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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Mitsubishi has a problem with its current lineup. Unless you’re looking for a Lancer, your options are limited to the Galant mid-size sedan and the Endeavor and Outlander crossovers. Right now, the Galant is contemplating seppuku and the Endeavor hasn’t been fully redesigned since it first went on sale back in 2003. The Outlander, however, has something positive to offer. It seats up to seven passengers (in a pinch), has been named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, and tops out at 28 miles per gallon on the highway.
Mitsubishi knows having just two competitive vehicles to choose from isn’t enough to compete in an industry eager to fill every niche, and the company appears focused on evolving the two lone bright spots in its lineup. The Lancer has spawned many variants, the latest being the Lancer Sportback, a fun-to-drive wagon that doesn’t step on the toes of the top-trim Lancer Evolution. The Outlander, meanwhile, recently gave its name to the smaller 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a five-passenger crossover looking to make its mark in a currently crowded segment.
If the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport had a favorite song, it would be Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family.” There’s no mistaking this CUV for anything other than a product from the diamond-star family. The gaping mouth and muscular haunches leave no doubt that the Outlander Sport got the “good genes” after a night of passion between a Lancer Evo and the larger Outlander. And despite sharing the name “Outlander” with its larger three-row brother, the Outlander Sport is its own vehicle, a compact crossover different in size, shape and demeanor.
Up front, for instance, a jet-fighter nose kicks off an aggressive forward-leaning stance. Sharply cut headlights dig into the face of the Outlander Sport while the roof line pulls tightly rearward along the 169.1-inch long body. That length is almost 15 inches shorter than the larger Outlander, despite the two crossovers sharing the exact same wheelbase and almost the same width. Like a Beverly Hills housewife with a face-lift, this look has to be done correctly or things can quickly turn into a cat-faced disaster. Fortunately, Mitsubishi’s corporate face survived the transplant with nary a scar to show for it. A set of 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle 225 55R/18 rubber shoes also sit neatly below the ever-so-slightly bulging fenders. These larger wheels come standard on our SE tester, while 16-inchers are standard running gear for the lower-trim ES.
Inside, the Outlander Sport prefers muted tones, with dark plastic and black cloth the only interior color choices available. Fortunately, the controls are laid out in a simple manner, and we appreciate the climate controls relying on three traditional dials instead of being relegated only to touch-screen control. That screen is left to handle audio and navigation, which it does rather well being responsive to the touch with crips graphics. Pop into Reverse and you’ll also get a nice view of what’s going on behind the Outlander Sport thanks to the back-up camera that’s bundled with the $2,000 nav system.
Unfortunately, laying down two grand for navigation also forces you to opt for the $1,800 Premium package that adds a panoramic glass roof, LED interior mood lighting, a Rockford-Fosgate sound system, Sirius satellite radio and an in-dash six-disc CD changer. All told, you’re on the hook for almost $4,000 worth of options if you want the Outlander Sport to tell you where to go.
Sound from the optional Rockford-Fosgate audio system is pushed out to your ears courtesy of nine-speakers, a 10-inch subwoofer in the rear cargo area and 710 watts. Surprisingly balanced, this particular sound system has lost the overbearing bass that used to be a hallmark of Rockford-Fosgate systems.
If you plan on listening to your iPod, Mitsubishi also includes a connector that lets you control the device from the touch-screen or steering wheel-mounted controls. Annoyingly, however, the stereo takes about a minute to recognize the mp3 player each time you turn off the car, and once it does, playback starts from the first song on the unit. It’s like teaching your dog to sit, and every time you turn around the pooch forgets where his butt goes. In a word: frustrating.
What’s not frustrating is the level of supportive comfort provided by the front seats. Headroom is also a non-issue and visibility is great regardless of where you’re looking. The cabin is relatively simple, aside from the touch-screen, but it works in the Outlander Sport’s favor.
If you go for a base two-wheel-drive ES model, the Outlander Sport starts at just $19,275. Our all-wheel-drive SE model starts at $22,995 (plus $780 in destination charges), and thanks to a few of those aforementioned fixings reaches $28,570. The Outlander Sport AWD SE’s base price, however, is below that of the Honda CR-V EX-L ($26,645), Hyundai Tucson Limited ($26,345) and Kia Sportage EX ($24,795). Equipped like this Outlander Sport, the Kia and the Hyundai are just a few dollar bills away from $30,000 and the Honda climbs past by a Benjamin. So paying over $28,000 for this compact crossover becomes a little more palatable when compared to more expensive competition, and it’s made even more so once you raise the hood.
