Mitsubishi rolls out fourth-generation Outlander SUV with fresh design language

 Mitsubishi has revealed a new version of Outlander, a seven-seat SUV, ahead of its April debut in North America.

The Japanese automaker says the fourth-generation car is completely new from the ground up.

This Outlander marks a new chapter for Mitsubishi, as it is coming with brand’s fresh design language which will later be introduced to the rest of the company’s line-up globally, according to a report by Autocar.

It also comes out as the first car that has been built under the Renault-Nissan influence and shares its underpinnings with SUVs such as the Nissan Rogue.

The ‘Dynamic Shield’ design features a bolder face than that of the previous model, with chrome styling integrated with new, ultra-slim LED headlights.

“Based on the product concept ‘I-Fu-Do-Do,’ which means authentic and majestic in Japanese, the all-new Outlander has been crafted into a reliable SUV with significantly upgraded styling, road performance and a high-quality feel to satisfy the needs of customers who want to expand their horizons and take on challenges of every kind,” says Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato.

The CEO adds, “With the launch of the all-new Outlander, we will first expand our sales in the North American market and then aim for global growth.”

Mitsubishi says the new car is “the best-equipped, most thoughtfully engineered vehicle the company has ever developed.”

The new Outlander uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, with top-spec models boasting four-wheel drive.

Six different driving modes are offered to give drivers the best possible performance in all conditions. Even two-wheel-drive models get five driving modes.

The Outlander has seven seats as standard, as well as 18in wheels, USB-A and USB-C charging sockets and 11 airbags throughout the vehicle.

Available equipment includes a 12.3in digital instrument display and a 9.0in infotainment screen. This offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, with wireless device charging included.

Among the other options are 20in wheels, semi-aniline leather seats, Mitsubishi’s driver assistance system with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assistance, navigation integrating what3words technology, a 10-speaker Bose audio system and a 10.8in head-up display.

Mitsubishi Outlander is a crossover SUV, which was originally known as the Mitsubishi Airtrek when it was introduced in Japan in 2001. It was based on the Mitsubishi ASX concept vehicle exhibited at the 2001 North American International Auto Show.

It was sold at Mitsubishi Japan dealership chain called Car Plaza. The ASX (Active Sports Crossover) represented Mitsubishi’s approach to the industry wide crossover SUV 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.

After its launch in North America, the car will reach other markets at a later date. However, that won’t include Europe because Mitsubishi has frozen imports into the continent in order to cut costs, says Autocar.

“That’s in spite of the previous-generation Outlander being one of the most popular plug-in hybrid vehicles on sale, selling in its thousands even in the face of increased competition from newer electrified models,” the auto journal notes.