Mitsubishi Outlander History

 

Mitsubishi first introduced the Outlander line in 2001 under the name Airtrek. The original name was chosen to exemplify the feeling of exploring the world from a "free as a bird" perspective. The active sports crossover, ASX, was designed to fulfill the desire for adventure-filled motoring. The adaptation to the Outlander moniker came when the intent was refined to "feeling of journeying to distant, unexplored lands in search of adventure." But the goal has always been to offer a compact vehicle that will get adventurous drivers any place they want to go in comfort and safety. The prominent selling features were good ground clearance and four-wheel drive but car-like emission levels, fuel economy, and a manageable size.

The Outlander Hits The U.S. Market

In 2003, the Outlander arrived in the States to replace the Montero Sport. This new compact sport utility vehicle offered a new front end with a modified grille and headlights that increased the overall length by just over five inches. In South American markets where the Montero had a strong following, the name was adapted to the Montero Outlander to increase the desirability and boost sales.

Gen Two

The second generation made its appearance in 2006, and the Outlander name was worn around the world. The new model was built on Mitsubishi's G.S. platform and used various engines developed in-house and by Volkswagen and PSA Peugeot Citroen. The Citroen C-Crossover and the Peugeot 4007 were manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan for those manufactures to badge. But they were, in essence, versions of the Outlander. In October of 2016, Outlander sales reached the 1.5 million unit status to celebrate their 15th birthday. 

The second version of the Outlander used the RISE safety body and received a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP car safety. In its home market, the Outlander was the number one selling SUV from October of 2006 to March of 2007. But in the United States, sales the first two months lagged, totaling only 3,802 when Mitsubishi had hoped for at least 4,000 each month.

Gen Three

The third iteration of the Outlander was introduced to the U.S. market in 2012 at the L.A. Auto Show, but did not hit dealerships until early 2014. This model was a complete redesign that used a new lighter-weight body to shave about 200 pounds off the total vehicle weight. The updated body lines also dropped the drag coefficient to increase the fuel economy. New electric power steering replaced the old hydraulic system for added weight loss. Disc brakes were added all the way around the vehicle.

A PHEV Option

The third-gen also included a PHEV that was unveiled in 2012. This version offers two charging sockets to accommodate a standard charge or fast charge. The standard required about five hours for a full charge, while the fast mode was completed in around three and a half hours. However, an 80% fast charge required only 25 minutes.

To test drive the Mitsubishi Outlander, visit The Bear Lot in scenic Mounds View.