First look: Next-gen Outlander revealed in full

MITSUBISHI Motors North America has revealed full details of the second-generation Outlander that made its global debut last week in New York before going on sale here in October.

As we reported earlier this month when Mitsubishi revealed first pictures of its compact SUV replacement, the bigger new seven-seat Outlander will be available initially with a 127kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder before a 152kW/352Nm 3.0-litre SOHC MIVEC V6 becomes available here in early 2007.

LS and XLS specification levels, a third-row seating option and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations will be available in the US, though only the AWD version will be offered here.

On sale in the US as a V6-only model (complete with six-speed Sportronic automatic transmission and magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters) from November, Outlander is based on the next-generation Lancer platform.

Bigger in every key dimension, it measures 4640mm long, 1800mm wide, 1680mm high and rides on 1540mm wheel tracks and a 2670mm wheelbase to deliver 215mm of ground clearance.

An aluminium roof helps reduce kerb weight, which remains a hefty 1600kg for the front-drive LS and extends to 1720kg for the AWD XLS, complete with 18-inch alloy wheels.

The US Outlander is available with an optional new electronic All-Wheel Control (AWC) system, which features Active Skid and Traction Control with ABS and EBD, alongside front, front side and full-length side curtain airbags. XLS variants add Xenon headlights, tinted rear glass, silver trim, roof rails and dual exhaust outlets.