Mitsubishi Announces All-New Outlander Mk. II for 2006

In order to maximize profits and minimize costs, it's rumored that Mitsubishi has signed a deal with French automobile

The main 'global' engine is slated to be a revised version of the 2.4-liter MIVEC inline-four powerplant. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

conglomerate PSA Peugeot-Citroen. The deal is quite similar to the PSA-Toyota cooperation, which saw PSA donating funds and the associating company developing and engineering. It's a similar business model that yielded the C1-107-Aygo subcompact city car triplets that were recently introduced outside of North America this year. The French nameplates will restyle the compact SUV according to their corporate images, and will serve as the duo's long-overdue first attempt at the compact sport utility vehicle market.

To further differentiate the triple-diamond badged machines from its French clones, Mitsubishi will offer the Outlander with unique engines. The main 'global' engine is slated to be a revised version of the 2.4-liter MIVEC inline-four powerplant. With multiple camshaft profiles, and a block made of cast aluminum (instead of iron), the engine is expected to produce 170-horsepower, up 10 horses over the current workhorse. Other markets will also have the option of a 136-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel, sourced from Volkswagen. The 2.0

With this recent wave of new models around the globe, the alternative Japanese brand continues to strengthen its backbone. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

PD-TDI is the same unit featured in our local market Passat TDI, as well as the European Golf Mk. V TDI. The French clones are expected to feature a 2.2-liter PSA-engineered common-rail turbodiesel.

Mitsubishi would be smart to sell one of these diesels in North America, being that the company is struggling here and anything unique to set it apart from Honda, Toyota, and its many other rivals could only be seen as a boon to sales. Volkswagen, another company which is currently languishing from a sales perspective, sells 40 percent of its lineup equipped with diesels in Canada, and if it weren't for the fuel saving alternative engine it would no doubt be contemplating survival in our highly competitive market.