Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype Concept - Auto Shows

Although still labeled a concept, Mitsubishi’s Outlander GT Prototype on display at the New York auto show foreshadows a new top-level GT variant of the company’s mid-size Outlander crossover arriving later this year. Worked over with numerous aesthetic and technological tweaks, Mitsubishi says the GT Prototype is more fuel-efficient than current Outlanders, while also sporting more interior refinements and a revised front fascia modeled after that of the Lancer Evolution.

A Familiar Face

While the production GT model likely will include many of the Prototype’s high-performance trinkets, such as 19-inch OZ Racing wheels and Brembo disc brakes, all 2010 Outlanders will sport the concept’s bold new face, including the Evo-fied front bumper and grille, as well as a new hood, side mirrors, and fenders. New bi-xenon, high-intensity discharge headlights give the concept a distinctive look, with the overall effect of the styling changes reducing drag and improving fuel economy, the company says. Also featured on the GT Prototype is a lightweight, polished aluminum roof, which Mitsubishi says will be standard on all revised Outlander models and will improve handling performance by lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity.

More Evo DNA

Along with the upgraded wheels and brakes, the GT Prototype also features a lower and stiffer suspension for improved road holding, as well as a variant of the Evo’s Super All-Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system. Adjustable to Normal, Snow, and Traction modes and taking into account data on throttle position, wheel speed, engine output, steering angle, gear selection, and yaw rate, S-AWC works by shuffling power between the front and rear axles, as well as from side to side to either rear wheel. The system also takes into account input from the electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes, with the actual transfer of drive force handled by the electronic all-wheel-drive coupling and limited-slip front differential.

A six-speed automatic is the only transmission offered and is mated to a more powerful version of the current Outlander’s 3.0-liter V-6. A less-restrictive intake and revisions to the compression ratio and camshaft timing bump output to 230 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque, up 10 hp and 11 lb-ft compared with the existing engine. Although no estimates are given, Mitsubishi says the tweaks also boost fuel economy, as does the new “Idle Neutral Logic” technology that automatically shifts the gearbox into neutral when the vehicle comes to a stop.

A More Refined and Better-Connected Cabin

Helping the GT Prototype’s interior exude a more upscale feel are various new soft-touch coverings, as well as chrome accents, aluminum pedals, a more sporty steering wheel, and double-stitched, synthetic leather trim. A new 3.5-inch LCD display in the instrument cluster allows a close eye to be kept on engine vitals, while a new infotainment interface provides greater connectivity. Called the Fuse Handsfree Media Gateway system, the in-dash technology features improved Bluetooth and voice-recognition capabilities for controlling wireless devices and the onboard navigation system. Along with a 40-gig hard drive, the navigation system also sports real-time traffic updates, as well as a seven-inch LCD screen.

Other notables include an optional 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system and a new ultrasonic vehicle security alarm. Stay tuned for more coverage of the New York auto show, as well as driving impressions when we get behind the wheel of the 2010 Outlander GT.