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Liability insurance is like Mafia protection. It's a pain in the neck, it's expensive and you'd... Read More
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By Richard Yarrow
2005
Tokyo Motor Show, Part IV by Marty Padgett (10/24/2005)
Lexus
LF-Sh, Mitsu Concept-X and Outlander, Toyota's wacky i-swing.
Schembri: Mitsu Turnaround Possible by Joseph Szczesny (10/3/2005)
New products, positive PR spin helping set the stage.
Okay, it’s quiz time. What is 3.7 inches longer, 2.0 inches wider, and 0.4 inches higher than the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV? The Endeavor perhaps, or the Montero?
Wrong. Bizarrely, the answer is the next-generation Outlander, unveiled by the Japanese firm at last month’s Tokyo Motor Show. Size-wise it’s a definite step up from the current model, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What’s brave is giving it the same name and expecting people not to be a little bit confused.
However,
just because a new car has an identical badge to its predecessor, it doesn’t
mean it has to be saddled with the same characteristics, good or bad, as the
older vehicle. Take the MINI; the current BMW version is a world away from the
original Rover model launched in
Mitsubishi will be trying the same sales techniques with the new Outlander. But does bigger and bolder mean better? The day after its debut, TCC took the train north from the Japanese capital city to get behind the wheel.
Commanding presence
Even at first glance the
newcomer’s larger dimensions are noticeable. It has much more of a presence than
the 2006 model. Our test car was powered by a 2.4-liter DOHC MIVEC gasoline
engine mated to six-speed Sport Mode CVT automatic gearbox. Delivering 170 hp,
it will go on sale in
