Mitusbishi Outlander GT – New York update

The Mitsubishi Outlander GT Concept will go in to production - expect it in the UK in January 2010

Tagged as a Concept Car when Mitsubishi revealed the first information last week, it has now been confirmed that the Outlander GT will go in to production. It will lose a few of the Concept-Cutie bits, such as the ventilated Brembos and the Oz wheels, but apart from that it will be produced pretty much unchanged.

I wasn’t too sure about the Lancer nose when it first came in (although it has grown on me) but it does suit the Outlander GT. Which is probably as well, as Mitsubishi intends rolling this new ‘Face’ out across the range.

The Mitsubishi Outlander GT will get a slightly raised ride height from this concept to bring it more in line with the rest of the Outlander range, although still a little lower. A 3.0 litre V6 will be used (as in the Outlander XLS), but with a few tweaks you get an extra 10bhp and the torque is available lower down the range, which should mean more shove off the line and around town. In a nod to eco-credentials the GT gets revised shift patterns and Idle Neutral Logic, which shoves the car in neutral at idle.

The Outlander GT also gets Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) which gives better handling and traction. It utilises a front limited slip diff (which is pretty rare at this level) meaning pretty good side to side and back to front slip control. The de-rigeur ABS and ASC are present, as is hill start control, and you get three settings on the suspension – Normal, Snow and Traction.

The interior gets a good jump in quality and finish – a bit of an ‘Evo makeover – with quality grained finish on the seats, chrome accents plus a set of aluminium pedals and a sporty steering wheel.

We expect to see the Mitsubishi Outlander GT for sale in the UK as early as January 2010. Prices will probably start at around £22,500.

By Cars UK