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New Outlander set to impress

<b>NIP AND TUCK OUTLANDER:</B> The new Mitsubishi Outlander will arrive in South Africa later in 2013.
<b>NIP AND TUCK OUTLANDER:</B> The new Mitsubishi Outlander will arrive in South Africa later in 2013.
CIRENCESTER, England – Mitsubishi has revealed its third generation Mitsubishi Outlander launched in the UK in February 2013.

Mitsubishi South Africa says the SUV with its 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating will arrive locally during the second half of 2013.

GREEN AND A LOOKER

With more than 950 000 units sold worldwide since 2001, Mitsubishi claims it’s their “greenest, most stylish and most technologically advanced SUV yet.”

Mitsubishi UK managing director, Lance Bradley, said: "This car is hugely important for Mitsubishi Motors and we are confident it will appeal to our existing customers and attract new ones. We are a niche manufacturer and cater for people who want something a little bit different. And of course, we specialise in four-wheel-drive with 70% of the vehicles we sell being 4x4s. That is what we are famous for.

"This all-new Outlander is the first in a number of exciting new vehicles from us for 2013 and we are sure it will do well," he added.

IMAGE GALLERY

The car has been built from the ground up meaning styling, the engine and technology features have all been improved or reworked. It shares the same platform as the Evo X, so handling in the Outlander is likely to be just as much fun.

Under the bonnet lies a tweaked 2.2-litre, 16v DOHC diesel engine producing only 138g/km of CO2 and it also incorporates Mitsubishi’s advanced plug-in hybrid technology – also due in the UK in a few months according to News Press.

Transmission is available in either a six-speed manual or auto, while there are four trim levels to choose from. First up is the highly kitted, five-seater GX2 base model, followed by the GX3, GX4 and GX5 – with more features added to each model up the ladder.

These include niceties such as more driver assist systems, paddle shifts, a sunroof and a powered tail gate.

JAM-PACKED FEATURES

Standard safety items include city crash provision and an improved “rise” safety system. The top-of-the-range GX5 model includes lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation (detects obstacles on the road ahead and applies the brakes) and adaptive cruise control - which can detect vehicles up to 200m away.

Noise and vibration levels have been significantly reduced thanks to enhanced safety technology and the multi-link suspension, while new tyres and better positioning of sound proofing materials also play a part. The third row of seats has also been given a redesign so those passengers can also benefit from the more comfortable ride.

The interior has also gone under the knife with an enveloping dashboard for the driver, ergonomic steering wheel controls and easy-to-read instrument displays.

The new model weighs a 100kg lighter than the previous model, making it lighter than the BMW 1 Series and half as light as an Audi Q7. This makes for improved efficiency and performance such as a 7% less aerodynamic resistance and a drag coefficient of 0.33 – which happens to be the same as Nissan Micra.

And even though it’s a brawny seven-seater, 0 - 100km/h dash takes 10.2 seconds, meaning it could chop up a VW Golf 1.6 TDI off the line.

The Outlander Plug-In Hybrid due later in 2013 will complete the range. The latest homologation data figures suggest CO2 emissions of 44g/km.
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