Raiders of the Lost Truck: Mitsubishi killing forgotten pickup
Click above for high-res image gallery of the Mitsubishi Raider
Don't look now, but the U.S. is quickly losing its supply of small-volume, badge-engineered trucks. Just yesterday, we learned that at month's end, Isuzu plans to shut off the trickling flow that is its passenger vehicle business in the States, taking the Ascender SUV and i-Series pickups along with it. Today, there is word that Mitsubishi will drop the Raider pickup, itself a substantially restyled Dodge Dakota.
According to Automotive News, the slow-selling carryall will tuck into oblivion sometime mid next-year, as Mitsubishi looks to overhaul its product lineup in order to focus more on fuel-efficient small cars. In its present form, the Raider has been around since 2005, and while it it has never been a big seller, last year, the mid-size pickup sold under 3,000 units. Interestingly, an often overlooked and altogether different Raider was marketed as a Dodge-branded rework of the Mitsubishi Montero SUV in the late Eighties.
With America's badge-engineered workadays dropping like flies, how long will it be until the Grim Reaper shows up at the door, looking for the Mazda B-Series? Who will save the children? Buy them while you can, folks.
Gallery: Mitsubishi Raider
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
P.V. 7:44PM (1/08/2009)
I thought the Mazda B-Series was already dead. Anyway, Ford still has a small stake in Mazda, so it's not like two totally different companies sharing vehicles.
Which brings me to my next question: is the Suzuki Equator next?
Reply
The Luigiian 7:59PM (1/08/2009)
No. The Suzuki Equator actually looks better than the vehicle it's based off of.
Good Lord, the Raider was ugly. There aren't enough words to describe how hideous that front end looks.
Yikes 9:57AM (1/09/2009)
Sadly, both Mitsubushi and Isuzu have decent trucks in other parts of the globe, but the USA "chicken tax" of 25% is keeping those trucks out of the USA.
Repeal the 25% Chicken tax
moyoi 1:58PM (1/09/2009)
Make Japan and China repeal theirs and let's see what a free market does to the home countries. It's be like one big fire sale!
cdwrx 7:44PM (1/08/2009)
Please put the B-series Mazda out of its misery.
Reply
firstplace 10:38PM (1/08/2009)
couldent agree with you more. All the badge engineering has to die.
Chris 7:50PM (1/08/2009)
ha! substantially restyled my ass.
Reply
Emil 7:52PM (1/08/2009)
I'll be honest, I didn't even know this truck existed until about a month ago when I ventured onto Mitsubishi's website.
Reply
Upthewazzu 7:57PM (1/08/2009)
Sales to rental fleets and enormous discounts kept this thing afloat for 2 or 3 years more than it should have. They axed the V8 option after the first year. I wouldn't be surprised if all the remaining Raiders were nothing more than '05-'06 models that haven't sold yet.
Reply
Alex Thibau 8:05PM (1/08/2009)
Make that the late eighties (that the Dodge Raider was sold).
Reply
rypt 8:16PM (1/08/2009)
Looks ugly, L200 look soo much nicer
Reply
Kimura 8:45PM (1/08/2009)
When will you guys at AB learn? It's not badge engineering if all of the body panels are different. That's platform engineering. Even the interior was restyled.
Honestly though, I thought this was dead already. I've seen like 5. Ever.
Reply
mcfandango 8:49PM (1/08/2009)
Mazda already clearances B-series. I got my 08 last November for 9995+TTL. I'm pretty sure the only reason it still exists is some agreement between Ford and Mazda for parts/production line sharing. Something like Mazda gets the Ranger and Escape to sell so they can make Mazda6's at a Ford plant in the US. Wouldn't surprise me anyway.
Reply
MikeW 9:24PM (1/08/2009)
Did Mitsu offer the NV244 transfer case for '09?
If they don't anymore, no loss.
Reply
G-Meister 11:06PM (1/08/2009)
Not sure- I was surprised this thing was still being built. Question to you, o gear oracle- what front diff does the Dakota use?
Benfolio 9:09PM (1/08/2009)
For all intents and purposes the B-series is dead anyways. Looks like they only sold a little more than 1300 all year in 2008.
I think we have ONE is stock, and they only offer two (4X2 reg cab and 4X4 Cab Plus) versions in I think only four colors.
We were told it'd be dead after 2008, maybe it'll quietly pass after 2009 is over.
Reply
jakes 9:48PM (1/08/2009)
Mitsubishi should bring the L200/Triton to the States, I think it could sell well with the 3.5 V6 of the new Montero Sport BTW.
Here in Mexico, the L200 is selling like hotcakes, even isn't a good time to sell cars.
Sorry for my english, I hope everyone understand this.
Reply
azrael4h 9:58PM (1/08/2009)
What, sell a small, fuel efficient and capable compact truck in the US?! NEVER!
The L200 should have been brought over, either as a Mistu Mighty Max replacement, or if they wanted Dodge to market it, as a Ram 50 replacement. Instead of taking a full size truck like the Dakota, and telling people it was a mid size one.
G-Meister 11:08PM (1/08/2009)
I like that little truck. For me, the Diesel could have a little more nuts and I would prefer a nice boring IP. Unfortunately market fears and the Chicken tax will continue to keep it out.
Jake B 12:29AM (1/09/2009)
Wow I totally forgot about the L200 and looked it up, WOW! That is an amazing looking little trucklet. I don't know why Mitsubishi doesn't have Dodge use some old factory to pump out Dodge and Mitsu versions. It's a win-win!