Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste
Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Mitsubishi "Panther" Concepts
In addition to bringing the good stuff (Lancer Evo, Ralliart) to Melbourne, Mitsubishi has some schlock on hand to counterbalance the awesome. We're talking about the automaker's "Panther" concepts, which leverage bling, decals, and that whole "dealer-installed accessory" vibe to create all-show/no-go machines of questionable taste. We find those "panther scratch" stickers to be particularly egregious -- they'd look right at home on a busted-up Paseo with 15-inch spinner hubcaps. Check out the attached gallery to see what you like most or least about the five Panther concepts. We think the Pajero fares the best of the bunch, and while we'd love to have the Triton pickup in general, we could do without the 22-inch cartoon wheels and graphics. The other three victims are the Colt (not too bad), Grandis minivan (above) and Lancer ES, whose Panther makeover begs the question, why do this when you can simply buy a GTS? They may wear the name of a predator, but these "Panthers" look like they'd be happier noshing on Friskies than fresh meat. Mitsubishi's
Gallery: 2008 Mitsuishi "Panther" Concepts
[Source: Mitsubishi]
PRESS RELEASE:
Mitsubishi Panthers On The Prowl At The Melbourne International Motor Show
Finished in striking black duco and trademark "claw" detail, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited's (MMAL) Panther concepts are ready to pounce on the Melbourne International Motor Show.
Under the Panther design concept, some of Mitsubishi's best-known models have revealed their darker sides. The Colt hatch, Lancer sedan, Grandis people mover, Triton ute and Pajero 4x4 three-door have been transformed into uncompromising streetwise machines.
Lowered ride height gives all of the Panthers a sporty, aggressive stance and each car receives specific additional equipment to create a unique look.
Mitsubishi's all-new Lancer looks the part with 20-inch chrome wheels, side skirts, fog lamps, scuff plates and chrome exhaust tip in addition to the custom Panther paintwork and decals.
Even more powerful is the Triton concept, with 22-inch chrome wheels and a larger-than-life hard tonneau cover, front bumper extender, rear bumper extender with fog lamp, chrome upper grille surround, upper and lower mesh, chrome head and tail lamp bezels, and scuff plates.
The three-door Pajero also receives 22-inch chrome wheels and lowered ride height, as well as a powerful body kit, illuminated scuff plates, exhaust tip and spare wheel tyre cover.
Mitsubishi's popular light car, the Colt, receives 16-inch alloy wheels, a unique body kit and scuff plates, while the Grandis VRX adds 16-inch alloy wheels and lowered ride height to its standard body kit.
MMAL President and Chief Executive Officer Robert McEniry said he was thrilled with the way the Panthers had turned out.
"They really enhance the basic design of the vehicles and are sure to attract a lot of interest from visitors to the show," he said.
Each Panther vehicle combines both locally and overseas sourced components, and selected accessories are available from Mitsubishi dealers nationally.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Supergoat65 4:48PM (3/02/2008)
Man, I wish they sold that minivan and truck here in the States...they're awesome!
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Paul 5:08PM (3/02/2008)
Yes the Grandis And Triton are both an excellent product from Mitsubishi. The Colt are an awesome little car as well, i own one in Australia. Do yo have the Colt in the US?
Supergoat65 5:28PM (3/02/2008)
No, but if we did, I know I'd certaintly be interested!
stang_fan 4:55PM (3/02/2008)
Wow, flashback to the '70s time. For those not old enough to remember...when Japanese cars first hit it big in the U.S. we were often treated to "factory specials" that looked like these concepts. It was a feeble attempt by importers and dealers to inflate the MSRPs of cars that Americans were often desperate for, during the various "oil crisis".
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Aetius 5:21PM (3/02/2008)
Without the flash and Dubs and crap those vehicles are HOT
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3seriesisking 5:29PM (3/02/2008)
Good use of the word egregious. There should be a disclaimer on these vehicles not to look at them directly. Lol....
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EquinsuOcha 8:40PM (3/02/2008)
Give me a diesel Grandis in the states to compete with the Mazda 5 / Honda Odyssey / Toyota Sienna.
Offer me a Colt as an alternative to a Smart ForTwo / Yaris / Versa.
Bring the Triton over (it's just a Montero Sport with the ass chopped off) and offer it in diesel instead of the badge engineered Raider. Oh, and lose that crap on the back. Looking like a Ridgeline is not a good thing.
The Lancer doesn't look that bad, minus the decals.
Overall, they may be somewhat ugly due to the crap slapped on them, but at the core, they're better cars and trucks than what we've seen offered here in the states from Mitsubishi (and other manufacturers) for a while.
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Paul 9:01PM (3/02/2008)
No this is The new Triton which is a hundred times better than the old one and as far as i know it dosn't share the platform with any other model.
Michael 6:22PM (3/02/2008)
Hahaha.
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TwinTurbo3000GT 6:31PM (3/02/2008)
yea, no. we really dont need or want a ghetto'd out minivan, thanks.
...unless it comes with a turbo and AWD :)
seriously, just stick with what you do best mitsu. More Evo and ralliart things, and get the eclipse back to it's roots.
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BlazerUnit 7:12PM (3/02/2008)
Mr. Nunez, just because it's not your taste doesn't make it bad or of 'questionable' taste. The accessories shown on these Mitsubishi cars aren't any worse than some of the custom options that could be found on musclecars or special conversion editions of full-size trucks, before and/or after leaving the dealer's lot. A simple "not my taste" would've sufficed instead of several just-because insults.
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Ohso Clutch 7:29PM (3/02/2008)
Somehow, the name "panther" fails to capture the tone of that....thing.
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SPG 8:36PM (3/02/2008)
Would you instead prefer "Street-Hood Poser Edition"?
As yes, Panther does not work.
BLS 8:59PM (3/02/2008)
"...they'd look right at home on a busted-up Paseo with 15-inch spinner hubcaps..."
I have actually seen this before but they are more like 13s.
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Torrent 9:37PM (3/02/2008)
I'm not a fan of the minivan body-style, but if they produce this and place the right engine in it (and give it to the U.S.) I'd ceratinly look into getting one.
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Grain 10:04PM (3/02/2008)
The sportiest minivan I 've ever seen. You got to give to Mitsu, despite their financial crisis, they are still trying to deliver. If I were to buy a minivan, I'd want this to be it.
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Justin 12:06AM (3/03/2008)
Sportier than any "car-like" crossover.
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chris 2:14AM (3/03/2008)
Last year they did a similar thing but had an EVO IX and a Colt Turbo modified sort of sleeper-style by Ralliart. Was far better than the effort this year.
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Rick 10:17AM (3/03/2008)
The big one is a Mazda 5 with 4 doors. I love the sliding doors on the Mazda.
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Philip 1:47PM (3/03/2008)
All Those models are sold in Europe, doesnt it make you sick? again we get the CRAP.
The Triton is is much better looking than our Tacoma, we have the remodeled boring UGLY Dakota. Who would want one? even Dodge dealers struggle to sell it.
Mitsubishi need to jump start their American sales efforts by giving us all these vehicles, they would certainly sell.
C'mon Mitsubishi, wake up.
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