All New 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport offers a composed ride, along with surprising agility
The all-new 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport possesses a well-engineered platform that not only has a refined road manner that meets or exceeds that found in more expensive crossover vehicles but is also tuned to provide surprisingly good handling for a vehicle in its class.
RISE Body Structure: Safe and Sturdy
Thanks to Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body structure, the all-new Outlander Sport is expected to receive 5-star crash ratings in the critical frontal and side impact tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Engineers have designed the Outlander Sport's RISE unibody structure so that, in the event of a collision, the chassis will dissipate energy to provide maximum protection to the vehicle's occupants. The RISE body structure helps to lessen the risk of injury of collisions from any direction: front, side or rear. The technology even provides additional protection to the car's fuel system in rear end collisions.
A key ingredient of the RISE body structure is the extensive use of high-tensile steel - a material that is not only stronger than ordinary steel but also lighter. This, coupled by additional bracing than that found in the larger Outlander SUV and an improved suspension, allow the Outlander Sport to not only achieve impressive government crash test ratings but also improved ride compliance and handling, thanks to the stiffer body structure.
While the platform has been shortened in the downsized Outlander Sport, the chassis receives additional bolstering for improved structural rigidity. Changes include new floor sections sheetmetal in the rear half of the vehicle, additional bracing at the very front of the vehicle and sturdy new cross members for the mounting of components associated with the new electric power steering system.
Weight Reduction, Inside and Out
Every square inch of the Outlander Sport's sheet metal is completely new; in fact, the only exterior items carried over from the original Outlander SUV are the side mirrors.
Like the exterior, nearly every component found inside the Outlander Sport is all new. This includes the instrument panel and nearly all interior trim as well as the rear seats (the front bucket seats are carryover from the Outlander, but their fabric upholstery is all new).
Along with the implementation of lighter high-tensile steel in key areas of the exterior sheet metal, steps have been taken to maximize weight reduction and other parts of the vehicle. For example, the front fenders are composed entirely of a durable plastic that is not only significantly lighter than steel but is also highly resistant to light impacts, allowing them to bounce back to their original shape with their paint intact than undergoing a costly trip to the body shop for repair.
Compact Overhangs, Wider Stance
The aggressive looks of the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport are not just a result of the car's stylish design, they are also due to this compact crossover's tidy exterior dimensions.
Though the Outlander Sport shares an identical wheelbase length with its big brother, the 7-passenger Outlander SUV, at 105.1 in. as a result of their shared platform (thus endowing the compact crossover with roomy interior dimensions), its overall length is considerably shorter at 169.1 in. versus 183.7 in. - a difference of 14.6 in. This difference can be accounted for by the shorter front (4.7 in.) and rear (9.8 in.) overhangs of the Outlander Sport's design. Adding to the 5-passenger crossover's muscular-looking stance is it 69.7 in. overall width (down a mere 1.2 in. to the Outlander's 70.9 in.) and a height of 64.2 in. (66.1 in. for the Outlander), accompanied by a broad 60.0 in. track for both the front and the rear (nearly identical to the larger Outlander's 60.6 in. track).
The look is further enhanced by large 16-in. wheels shod with P215/70R16 tires on the ES model (16-in. aluminum alloy wheels are also available) while the SE version wears even more impressive P225/55R18 rubber on 18-in. aluminum alloy wheels.
Redesigned Engine Mount
New engine mounts were engineered for the Outlander Sport that provide reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) from the larger Outlander SUV.
Like its larger sibling, the Outlander Sport employs a 4-point inertial axis engine mount system to securely cradle the 4-cylinder engine, but vibration and noise are further isolated from the cabin thanks to cylindrical-shaped hydraulic engine mounts, a high-strength steel plate bracket on the left side of the engine and a highly rigid but lightweight cast-aluminum bracket for the right side of the engine. The left side bracket is composed of steel as Mitsubishi engineers found this material to be better in this instance at reducing gear noise from being heard within the vehicle.
