on a stretched Mitsubishi GS platform. The North American version, powered by a newly designed ''6B31'' 3.0 L V6 SOHC MIVEC was shown in April 2006 at the New York Auto Show prior to its release in October the same year.
In its home market of Japan it was the best-selling SUV from October 2005 to March 2006,^[6] while in the U.S. market it achieved 1,694 and 2,108 sales in November and December 2006, the first two full months it was available;^[7][8] Mitsubishi ultimately hopes for at least 4,000 sales per month in the United States.^[9]
At the 2007 SEMA Show, the company displayed a 'Mitsubishi Evolander' concept, powered by a 224 kW (300 PS) supercharged version of the vehicle's ''6B31'' V6 engine and equipped with suitably uprated suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, body kit and interior. It is mooted that an Outlander Ralliart would closely mimic the mechanical specifications of this concept, although there no is indication that production has been approved.^[10]
In Europe, where the Outlander received a four star rating from the Euro NCAP test,^[11] the platform is to be used by PSA Peugeot Citroën as the basis for their 2007 Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 SUVs.^[12] New Outlander features Mitsubishi's next-generation ''RISE'' safety body.

Annual production and sales

All Airtrek and Outlander models are produced at the Mizushima plant in Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.

Year	Production	Sales
		Airtrek (Japan)	Airtrek (export)	Outlander
2001	21,245	19,160	601	-
2002	68,431	14,132	45,845	7,060
2003	77,331	7,427	7,917	64,694
2004	60,817	3,198	320	57,010

''(source: Fact & Figures 2005, pp.6–8, Mitsubishi Motors website)''

Footnotes

1. "Mitsubishi Motors' ASX Concept at Detroit Show gives sneak peak at the next generation Global Multi-Activity Vehicle", Mitsubishi-Motors.com press release, January 10 2001
2. Fact & Figures 2005, p.33, Mitsubishi Motors website
3. "MMC announces smart all-rounder AIRTREK model", Mitsubishi-Motors.com press release, June 20 2001
4. "Mitsubishi Motors exhibits at 37 th Tokyo Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 15 2003
5. "Mitsubishi Motors launches all-new Outlander", Mitsubishi-Motors.com press release, October 17 2005
6. "New Mitsubishi Outlander Japan's Best Selling SUV", WorldCarFans.com, April 21 2006
7. "All-New Outlander Leads Mitsubishi To November Sales Increase", Mitsubishi Motors North America press release, December 1 2006
8. "December Auto Sales: Mitsubishi", Associated Press/BusinessWeek.com, January 3 2007
9. "New products need to be hits for Mitsubishi to stay in U.S. market", Kathy Jackson, ''Automotive News'', May 30 2006
10. "Mitsubishi Evolander", Josh Jacquot, Inside Line: 2006 SEMA Show, Edmunds.com
11. Mitsubishi Outlander, EuroNCAP
12. "New Peugeot/Citroen off-roader", Motoring.co.za, October 30 2006

External links

★ "2007 Mitsubishi Outlander Technical and Mechanical Specifications", Mitsubishi Motors US website

★ Outlander official page (Japanese)