By Ming Tan

Pros:

• The “sport” aspect of this crossover stands out with a nice, tight suspension
• The panoramic roof spans an impressive length of the roof, providing sunlight to both the front and back seats.
• The Outlander Sport boasts a nice stance, looking like it’s prepared for virtually any conditions with aesthetic cues from the iconic Evolution line of rally bred street cars

Cons:

• Underwhelming power – rated at 143hp, but not until 6000rpm.
• The Outlander Sport seems to be plagued by hard plastics and bland designs giving it a cheap interior feel
• Raked rear window and tiny cargo space limits usable volume

“One day. Two Crossovers. Five Guinness World Records.”
I admit to being fully intrigued the first time I saw the commercial for the new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Clearly Mitsubishi was having fun with this marketing campaign, but the underlying message that I heard was that this is going to be an exciting, sporty, compact SUV that packs enough performance to make the driving experience stimulating.

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Mitsubishi redesigned the Outlander Sport for 2011, but can it go toe-to-toe against the more established sport ute – the Nissan Rogue? Watch the video as Ryan and Aaron take these city crossovers deep into the forest on a holiday challenge and drive over some real terrain more challenging than a urban street riddled with potholes.

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By Danny Chang

Pros

• Punchy twin-clutch electronic sport transmission
• Gravel-mode AWD
• Super tight steering
• Five-door convenience

Cons

• Tight luggage room when rear seat in use
• Slower-than hoped for off-the-line acceleration
• Less-than-ideal 17-25 MPG

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The availability of mainstream electric vehicles (EV) is a lot closer than you realize. The Tesla Roadster (with its six-figure pricetag) and Mitsubishi i-MiEV are already being sold to the general public*. The Nissan Leaf is scheduled for a December 2010 launch and the Coda Sedan isn’t very far behind. Ford wants to be a player in the EV space and the Focus (along with the Transit Connect) are platforms being developed as pure electric vehicles.

The Ford Focus EV is based on the next-generation Ford Focus, a capable if not head-turning car. By choosing an existing platform, Ford will save the expense associated with developing a unique design. Ever since the second-generation Prius, with its iconic design, became a hit, automakers have adopted the idea that a hybrid car with an innovative high-tech drivetrain needs to scream out for attention. That’s the direction that Nissan is taking with the Nissan Leaf, due out in limited markets in late 2010. The Chevy Volt extended-range EV, the new Honda Insight, and the Lexus HS 250h are also original purpose-built designs.

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The Geeks go Electric

Geek Squad, a company known for its rather iconic fleet of VW Beetles ditched the bugs and brought four fully electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s to the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The tech repair company said last week they are currently leasing the cars and plan on using them at retail locations.

The compact i-MiEV is a svelte 2381 pounds and is powered by a mid-engine, 63-hp electric motor. To power the motor, Mitsubishi employed a lithium-ion battery pack that consists of 22 separate modules that are mounted underneath the cabin floor. Even with the motor in the back there is still room for the Geeks to store equipment.

When a quick-charging system is employed, the i-MiEV can be recharged to 80% in just 30 minutes. A standard 220V outlet can charge the battery pack in 7 hours. The standard two-prong 110v outlet will charge the battery pack in 14 hours. The estimated range for the i-MiEV is 80-100 miles.

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Mitsubishi, a niche car company long popular with the import tuner crowd, is rumored to be finally jumping into the hybrid game. And, supposedly, they will be doing what Toyota and Honda have not been able to do. Namely, build and sell a plug-in hybrid from the get go.

The more the merrier, I say. Of course, it would be even better if some car manufacturer were to make a performance hybrid of some sort. And Mitsubishi, starting with a clean sheet and given their performance background, could be a good company to do it.

Mitsu is will be rolling out a plug-in hybrid concept Outlander-based SUV at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show. In addition to the hybrid Outlander, there are persistent rumors that Mitsubishi could be planning to use the green tech from the upcoming hybrid SUV in the next-generation of its top performance car.

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It looks like Mitsubishi is getting very serious about it’s i-MiEV EV that caused such a splash at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. The diminutive, all electric city-car is headed not only for production, but will be for sale to any Joe Schmoe off the street with the money and the desire to buy one of the little guys. As long as they live in Japan (for now).

Mitsubishi is starting off small, and being nice and logical and methodical about the first sales of its i-MiEV. The initial sales targets are aiming to move only 1400 of the little guys in fiscal year 2009, but that seems like a good way to go about it.

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Mitsubishi representatives officially announced that the i MiEV electric vehicle – already a hit in test drives and closely involved in joint programs with power companies across the world – will be coming to the U.S. This move has been hinted at for a long while, but now we know for certain that the electric jellybean, based on the “i” minicar, is coming.

Official details are scarce, but company representatives told us ahead of schedule that the car would be available here sometime “before 2012.” The problem isn’t the technology (a left-hand drive model should go on sale in Europe in 2011 after the right-hand model hits Japan this summer and the UK, maybe in 2010), but guaranteeing a supply of lithium. If GS Yuasa can’t produce the batteries, Read the rest of this entry »

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By Kevin Bowe

Pros

• Quickness
• Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC)
• Nice components (Recaro seats, Rockford-Fosgate stereo, BBS wheels, Brembo brakes)

Cons

• Rear wing creates blind spots making it hard to look out for cops
• Cheap looking plastic gauges
• Poor MPG

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By Derek Mau

First Impressions:

• Mitsubishi’s All-Wheel Control System rules!
• Automatic shifting of the 6-speed twin-clutch transmission is sooo very smooth
• Racer-bling — real Recaro sport seats, 18 inch forged BBS wheels, and Brembo brake kit
• X-gen suspension is stiff compared to normal everyday driving standards
• Rockford-Fosgate audio system is pretty dang loud

Verdict: The Evo X is fast and loves to be driven hard

Mitsubishi has stepped up its game with the Lancer Evolution MR. Fans of the Lancer Evo and new followers will appreciate the 291 hp turbocharged, 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder mated to a new Getrag six-speed twin-clutch “TC-SST” transmission that delivers power to all four wheels. Managing the power distribution is the Super All-Wheel Control system that encompasses an Active Center Differential, stability control, Sport ABS, and AYC (Active Yaw Control), which apportions torque between the rear wheels.

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