Mitsubishi's next Montero due early next year
Mitsubishi is well on its way to revamping the company's entire lineup, and no vehicle could use a complete overhaul more than the aged Montero, known as the Shogun in other parts of the world such as the U.K. Auto Express has posted this shot of what the next Shogun will look like when it reportedly debuts early next year, and it's a marked improvement over the current model's design. The new shape is clean with little cladding, and features a wide powerdome bulge on the hood that flows down into a wide three-bar grille. New headlights are mounted flush with the front fascia that also incorporates a pair of fog lamps. Big fender flares also extend out over what appear to be 18- or 20-inch six-spoke wheels. AutoExpress is reporting that the next Shogun/Montero will be built on an all-new platform featuring a new 4WD system and torquey 250-bhp 3.8-liter V6. Though SUVs have fallen from grace as of late, Mitsubishi might be able to increase sales of the Montero with an all-new model such as this.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SKluck 5:43PM (7/24/2006)
Toyota Camry is to Mazda 6
as
Mitsubishi Montero is to Ford Explorer
Reply
Yaroukh 5:56PM (7/24/2006)
or Ford Edge ... ?
Reply
Yaroukh 5:59PM (7/24/2006)
http://i.tnpv.us/2005/FRD200512/FRD2005120782517_PV.jpg
Reply
WRC05 6:00PM (7/24/2006)
I'll pick the Montero over Explorer any day. 6 straight Darkar Rally champion baby! And judging from this picture, I kinda like the current Monetero's look more, it's beefier looking.
Reply
Finished.Law.School 6:11PM (7/24/2006)
"Mitsubishi is well on its way to revamping the company's entire lineup."
It is about time. All of their vehicles have looked like shit for the past 10 years or so. The only arguable exception is the EVO...
Reply
s 7:19PM (7/24/2006)
WRCo5
Obviously, you don't know about Mistubushi reliability.
They suck!!! But good luck. Hope you like making payments on a car that doesn't work. At least you'll have plenty of time to rent a Explorer while the Mitsu is in the shop.
Reply
jenny123 7:21PM (7/24/2006)
Looks like the old Isuzu Axiom..........and that didn't sell either.
Reply
PJ 7:43PM (7/24/2006)
s -
CR lists reliability data on four of the seven Mitsubishi models currently sold. Of those, three score "Better Than Average," and one scores "Much Better Than Average."
No, CR ratings aren't the be-all-end-all. And it's not that Mitsubishi products don't have other shortcomings. Reliability just doesn't appear to be one of them.
Reply
Ryan 7:58PM (7/24/2006)
"6. WRCo5
Obviously, you don't know about Mistubushi reliability.
They suck!!! But good luck. Hope you like making payments on a car that doesn't work. At least you'll have plenty of time to rent a Explorer while the Mitsu is in the shop."
-OH BS, would you like to tell that to my trusy 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse that put be through college. It has "lived in" Washington state, california, Las Vegas and sold it 1.5 years ago to a friend that moved to Michigan. It had 312,000mi when I sold it, and it was treated how any normal college kid would treat their car :-)
Also my partner now has a 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander, no problem AT ALL either and it is consumer reports top five most recommended SUV's (thats not even the new outlander).
All I know is we smacked almost 20k down for that car so I hope your WRONG!!!
Reply
Mitsufan 8:50PM (7/24/2006)
Hey it's the new Shogun. Modeled on the eleven-time (6th consecutive 2006) Dakar rally winning Pajero Evolution. Eats Range Rovers for lunch.
This is really cool -- Mitsu is finally starting to get some sense of brand coherence (look at the 2006 Japan-directed Outlander; this looks like its big brother). I like the smooth one-chunk-of-steel look here, and the upcoming Delica successor will be hot as well. Hopefully Mitsu realizes that the numbers will not be there for a car like this (although it is likely to be a smash in Russia, where Mitsu is the #2 imported car) but big cars mean big profits, and nobody does big four-wheel like Mitsu.
And the garbage about poor quality, "s", is just that. Go pick on a U.S. carmaker like all the other irrational posters.
Reply
WRC05 9:25PM (7/24/2006)
hey "s", i never said Mitsubishi don't have reliability problems in the past, they do and so does every car maker out there. its common sense! but in comparing a Mitsubishi to a Ford.. well i'll never touch a Ford anyways, i don't think they're reliable, efficient or good looking. (fusion and focus look good). Anyways should find a way to harness this hate to power your truck or watever it is you drive coz you got lots of it!
Reply
Asher 10:19PM (7/24/2006)
Cars last if you take half-decent care of them. I have a Ford Ranger with 150,000 miles on it and it still runs fine.
Reply
Seto 11:05PM (7/24/2006)
WOOOOAH when did mitsubishi snatch up the ford edge design team?!
Reply
Luis Longo 11:22PM (7/24/2006)
I CANT CARE LESS
I just drove my new Cayenne, for the first time,
even in its entry model, it shows exuberance, and obviously a distinctive ride, and by the way, honey if you are reading this, i didnt do it cause its a Porsche, i did it, for the kids, so that they could enjoy seating on such a great SUV.
Reply
Armen 12:45AM (7/25/2006)
How do two different companies on different continents come up with two designs SO ridiculously similar? This sketch and the Ford Edge sketches make these cars out to be practically twins! How are they going to establish a "coherent brand image" with clones in their lineup?
Reply
yedkar 2:37AM (7/25/2006)
Wow, finally some decent Mitsus. about time, isnt it? The last one looked like an inflatable bathtub float toy. Now the Lancer Evo is finally going to get some good company in the "Good Mitsus" class of vehicles. By the way, head over to edmunds.com/insideline and trawl through their archives for the Lancer Evo X article. It suffices to say that the next lancer will be one hell of a looker. Not just another 4 door sedan with body cladding and 2 foot tall wings.
Reply
RuneSpyder 1:14PM (7/25/2006)
We had a 1998 Montero for quite a while. We loved it. It was unique. You didn't see them around all the time. The only real issue I had with it was that the front legroom was VERY tight. You could tell it was made for Japanese people. (shorter)
My wife still misses that truck and it's been like 5 years since we traded it in.
The little folding seats in the rear were good in a pinch, but we had them folded up 99.9999% of the time.
It was solid as a rock, except for the front rotors. The truck was just too heavy for them. Constantly warping.
Reply
mrmarootie 4:26PM (7/25/2006)
I recall reading that the Montero was being discontinued in the States. Is this newbie only for the rest of the world or will it be sold in the U.S.?
Reply
Davis 11:12PM (7/25/2006)
I can't believe. It's an Outlander and a Ford Expedition, Explorer, which ever one it is, combined. Mitsubishi, you could have been more original than that. I mean seriously. Looks alright though.
Reply
Davis 11:17PM (7/25/2006)
Correction, it looks like an Outlander and a Ford Edge combined. Still looks alright though. Just nothing original or spectacular.
Reply