Pull the lever and prop up the sheet metal and you’ll see a familiar 4B11 face smiling back at you. Used throughout the Mitsubishi lineup, this 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine produces 148 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 145 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. That may not sound like much oomph to propel the all-wheel-drive Outlander Sport, but at just 3,263 pounds, it feels quicker than it should be.
The Outlander Sport isn’t fast by any means, but the four-cylinder engine gets the job done while returning 24 miles per gallon around town and 29 mpg on the highway. Two-wheel-drive models do even better at 25 city/31 highway. By contrast, the 2011 Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are 240, 103 and 92 pounds heavier, respectively. Each vehicle also produces more horsepower (32 hp for the Honda and 28 hp for the Kia/Hyundai) and torque (16 lb-ft for the Honda and 23 lb-ft for the Kia/Hyundai) yet return slightly worse fuel economy (21/27 for the Honda and 21/28 for the Kia/Hyundai).
It’s not just the weight that helps the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in the fuel-economy equation. Connected to that 2.0-liter engine is a Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT, which can be manually “shifted” via a pair of steering wheel-mounted paddles. CVTs are notoriously buzzy contraptions, and the one employed in the Outlander Sport is no exception. Truth be told, the engine and transmission combination would be rather dull without those flippers for manually controlling the fun.
The Outlander Sport does have a few tricks up its sleeve besides being able to fake a gear shift. It handles surprisingly well for what’s essentially a high-riding, tall-roof wagon. The brakes are quite responsive once you push past the first inch of light pedal travel, but over bumps, the tight Lancer-like suspension reveals some flaws in the Noise Vibration and Harshness department. There was some chatter inside the cabin of our test vehicle and, when rolled down a bit, the windows produced a slight rattle. We could chalk up the window rattle to press-car jitters, but the cabin chatter is probably there to stay.
Those problems aren’t enough, however, to make us forget the sporty handling, accommodating interior and competitive pricing of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC. Will it become Mitsubishi’s third bright spot behind the Lancer and Outlander? The company is crowing that 1,290 units of the Outlander Sport were sold last month. That’s peanuts compared to the Honda CR-V, which sold over 19,000 units, but does represent nearly a fifth of the entire brand’s sales. That’s remarkable for a model only a few months old, and tells us that Mitsubishi is giving buyers exactly what they want.
[Source: autoblog]
Friday, February 25, 2011
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Powertrains 2011
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Powertrains 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
You may have heard rumors the next generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will be an electric car. Well, they're true. But before you start writing angry rants in the comments box, read on. According to one source inside Mitsubishi, the Evolution XI, due in 2013, will be the best Evo yet.
To be built off the same platform as the chunky PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid off-roader concept Mitsubishi revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show last October, the Evolution XI will benefit from the company's latest electric/hybrid technology. The new Evo's 2.0 litre MIVEC petrol engine, borrowed from the current Japan-spec Galant, will be mated to a new plug-in hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries. But here's the twist: the Evo's main power source will not be the gas engine, but an electric motor that will drive the front wheels. The 2.0 litre engine, when needed, will drive the rear wheels.
The Evo XI will give drivers the option of driving in EV mode, though only for short distances, improving fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. But it won't be a namby-pamby eco-warrior. According to our source, the electric motor will be an upgraded version of the 63 hp permanent magnet synchronous motor used in the i-MiEV, and the 2.0 litre MIVEC gas engine is expected to generate around 320 hp. Depending on how Mitsubishi manages the power flow between the two, the Evo XI could effectively have up to 350 hp on tap. The current Evo makes do with a mere 291 hp.
Our insider suggests Mitsubishi engineers are working toward a target 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. "The new electric motor will effectively work like a turbo, only smoother," he says, "so there's no need to worry about power delivery."
What hardcore drivers will be more concerned about are the handling upgrades, which include a couple of hi-tech handling gizmos that were not finished in time for the Evo X, launched two-and-a-half years ago -- Active Steering and Roll Control Suspension. The Evo XI will also feature a new electronically-controlled active yaw control system (E-AYC) that regulates torque distribution between the rear wheels.
We tested an Evo prototype fitted with Active Steering and Roll Control Suspension way back in February 2006 and were impressed. But Mitsubishi Motor's recall problems, restructuring, and a decision to focus development resources on fuel efficient engines and cleaner CO2 emissions, led to these key pieces of Evo techno-wizardry being put on the backburner. We can still recall an engineer sighing at the Evo X's reveal in 2007 as he whispered: "This is not the finished product, you know."
