2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor Technical Release

The Endeavor's exterior design makes a bold, emotional visual statement about the product and the person who owns it, distinguishing itself from other crossover SUVs by its strong mechanical styling cues. The Endeavor's athletic fender arches, aggressive front fascia treatment, and rounded rear glass help endow the vehicle with a design signature unlike any other SUV on the road.

The Endeavor's bold, purposeful front and rear bumpers help communicate an image of strength and safety. The strong silhouette features distinctive fender arches that stretch into a character line that wraps around the vehicle's waistline. Viewed from the front, the larger fenders help accommodate the wide 63-inch (1600 mm) track and reinforce a sense of stability and strength that also can be felt behind the wheel. Large, lower air intakes in the front fascia also help to convey an image of aggressiveness and purpose. Meanwhile, the roof racks are a perfect match for the Endeavor's body contours, providing a tight-fitting, tailor-made appearance that complements the vehicle's rugged styling. The Endeavor offers attractive exterior paint finishes with highlights that add depth and appeal to the sheetmetal.

Interior

The Endeavor's interior exemplifies Mitsubishi's spirited product virtues by offering a stylish, upscale, and contemporary cabin that's uncommon for the class. Sculpted, modern architectural forms housing controls that invite interaction with the driver and passenger dominate the Endeavor's dashboard. The center of the Endeavor's dash panel features a prominent, metallic-finished waterfall of climate and audio controls suggesting a modern, high-tech, home-audio look that includes large knurled control knobs and fin-shut vents. Atop this center panel is an available color LCD display that provides climate and directional information. It even functions as a computer interface that allows owners to customize many of the vehicle's interior operations, such as the remote entry settings. At night, the gauges, interior control knobs, and switches are illuminated with striking ice-blue LED lamps that help create a sophisticated interior mood.

Storage capacity was one of the Endeavor's interior design priorities, evidenced by the large-capacity glove box included in the dash. The smartly designed center console, which includes a pair of dishwasher-safe cup holders, features a folding, double-decker storage compartment with enough space to accommodate a purse or laptop computer beneath an armrest lid that contains a penholder. Other cubbies are designed to hold cell phones and sunglasses. The Endeavor Limited's center console also includes climate controls that can be operated by rear seat passengers. The Endeavor's door panels are covered in modern, padded and textured materials that match the seat covering and instrument panel. The front door panels include large door pockets ideally sized for large map books or magazines.

The Endeavor's plush seats offer generous shoulder and hip width for superior comfort. Depending on the trim level, the seats are covered in cloth, premium fabric, or leather, and they feature deep accent lines to help emphasize their comfort and width. Leather seat coverings are standard equipment on the Endeavor Limited. In the interest of reducing fatigue and increasing comfort during long drives, the Endeavor is equipped with ideally positioned door panel armrests, a center console armrest pad and a rear folding armrest complete with cup holders. The Endeavor's front seats include seatback pockets that are handy for stowing magazines, and the rear seats include an easily operated 60/40 fold-down function, adding rear cargo flexibility. Overhead assist grips throughout the vehicle are intended to help passenger entry and exit in addition to providing a location to hang the dry cleaning.

The Endeavor's smart design is apparent in the execution of the wide, rear cargo area that includes a D-pillar equipped with handy upper and lower hooks to hang bags and help clear the cargo floor. The rear glass hatch opens for easy access. The rear interior cargo panels also incorporate bumpers to protect from the inevitable scratching of loading and unloading goods. Rear hatch and overhead lighting help brightly illuminate the rear cargo area at night.

For the benefit of rear seat occupants, a newly optional Video Entertainment System, consisting of a DVD player with a pair of remote headphones, is available on the XLS and Limited trim level.

Drivetrain and Chassis

A responsive 3.8-liter, 60-degree SOHC V6 engine ideally suited to provide brisk acceleration while maintaining efficient fuel economy powers all Endeavor models. The engine is designed to provide ample torque and superior performance across the rev range. Rated at 225 horsepower at 5000 rpm, with peak torque of 255 pounds-feet at 3750 rpm, the Endeavor's V6 is capable of propelling the front-drive SUV to 60 mph in under 9.5 seconds (est. for 2WD LS). The engine's intake and exhaust vents are tuned to achieve maximum torque at low revs, where drivers can make most use of the power.

