You hear a lot about downsizing, these days, what with the steadily increasing interest in fuel economy, but few makers have done more to shave inches and pounds than Mitsubishi has with the new Outlander Sport, which is making its public debut, this week, at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.
This entry-level compact crossover is far more car-like than the earlier Mitsubishi Outlander, and measures a full 15-inches shorter than the older SUV. That alone should help improve mileage, but the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport also introduces a technology that might be called “hybrid light,” which could help the Japanese crossover appeal to a younger, more green-minded audience.
Mitsubishi is counting on the 2011 Outlander Sport to “raise consumer opinion and consideration of our brand,” says Shinichi Kurihara, CEO of the Japanese maker’s sales subsidiary. That’s something Mitsubishi has struggled with, in recent years, other sporty entries, like the Eclipse coupe, failing to reverse a long and steady sales decline.
If the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport lives up to expectations, it could outsell all other versions of the Outlander, added Kurihara, to “become our volume leader.”
The new crossover-utility vehicle, or CUV, is powered by a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-four engine and, in its sportier SE configuration, will be mated to a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
While the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport does not qualify as a true hybrid-electric vehicle, it does feature a regenerative braking system, similar to what is used in hybrids. Here, the technology is used to recapture energy normally lost during braking or coasting to recharge the Outlander Sport’s lead-acid battery. That reduces the load normally placed on the drivetrain by a conventional generator, improving fuel economy.
For young buyers who aren’t avowed greenies, the sporty looks – and a trick mood lighting system in the cabin – should appeal, or so Mitsubishi is betting. The maker has traditionally targeted the youngest buyers in the new car market, though that has often backfired on the company, notably when a worsening economy led many to stop making payments on so-called NINJA loans, a few years back, that acronym standing for No jobs, No Jobs or Assets.
In keeping with the target, Mitsubishi officials are promising the 2011 Outlander Sport will be affordable. And considering the competitive set, which includes the likes of the Nissan Rogue, that could put it into the very low $20,000 range.
