Autoblog

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 excuse explanation for them follows after the jump.


[Source: Mitsubishi]

Click on the photo above for our photo gallery of the 2007 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

Ah, how we miss Ford's second-generation Lightning. By infusing an F-150 with 380 HP of supercharged 5.4L fury and selecting suspension components that were up to the task of harnessing such power, the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) redefined the sport truck genre and sent the competition scrambling to build worthy competitors. In 2003, the Lightning gained a big brother in the form of the supercharged crew-cab wearing Harley-Davidson livery, but unfortunately, SVT's run came to an end a year later, and with it disappeared the blown Ford trucks.

Fast-forward to the present - the Harley-Davidson package has transitioned back to the F-150 after a brief flirtation with the Super Duty line-up (featuring one of the most garish paint packages in recent history), and forced induction has yet again found its way back into the fold. Now packing 450 horsepower and the blackest color scheme imaginable, we recently got a chance to spend a few days with what is currently the most powerful pickup truck available.

Mitsubishi has finally released its Triton "urban sports pickup" truck in the Japanese market. Already on sale in Thailand (where it's built), Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and many other global markets (but not the U.S.) the Triton has apparently been on Japanese customers' wish lists for a while.

Featuring clean, modern styling and the practicality that only a pickup truck can offer, the 5-seat Triton gets its go from a 176-horsepower, 3.5-liter gasoline V6. The sole transmission available will be a 4-speed automatic, and the truck features an "Easy Select" 4WD system that allows the driver to switch between 2WD and 4WD on the fly. The cabin gets blue-lit gauges, a large center storage console, and rear glass that can be lowered with the touch of a button. The cargo bed's load limit is 400kg (881 lb), perfect for the kind of light duty Mitsubishi anticipates it being used for in Japan -- primarily outdoor liesure activities such as watersports, mountain biking, etc.

The price? ¥ 2,940,000 ($24,976 USD)

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Not content to let the newly-redesigned Super Duty rest with only five trim levels, Ford has announced two more for the late May start of 2007 production - the Lariat Outlaw and Lariat Highline.

Available only with the Powerstroke 6.0L diesel, the black monochrome Outlaw is designed to attract the sort of disobedient bad-asses who buy $50,000 trucks. Leather-covered captain's chairs keep prospective Young Guns comfortable, and there are a set of chrome step bars in case they've got trouble making a big single leap into the cab. Tinted windows are included to hide all those law-breaking activities from the authorities.

The Highline, available with all three options, adds to the already long list of standard Lariat equipment by adding an all-black leather interior, brushed aluminum trim, and a billet grille that is larger than most garage doors.

Ford's full press release is posted after the jump.

[Source: Ford Motor Company]