The new 3.8-liter engine achieves impressive fuel economy while meeting stiff emissions regulations for passenger cars, as opposed to truck classes. Additional rigidity incorporated into the 3.8-liter block and the engine mounting areas also brings a reduction in NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness). The Endeavor's refined 3.8-liter engine also incorporates the cutting-edge throttle-by-wire controls that enable the Mitsubishi-Active Skid and Traction Control system (available on the Limited) to enhance vehicle control on wet, or slick, skid-prone roads.

The Endeavor's 3.8-liter V6 engine is mated to a sophisticated four-speed automatic transmission with Sportronic(TM) shifting. The transmission features fully adaptive shift control that "learns" driver inputs and tailors transmission operation to each driver's habits. All-wheel drive equipped Endeavors rely on a transfer case that combines a bevel gear center differential with a viscous coupling to achieve a 50/50 torque split between the front and rear wheels. The transfer case includes a fine-pitch hypoid gear that helps reduce noise and differential oil cooler that helps improve the unit's reliability. Final drive ratios are optimized to improve off-the-line acceleration, as well as make the Endeavor well suited for highway performance

Suspension

The Endeavor's four-wheel independent suspension was designed to provide superior stability, ride quality and nimble, car-like handling. The Endeavor utilizes a proven MacPherson strut design up front that helps reduce the weight of the suspension design compared to a truck-based suspension. In addition, a large, rigid cross-member helps control the torsional flexing forces of the front sub-frame, improving suspension performance while also reducing NVH.
The Endeavor's rear suspension utilizes a low-mounted, multi-link configuration with trailing arms. The low-mounted position of the rear suspension, with its reduced protrusion into the rear cargo bay, helps increase the rear cargo carrying capacity. Hydroformed crossmembers also help reduce road noise and improve suspension performance by reinforcing the rear suspension mounting points to reduce flex.

All-wheel drive Endeavor models utilize thick rear crossmember that also support the rear differential and half shafts. The Endeavor's wide, 63-inch (1600 mm) track endows the vehicle with superior stability and control. Also, in the interest of handling, ride quality, and style, all Endeavor models are equipped with attractive five- or seven-spoke, alloy 17-inch wheels wrapped in wide 235/65R17 tires.

The Endeavor utilizes a proven power rack-and-pinion steering system that is designed to provide the same direct feeling and response found in a passenger car, while the system's effort multiplication provides the low speed steering control that makes parking and low-speed maneuvering so easy.

Brakes and Safety

The Endeavor unibody structure features extensive reinforcement for additional passenger protection in the event of a collision. Robust front subframe members are connected with a dash panel crossmember and a strong, front steel crossmember to help create a rigid, boxed front subframe area. Reinforced side sill members also help disperse energy in the event of a collision. High-strength steel crossmembers across the floor also help absorb side impact energy and help protect occupants. In the interest of front passenger safety, the Endeavor is equipped with dual stage front airbags and front seat-mounted side impact airbags.
Pretensioning seat belts with force limiters are standard equipment on the Endeavor. Extensive uses of energy absorbing materials appear on the interior and headliner and are used to cover the inside of the front center and rear pillars and help reduce the possibility of injury during a collision.

All Endeavors are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes. The front ventilated discs measure 11.4 inches and solid rear discs measure 11.9 inches. Anti-lock brakes - optional
on the base LS 2WD model and standard on XLS and Limited - and EBD systems help the Endeavor provide excellent braking control during sudden stops.

WARRANTY AND MANUFACTURING

As part of Mitsubishi Motors "Best-Backed Car" program, all models are backed by a comprehensive new vehicle limited warranty that covers the vehicle from bumper-to-bumper for five-years/60,000 miles. In addition, the powertrain is covered by a 10-year/100,000 mile limited warranty, while body panels have a seven-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty. The "Best-Backed Car" program also includes 24-hour emergency roadside assistance with free towing to the nearest authorized Mitsubishi retailer for warranty-related repairs for five years/unlimited miles.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States and Canada. Mitsubishi Motors sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 650 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.