Mitsubishi Introduces 2008 Outlander With Standard Active Stability Control

The 2008 Model Year variants of the popular Mitsubishi Outlander have arrived in Australia with specification updates including important safety, design and technology features. Following in the footsteps of the company's newly released Lancer line-up, Mitsubishi's Active Stability Control with Traction Control (ASTC) system has been fitted to every variant in the 2008 Outlander range. While safety has taken the front seat in the vehicle's upgrade, styling, practicality and comfort have not been forgotten, and Mitsubishi is confident the improvements to the 2008 Outlander will increase its appeal even further.

"Since its release in October last year, the Mitsubishi Outlander has accomplished a real sales increase in the market place and has shown growth of almost 80 per cent on a year to date basis," commented Robert McEniry, Mitsubishi's president and chief executive officer.

"This is great news for the Outlander brand - but it is set to get even better. We are committed to listening to our customers, and many of the changes we have implemented in this 2008 model year update are in direct response to feedback from our dealers and clients."

All variants in the Outlander line-up - including the 2.4-litre LS and XLS and the 3-litre V6 VR and VRX - are now available in seven seat layout. In addition, a new manual transmission is now available exclusively on the 2.4-litre LS model, providing an attractive entry price point to the range.

Also new to the 2008 Outlander line-up is a luxury version available on XLS and VRX models. This includes new exterior styling highlights such as chrome grille surround, chrome side sill and chrome exterior door handles and a new, unique 18 inch wheel.

The 2008 Outlander adheres to Mitsubishi's value statement of providing well equipped vehicles with high equipment levels at attractive prices and the vehicle benefits from specification upgrades with improvements to both the Outlander's interior and exterior styling.

Mitsubishi has enhanced the interior appointments of the vehicles, including trim treatment, equipment levels and instrumentation. External upgrades to the MY 2008 Outlander include new alloy wheels to LS, new headlamps to selected models and revised door decals.

Mitsubishi Motors to Premiere Tier 2 Bin 5 Diesel Concept at NAIAS

From: Green Car Congress

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. (MMNA) will premiere the Mitsubishi Concept-RA Tier 2 Bin 5-compliant diesel at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January.

Mitsubishi says that the vehicle is being shown in Detroit due to its close links with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which has successfully sold in North America for many years. If the vehicle receives a positive response from Europe, it is likely to be launched into these markets “in due course”.

The concept features the S-AWC vehicle dynamics control system driveline and the Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission used in Lancer Evolution X in Japan, and is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency diesel engine.

The Concept-RA is powered by a new high-efficiency, low-emissions 2.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel engine with MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve lift & timing Electronic Control system). With piezoelectric injector common-rail direct fuel injection that allows a lower compression ratio and with a VD (Variable Diffuser)/VG (Variable Geometry) turbocharger, the clean diesel unit delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (201 hp) and maximum torque of 420 Nm (310 lb-ft).

For compliance with US emissions standards (EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 and CA LEV II), the engine relies on a new catalytic converter system that brings together diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), NO_x trap catalyst (NTC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) technologies.

For improved crashworthiness and to reduce vehicle weight, the Concept-RA features a new body structure using an aluminum space frame made from extruded aluminum sections and die-cast aluminum members, as well as engine hood, fenders and other outer panels made from high impact-resistance and easily recyclable plastic resin.

The S-AWC driveline adds Active Steering and Active Suspension control to the ACD (Active Center Differential), AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sport ABS (Antilock Brake System) and ASC (Active Stability Control) component systems that constitute the system used on Lancer Evolution. S-AWC integrally manages all of these systems to realize advanced levels of control over drive torque and braking, thereby upgrading traction, cornering and vehicle stability.

Mitsubishi Outlander Team Support Cars

I wonder what will the Outlander look like when it comes out of the Dakar Rally scene. I hope it will look good as heaven.

From: Press

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart will deploy 13 support vehicles comprised of seven trucks, five Pajero/Monteros and one Outlander which is a newcomer to the support fleet. Based on the European version and powered by a 2.2-liter in-line four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the desert version of this car is equipped with additional safety items (roll cage, bucket seats) and special rally features, such as tuned suspension, heavy-duty tires and various protective guards. No hardware-related modifications have been made to the engine, transmission or electronically-controlled 4WD system. Only fine-tuning changes and adjustments have been made to optimize certain settings for the difficult task in hand. The additional fuel tank is required for the longer competitive sections. As was the case with the Delica D:5 used during the 2007 event, the Outlander will be driven by Ralliart contracted driver Katsuhiko Taguchi who will be accompanied by engineers and who will carry a wide range of service tools and spare parts.

Wilks wins Production Car World Rally Championship on Wales Rally GB

From: http://www.walesrallygb.com/52_560.php

Guy Wilks has won the Production Car World Rally Championship class award on Wales Rally GB.

The 26-year-old was a guest driver in the category, after being nominated by his sporting authority, the Motor Sports Association, to run in the division,

His rally was made more complex as he was also battling with fellow Briton Mark Higgins, 36, for the British Rally Championship title.

For the majority of the event Wilks and Higgins duelled at the front, both of them pushing their Mitsubishi Lancer’s to the maximum.

However, Higgins had a run of problems, including punctures and gearbox woes, at the end of day one, and was never able to recover the lost ground as more issues beset his car.

At the finish an elated Wilks, who is co-driven by Phil Pugh, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. That was a long final stage. I was concentrating 100% but it is an absolutely fantastic feeling.

“Great. Awesome. I’m over the moon. It’s been a hard year.”

Higgins, co-driven by Scott Martin, was heart-broken after the rally - and faced a tough battle just to get his Mitsubishi to the finish at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium as his gearbox problems worsened.

The 36-year-old said: “We’ve lost 4th, 5th and 2nd gears and we’re not back to Cardiff yet. Guy did well and made very few mistakes. But next year I’ll be back to give him a fight.”

Higgins’ late woes promoted Finns Juho Hanninen and Mikko Markkula into second in the PWRC category after an impressive drive in which they took the battle to the local stars.

“I’m pleased with that, although the goal is always first position,” said Mitsubishi driver Hanninen.

On the opening leg of the rally Toshi Arai was crowned as Production Car World Rally Champion.

Although he was not competing on the event, Arai’s chief rival Gabriel Pozzo (Mitsubishi) crashed out, meaning hiss points total couldn’t be overcome.

Production Car World Rally Championship
1st 59: Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh
2nd 36: Juho Hanninen/Mikko Markkula
3rd 34: Mark Higgins/Scott Martin
4th 44: Alessandro Bettega/Simone Scattolin
5th 53: David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas
6th 45: Mirco Baldacci/Giovani Agnese
7th 46: Armindo Araujo/Miguel Ramalho
8th 49: Stepan Vojtech/Michal Ernst
9th 47: Andreas Aigner/Klaus Wicha
10th 33: Loris Baldacci/Rudy Pollet

*Results remain subject to official FIA confirmation