Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Motors
Also called	Mitsubishi Airtrek (2001-05)
Production	2001–present
Class	Compact crossover SUV
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Designer	Olivier Boulay (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.

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", and was "coined from Air and Trek to express the idea of footloose, adventure-filled motoring pleasure." 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 all 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 Peugeot Citroën. PSA's Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007, which are manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan, are badge engineered versions of the Outlander.

First generation

First generation
Production	2001–05 (Airtrek) 2003–2006 (Outlander)
Assembly	Okazaki, Aichi, Japan Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
Platform	CU2W/CU4W
Engine(s)	4G63 2.0 L DOHC I4 4G64 2.4 L DOHC GDI I4 4G63T 2.0 L DOHC I4 turbo 4G69 2.4 L SOHC MIVEC I4 (Outlander)
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual INVECS-II semi-auto 4-speed 5-speed (turbo)
Wheelbase	2625 mm (103.3 in)
Length	4410 mm (173.6 in) (Airtrek) 4545 mm (178.9 in) (Outlander)
Width	1750 mm (68.9 in)–1780 mm (70.1 in)
Height	1540 mm (60.6 in)–1585 mm (62.4 in) (Airtrek) 1605 mm (63.2 in)–1685 mm (66.3 in) (Outlander)
Curb weight	1605 kg (3538 lb)–1745 kg (3847 lb)
Fuel capacity	60 L (13.2 Imp gal, 15.7 U.S. gal)
Related	Mitsubishi Lancer

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. 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.

In Chile it was known as the Montero Outlander, to benefit from an association with the strong-selling Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

2001 Mitsubishi Airtrek (Japan)

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander (US)

Second generation

Second generation
Production	2005–present
Assembly	Okazaki, Aichi, Japan Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan Born, Netherlands
Platform	Mitsubishi GS platform
Engine(s)	4B12 2.4 L DOHC MIVEC I4 6B31 3.0 L SOHC MIVEC V6 VW 2.0 L TDI PSA 2.2 L HDi
Transmission(s)	6-speed manual 6-speed INVECS-III semi-auto
Wheelbase	2670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4640 mm (182.7 in)
Width	1800 mm (70.9 in)
Height	1680 mm (66.1 in)
Curb weight	1600 kg (3527 lb)–1720 mm (68 in)
Fuel capacity	63 L (13.8 Imp. gal, 16.6 U.S. gal) (2WD) 60 L (13.2 Imp gal, 15.7 U.S. gal) (4WD)
Related	Mitsubishi Lancer Citroën C-Crosser Peugeot 4007 Dodge Caliber Jeep Compass Jeep Patriot

On October 17, 2005, Mitsubishi launched the second generation model, dropping the Airtrek in Japan in favour of adopting the global name. 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,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;Mitsubishi ultimately hopes for at least 4,000 sales per month in the United States.

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 is no indication that production has been approved.

The Outlander, which features Mitsubishi's RISE safety body, received a four star rating from the Euro NCAP car safety performance assessment programme.

Increased demand for the new Mitsubishi Lancer, and the consequent effects on the capacity of the company's Mizushima production facility, have obliged Mitsubishi to reassess production of the Outlander. In September 2007, they announced that from 2008, production of European market Outlanders would be transferred from Nagoya to its NedCar plant in the Netherlands, while the Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 would have their production transferred from Mizushima to Nagoya.

Nameplate of a Chilean Mitsubishi Outlander, showing the local-market "K2" badge.

Annual production and sales

Year	Production		Sales
	Airtrek	Outlander	Airtrek (Japan)	Airtrek (export)	Outlander (Japan)	Outlander (export)
2001	21,245	-	19,160	601	-	-
2002	68,431	-	14,132	45,845	-	7,060
2003	77,331	-	7,427	7,917	-	60,512
2004	60,817	-	3,198	320	-	56,997
2005	49,596	21,173	1,030	302	18,919	48,822
2006	31,326	81,883	10	248	16,734	91,693