Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Online Test Drive is GTA IV with Only One Car and No Crime

Clearly taking its inspiration from those throwaway iPhone / iPod games loved so much by Volkswagen and its subsidiaries, the North American arm of Mitsubishi Motors will let a select few test drive the new Outlander Sport compact [called ASX in Europe] remotely through "Mitsubishi Live Drive".

In a world first, customers will be able to take the compact crossover around a closed circuit course, controlling the actually vehicle through an "interactive remote control" from the comfort of their own internet-connected PCs. I wonder what a "non-interactive remote control" would be...

When developing the Live Drive experience, Mitsubishi consulted robotics expert, Dr. James Brighton who was instrumental in constructing the online test drive program

The 5-seat CUV was rigged with multiple video cameras, servo motors that move the pedals and steering wheel and electronic receivers that pick up on the driver's control inputs.

Mitsubishi boasts that, "participants will enjoy the feeling of literally being in the driver's seat." You know, without G-force or inertia or any other feeling you might get from actually driving a car.

Those who use the Live Drive program will also have the opportunity to collect "feature pods"; you know, like the coins Mario picks up. Only these ones tell you about the features on the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Riveting!

Oh well, it sounds more interesting than listening to a dealer drone on and on about this and that at the dealership for hours on end, though I'd still rather take a shot at controlling one of the vehicles in the DARPA Urban Challenge though.

If you are 18 years old, live in the United States and have a valid driver's license you can sign up on the car's microsite from the 15th of October. The Live Drive days will be held between the 1st and 10th of November, coinciding with campaigns in other media including television and print.

By Tristan Hankins

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Mitsubishi to Phase Out Most of its U.S.-made Models by 2014

Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko today announced that the automaker will kill most of its current lineup of U.S.-made vehicles by 2014, as part of the company's “Jump 2013” mid-term business plan. The decision affects the Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder sports cars, Endeavor crossover and Galant sedan, which are going to be replaced with global vehicles built at the manufacturer’s Illinois plant. The Outlander crossover, Outlander Sport small crossover and Lancer sedan will provide the underpinnings for the new models.

According to Mr. Masuko, these changes won’t affect U.S. sales. In fact, he predicted that sales and production numbers will increase, albeit no target has been specified.

“Our sales in North America will increase”, Masuko said. “We'll still be selling cars brought in from Japan, and we'll be adding the global small car as well”.

When it comes to combined sales, Mitsubishi expects the Japanese, North American and European markets to register a jump of 90,000 units over the next three years.

Furthermore, the company is exploring other possibilities to gain much needed market share as well.

One plan of action will see Mitsubishi rolling out no less than eight electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles by early 2016, including a small commercial truck version of the i-MIEV and plug-in hybrid SUV based on the Px-MiEV concept car shown at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

Mitsubishi also wants to bring its new global small car to the U.S. and target emerging markets with new models, such as a 1-ton pickup truck that could be jointly developed with Nissan.

Mitsubishi Registers Outlander Facelift Design

It's no secret that Mitsubishi is planning to apply its angry 'EVO' shark snout on the forthcoming facelift version of its compact-sized SUV as previewed on the Outlander GT concept at the New York Auto Show in April. But now we've learned that the Japanese firm has registered the design of the Outlander GT with the European Union Trademark Office. Apparently Mitsubishi wants to protect its intellectual property and ensure that the new design won't find its way on some random Chinese clone (eg. the Landwind X8) of the Outlander GT well before the automaker introduces the facelift version of the SUV into the market.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Mitsubishi Outlander GT Shows its EVO-Inspired Fascia in New York

Pride and joy of Mitsubishi's stand at the New York Auto Show is the new Outlander GT Prototype which essentially provides us with the first look of the stylistic updates that the Japanese firm is readying for its compact crossover. And by this we basically mean the Lancer EVO cloned inspired front end design that gives the Outlander a much more aggressive appearance than the current model.

Aside from the EVO's signature 'Jet Fighter' grille and the reshaped Bi-Xenon headlamps, the Outlander Prototype also sports several other new design elements, such as a reshaped front bumper, side mirrors, fenders and hood, a new rear bumper and side sills, plus a new polished finish on the aluminum roof panel.

Complementing the exterior changes, the GT's cabin has been refreshed with the addition of grained synthetic leather with contrasting double stitching, new chrome accents plus a few EVO-inspired design cues like the aluminum sport pedals and the new three-spoke steering wheel.

The New York Show Outlander GT prototype also features a series of upgrades under the hood with the 3.0-liter V6 engine benefiting from improvements that include a reduction in intake restriction plus optimized camshaft timing and compression ratio. The changes result to a 10 horsepower bump for a total of 230HP while Mitsubishi claims that the V6's torque curve has also been improved. The prototype model features an upgraded shifting program and Idle Neutral Logic for the automatic transmission.

However, the most significant change concerns the adoption of the Lancer EVO X's 'Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system that uses an active front limited-slip differential and an electronically contorlled 4WD coupling for improved handling, traction and stability. Furthermore, Mitshubishi has upgraded the Outlander with shorter and stiffer suspension, larger Brembo brakes and a set of 19-inch O.Z. racing wheels.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com