Our sketches give one artist's impression of how the new Evo XI might look. Whatever the final design, this much is clear: Mitsubishi is determined to totally re-invent one of the world's great performance cars.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Buying the Mitsubishi Outlander: We needed a seven seater that was higher than a normal sedan (to get the kids in easily), wasn't too heavy on fuel, that would hold its resale value, wasn't too big and not too expensive. This meant buying a seven seater Japanese SUV (the Japanese cars hold their value better than other cars here in Australia). Due to the limited range of SUV's that meet our criteria, we settled on a white 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 LS.
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Front ViewSafety equipment includes three-point seatbelts for all five seating positions. Both front seats feature seatbelt pretensioner and force-limiter technology, which can help reduce injuries in an accident. Also standard are: child safety seat anchors. Anti-lock brakes are optional on the XLS and Limited models; ABS helps the driver maintain control of the car in an emergency braking situation.
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Headlight
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Mitsubishi mechanics enhanced the V-6 engine and made it more powerful. The updated engine is a 3.0 liter, 230 horsepower MIVEC V-6 that is matched to a six speed automatic. The shifting has been upgraded. The suspension is shorter and stiffer. And, there is an advanced All-Wheel -Drive systems. A lot more technology is evident in the GT Outlander as well as quite a few more premium features. It includes Active Stability and Traction Control, Anti-Lock Braking, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.
Mitsubishi Outlander--> Mitsubishi Outlander is introduced in India in October 2008. The car has already gained the popularity in some other countries such as Japan, North America, Australia, Canada and Western Europe. This sport utility vehicle offers the host of interesting features for the Indian consumers. The sparkling style and perfect performance of Mitsubishi Outlander comes from its cutting edge technology and design.
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport TaillightsGenerally, the GT is based on the previous Outlander with the new design changes inspired by the Lancer Evolution sedan. The Lancer EVO has been fairly popular, so the design engineers are hoping to build on that popularity. They have reshaped the headlamps, fenders, hood, bumpers, and side mirrors. The "nose" front of the GT Outlander is much more distinctive. In fact, very few can even remember the front look of the previous model. Mitsubishi has turned bland into memorable.
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Rear View
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Photo
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is offered in two different versions
0 comments Posted by korekore at 8:39 AMThis is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR. It's quite literally the best blend of performance on the track while giving you a excellent ride for everyday driving, and it definitely proves itself every time you step on the gas. Can I get 5 of these to go please?
The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is offered in two different versions, one being the GSR which only has a five speed manual transmission, Recaro Sports Seats and Enkei Wheels. You can also get the optional spoiler, the HID headlights and the upgraded sound system. These are all nice and everything, but if you had that extra thousand available, spend on it on what i'm driving today.
The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is offered in two different versions
To check out more Mitsubishi cars like Mitsubishi Lancer, Mitsubishi Pajero and Mitsubishi Outlander you can logon to numerous of websites and can easily gather all the information in details regarding your interested car and some good and reliable sites will also provides some special discounts and offers.
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR Rear LightTaking it to the highway, it was fantastic. Stepping on the gas you get instant power, and extremely smooth shifting thanks to the new gearbox. It was just unbelievably good. Sorry to the local law enforcement, but I got the car up to 130mph before I decided to slow down. Guess you would have had to be there to catch me. I then pulled off to the country roads, set the mode to S-Sport, and took it to the corners. It goes around them really fast, but it just feels so smooth. It's almost perfection at it's best. If I could, I would drive 45 minutes away from here to the nearest road course and beat the hell out of this car, but I guess that's not for me to do.
2011 The Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
The striking features of the lancer are Clear lens headlamp & bold rear combination lamps, Premium class fabric upholstery, Attractive door trims with fabric inserts, Retractable assist grip, Better sitting posture, Air conditioning with rear ducts, Electrically adjustable outside mirrors, Power steering with tilt adjustment, Collapsible steering column3 stage Crumple zones, Dual Side impact bars etc. These all features add more grace and beauty in the car.
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR Rear Seats PhotoTuesday, November 23, 2010
For 2009, the Ralliart is unoccupied solely with the TC SST transmission, admitting that Mitsubishi has prescribed the conceivability of a 5 speed transmission at a later date. The TC SST transmission provided in the Ralliart offers 2 modes (Normal, Sport) instead of the 3 modes the same transmission offers in the Lancer Evolution X MR (Normal, Sport, S Sport).
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
The auto likewise combines a simplified rendition of the Evolution X's AWD framework (taken straightforwardly from the EVO IX), with a basic "mechanical restrained slip" rear differential. Consistent with Edmunds. Com the Ralliart model underperformed the GTS in certain tests, considering the skidpad, slalom, and braking separation. Then again, the Ralliart outperformed the GTS in other tests, combining 0 60 and the quarter mile.
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer 
Mitsubishi Lancer
