Mitsubishi Announces All-New Outlander Mk. II for 2006

With this recent wave of new models around the globe, such as the European Colt subcompact, Grandis minivan and the North American

Expect the Outlander Mk. II to make its North American debut early- to mid-2006. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America)

Eclipse sports coupe, plus the Raider pickup which will join Mitsubishi's lineup in the U.S. this fall and Canada in early 2006, the alternative Japanese brand continues to strengthen its backbone. From here, financial woes not withstanding, there's really nowhere to go but up, and the next generation Outlander should help this process significantly.

Hopefully, Mitsubishi will fulfill its promise of delivering a sports 'Evolution' or 'Ralliart' variant with the new Outlander. The original had the mechanical hardware and compatibility, but the top-tier variant never made it out of Japan. Keep your fingers crossed. Expect the Outlander Mk. II to make its North American debut early- to mid-2006, just in time to compete with the new Suzuki Grand Vitara, a new Toyota RAV4 and updated Honda CR-V, among others. Yes, the competition is tough, but the Outlander looks to have the right stuff to make it a viable alternative, especially enticing when factoring in the automaker's 5-year bumper to bumper and 10-year drivetrain warranty.