New Mitsubishi Outlander and Lancer EVO X Assume Safety Car Role at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Mitsubishi is showing that it still has a few drops of racing fuel in its tank –or so to speak, as it will supply the official safety vehicles, in addition to participating in this year’s 91st running of the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), which will be held on June 30. Read more »

After Solving Battery Issue, Mitsubishi Will Double Outlander PHEV Production

Mitsubishi had abruptly stopped production of the Outlander plug-in hybrid (PHEV), as the battery packs they were using to power the green SUV had some serious safety concerns associated with them. Now that the problem has been sorted out, Green Car Reports is saying that the Japanese automaker is to double production from September of this year. Read more »

Mitsubishi Discovers Cause of Melted Batteries on Outlander PHEV, Issues Recall

You may remember a story from the end of March regarding several electrified Mitsubishi models that had serious problems with their batteries on an Outlander PHEV and an i-MiEV.

Now, the Japanese automaker has come up with an answer as to why the issue occurred. They are blaming microscopic contaminants that somehow managed got through the materials screening process.

Read more »

Consumer Reports Not Really Thrilled About New Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander has never been the kind of car one buys because of burning desire, but it was always competent and one of the better vehicles to drive in its class. Now, the all-new model, which is radically different from its predecessor, takes center stage, as Mitsubishi tries to keep itself relevant in the current context of the automotive industry, both in the US and the rest of the world.

The new 2014 Outlander needs to be very good, but if we are to listen to Consumer Reports (CR), which recently took it for a drive, things aren't looking up.

Read more »

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and i-MiEV's Li-Ion Battery Fires Linked to Grounded Boeing 787s

Mitsubishi said on Wednesday that a an Outlander plug-in hybrid's batteries melted at a dealership before it was delivered to a customer, while a i-MiEV's batteries caught fire at its Mizushima Plant in Okayama prefecture in Japan during testing. In both cases, the battery pack is made by GS Yuasa Corporation, in Japan.

Now, what makes this story interesting is that, according to reports, GS Yuasa Corp. is the same company that supplies batteries for the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, all of which have been grounded since January after battery fires.

Read more »

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Starts from $22,995 in the U.S.

Mitsubishi announced U.S. pricing of its brand-new 2014 Outlander seven-seat crossover and previewed the Outlander PHEV hybrid, which is scheduled to go on sale next year. Read more »

Mitsubishi Mulling New Mid-Size Sedan and Larger Crossover for the States

It's been about two years since Mitsubishi took the decision to gradually phase out most of its U.S.-made models by killing the Endeavor crossover, Galant mid-size sedan, Eclipse coupe and Spyder convertible, and the results are what you would expect them to be: the automaker's U.S. sales plunged 27 percent to 57,790 cars last year.

The last time Mitsubishi reached the 100,000 sales mark in the United States was in 2008, when it had 491 franchises, which have now dropped to a little over 380 dealerships.

Read more »

Mitsubishi Thinks it Can Fix U.S. Sales with New Outlander SUV and Mirage Hatch

With the U.S. car market growing 15 percent in November and 14 percent from the beginning of the year, you would expect a mainstream company like Mitsubishi to show at least some gains, but that's not the case.

In fact, the Japanese automaker posted sales of just 3,754 cars in November, down 4 percent from the same month last year, while from January through November, Mitsubishi's has seen its sales shrink by 28 percent to 53,677 cars.

To put it in perspective, Mitsubishi's yearly sales from all five models that remain in its range in the States (Lancer, Galant, Outlander, Outlander Sport and i-MiEV) are roughly a fourth of the Prius sales (216,619 units) and about the same as the number of ES sedans sold by Lexus (48,171) in the country.

Read more »

Euro NCAP Find that Dacia Lodgy Dissapoints while 14 Other New Cars Score Five Stars

The safety gurus at the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), an independent organization that assesses and scores vehicle safety, have released a new round of scores for 15 new models, many of which were presented at the recent Paris Motor Show.

With one exception, the new Dacia Lodgy minivan that Euro NCAP said "budgets on safety" as it was rated with a mediocre three stars out of five, all other cars tested were awarded five stars.

Euro NCAP criticized the Renault Group's decision to not offer the electronic stability control (ESC) as standard equipment on the Lodgy, while also noting that the Dacia model scored poorly for pedestrian and child protection.

Read more »

Mitsubishi Celebrates 30 Years in the U.S. with 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition

All the talk at Mitsubishi's LA Auto Show stand is the new 2014 Outlander, but the Japanese company had another unveiling in store, that of the 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition, designed to commemorate the brands arrival to American shores three decades ago. Read more »

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sheds 200 Pounds, Gains Hybrid Variant

The new Mitsubishi Outlander's world tour continues with its North American premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Designed from the ground up to be offered with an advanced hybrid powerplant, the seven-seater 2014 Outlander also underwent an intensive diet losing around 200 pounds (91 kg) compared to the outgoing model.

Read more »

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport Limited Edition to Debut at LA Auto Show

The mystery that is the premieres of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show is slowly unraveling with Mitsubishi being the latest carmaker to reveal its plans ahead of the event's grand opening on November 28.

Taking center stage at the Japanese brand's booth will be the North American specification 2014 Outlander crossover, which will be displayed for the first time on this side of the Atlantic.

Read more »

Mitsubishi Showcases Production Version of New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid in Paris

Nearly a year after Mitsubishi unveiled the concept car in Japan, the production version of the new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) has been unwrapped at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

The PHEV will first go on sale in Japan early next year, followed shortly after by Europe, North America, and other regions around the world.

Mitsubishi says the new generation of the Outlander was developed from the beginning to be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Read more »

Made in the USA 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Priced from $19,170*

The 2013 model year version of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has arrived in the States with prices starting from $19,170, excluding a destination and handling fee of $825 (Alaska/Hawaii $950), an increase of $375 over the outgoing model.

The biggest news about the 2013 Outlander Sport is that production has shifted to the U.S. and Mitsubishi's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.

Read more »

Mitsubishi to Unveil New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV in Paris

Following the world premiere of the gasoline- and diesel-powered versions of the all-new Outlander at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, Mitsubishi today announced that it will roll out a Plug-in Hybrid EV model of its crossover at the forthcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show this September.

The new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (or PHEV) will share its architecture with the soon-to-be-launched Outlander’s Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) versions.

Read more »

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Receives Light Facelift, will be Built in the States from July

This is the refreshed 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which those of you outside States will know it as the ASX or RVR, depending on your location, and it makes its world debut at this week's New York Auto Show.

While the 2013 model brings some design and feature improvements, the most important news about the updated Outlander Sport is that beginning in July, it will be built the United States at the company’s manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois.

Mitsubishi said that the factory will not only supply cars to dealers in the States, but in foreign markets as well, without providing further details.

Read more »