Suspension: Refinement for Poise and Handling
The proven suspension design found on the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV has been carried over to the all-new Outlander Sport, but the system underwent further development to provide improved handling, steering stability and ride comfort for the smaller crossover model.
The front suspension is a MacPherson strut design, the setup featuring a slightly smaller track (60.0 in. to the larger Outlander's 60.6 in.), but other than that all major front suspension geometry - camber, caster, toe, stabilizer bar diameter, etc. - remain unchanged. The spring rate for the Outlander Sport has been reduced slightly from that of the Outlander (29.3N/mm versus 33.1N/mm).
The rear suspension is a multi-link design that has been fitted with mono-tube shock absorbers that provide an excellent balance between road-hugging grip and a well-damped ride, accompanied by outstanding levels of handling and stability in the compact crossover. The rear track matches that of the front at 60.0 in., with the suspension geometry mimicking identically that of the larger Outlander SUV's rear multi-link setup. The Outlander Sport makes use of a reduced stabilizer bar diameter (18 mm versus 20 mm) and spring rates (27.5N/mm versus 29.4N/mm).
All-New Electric Power Steering
Electric power steering systems help reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions because there is no belt-driven hydraulic pump constantly running, acting as parasitic drag on the engine.
Steering gets an assist from active driving parameters
Information collected from sensors measuring numerous driving dynamics including vehicle speed, conditions detected by the stability control system, steering wheel position and rate of rotation, along with input from the steering torque sensor mounted on the steering shaft itself, is fed into the power steering control module to determine precisely how much power steering assist is required.
Enhanced componentry for improved steering feel
Driver feedback through the steering is enhanced by optimized components within the electric power steering system including a ball slider-type intermediate shaft that offers both better steering feel and high-assist torque, along with the use of a brushless motor that helps improve steering feel and assist control.
In addition to the enhanced driver feel experienced by the electric steering system's advanced design, the driver further benefits in comfort from the steering wheel position variation available with adjustments made via both tilt (approximately 0.8 in. up or down from the steering wheel's center position) and telescopic (approximately 0.8 in. forward or back from center) steering column. The lever for adjusting the tilt of the steering wheel is located on the side of the column rather than beneath it to reduce knee injury in the event of an accident.
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
The braking system on Mitsubishi's compact crossover is essentially mechanically identical to that found on the larger Outlander SUV, save for a few critical design changes for improved performance and safety.
The ability of the Outlander Sport to reduce its speed rapidly in emergency braking situations has also been improved with a design revision to the brake booster. When the system concludes that the driver is in a situation that requires instantaneous braking (the system determines this by a quicker than normal operation of the brake pedal), a mechanical locking mechanism inside of the brake booster is momentarily deactivated, thus increasing the braking system's power beyond that of a normal braking situation.
Another key difference is that the Outlander Sport features new brake calipers that reduce drag by a full 30 percent to those equipped on the Outlander in yet another comprehensive effort on the behalf of Mitsubishi to help improve fuel economy. The Outlander SUV, Outlander Sport CUV makes use of 16-in. ventilated brake discs at all four corners, but with a larger diameter single-piston on the front brakes to the Outlander's dual-piston design, with a slightly smaller single-piston utilized on each of their vehicle's rear rotors.
Advanced Electronic Driver Aids for Enhanced Vehicle Stability
The all-new Outlander Sport features a comprehensive list of active electronic driver aids including an Active Stability Control (ASC) system that includes Traction Control Logic (TCL) and Hill Start Assist (HSA) to help improve traction and vehicle stability to help the driver to maintain control in a variety of road conditions - all standard equipment at no additional cost. An electronically-controlled 4WD system is also available.
Active Stability Control (ASC)
The Outlander Sport's Active Stability Control (ASC) greatly enhances vehicle stability in wet or dry conditions. The system's electronic control unit (ECU) and other sensors continuously communicate with the engine, continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the electronically-controlled 4WD system, and when it detects wheel spin and/or yaw moment (sideways vehicle drift) it will provide integrated control of the aforementioned engine, CVT, 4WD and the brakes to aid vehicle stability.
Dynamic vehicle parameters measured by the ASC include wheel speed, steering wheel angle, brake master cylinder pressure, yaw rate, and lateral and longitudinal G load.
ASC can be manually deactivated via a switch on the driver door side of the instrument panel (push once - ASC OFF; push again - ASC ON).
Traction Control Logic (TCL)
Traction Control Logic (TCL) helps to prevent wheel spin when launching from a stationary position or when accelerating in slippery road conditions such as rain, snow or ice.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Using a longitudinal G sensor and information of the shift lever position from the transmission, the Hill start assist (HSA) determines movement of the vehicle on a slope (climbing or descending) along with the inclination of the slope and automatically holds the brakes to help prevent the vehicle from rolling backward from the time it takes to driver to release their foot from the brake pedal and apply it to the accelerator (HSA functions only when the vehicle is claiming a slope). The system will activate the brakes for a maximum holding time of 2 seconds. If the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, HSA releases the braking force according to engine torque.
Hill Start Assist is a wonderful stress reliever for the driver as it prevents the vehicle from having to worry about the vehicle rolling backward on a steep road, optimizing brake force control even if the vehicle is towing a trailer (up to the maximum towing capacity). It also functions if the system determines that the shift lever position is in reverse on a downward-facing slope (when facing either direction, HSA cannot operate unless the vehicle is at a complete standstill).
Available On-Demand Electronically-Controlled 4WD System
A sophisticated electronically-controlled 4WD system is also available for the SE version of the Outlander Sport that greatly enhances both on-and off-road traction in good or bad weather conditions.
Mitsubishi is recognized as a world leader in the development of all-wheel drive systems, thanks to its years of successful, multi-championship-winning years of competition in the highly-competitive World Rally Championship, where high-tech production car-based racing machines travel at high speed on a variety of surfaces including asphalt, sand, gravel and on snow-covered roads.
Unlike Mitsubishi's remarkable Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) 4WD system found in the company's famed Lancer Evolution model that utilizes such exotic technology as active differentials and active yaw control for extreme high performance, the on-demand electronically-controlled 4WD found on the new Outlander Sport emphasizes fuel efficiency while giving the driver the option to switch to traction-enhancing all-wheel drive at their discretion.
Borrowed from the larger outlander SUV, the 4WD system consists of a rear differential carrier, and electronically controlled coupling (ECC) connected to the forward section of the rear differential and a power transfer unit (PTU) mated to the transmission near the front axle. These components have been designed to be exceptionally lightweight yet sturdy for the rugged terrain and conditions that the vehicle may encounter. And thanks to a low viscosity oil used in the power transfer unit (PTU), this helps to improve fuel economy by 0.1 percent compared to the Outlander.
A major design upgrade over the Outlander's 4WD system has been a recalibration of the systems control unit that has led to a variety of improvements including enhanced fuel economy, stability in 4WD mode, improved traction and steering feel when accelerating from a standstill, and an overall reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
The system has three shift-on-the-flying settings:
2WD Setting most likely to be used for normal everyday driving; allows the Outlander Sport to operate as a front-wheel drive vehicle.
4WD Delivers power to all four wheels for improved traction and safety in slippery driving conditions
LOCK Like the 4WD setting, it routes power to all four wheels but it distributes 60 percent of the available power to the rear wheels for sportier handling.
Premium Warranty
Mitsubishi Eclipse, Lancer, Galant, Endeavor and Outlander vehicles come with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty; along with a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty. The high-performance Lancer Evolution and Ralliart models are covered by a 5-year, 60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, along with a 3-year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty.
All Mitsubishi vehicles have a 7-year /100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty, along with 5-years/unlimited miles Roadside Assistance, which includes free towing to the nearest authorized Mitsubishi retailer.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 430 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
