2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Se on 2040-cars

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT

I'm not a gambling man, but if there were a pool for an automotive death watch, my money would be on Mitsubishi... Lincoln is a close second. To understand the plight of Mitsubishi, you only have to look at its current lineup; they all just look, feel and drive about 10 years older than they really are. With the departure of the Endeavor and merciful killing of the Eclipse (the Galant lives on, but is on hiatus for the 2013 model year), one of the worst remaining offenders is the Mitsubishi Outlander, which I recently drove in top-level GT trim for this Quick Spin.
If we had a time machine and took the 2013 Outlander GT back to 1998, it would be revolutionary. If we could take it back to 2004, it might be near the top of its class. But in the current highly competitive crossover segment of today, the Outlander just falls short. Yes, the all-new 2014 Outlander is on its way later this year, but from what we've seen both inside and out, the new design would look great in 2008. That being said, spending a week with any vehicle can point out surprising highs as well as lows, and there are still plenty of reasons to enjoy Mitsu's midsize CUV.
Driving Notes

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport shows its new nose

You know, I always thought the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was kind of attractive. Really. But I'm not sure I can say the same about this refreshed, 2016 model. The big change is up front, where the re-schnozzed Sport now has a weird mix of colors and trims going on. There's chunky chrome trim with black in the middle of the face. In some colors, it almost looks like the car's missing a panel. Elsewhere, the 2016 Outlander Sport's enhancements are mostly positive. There's a new steering wheel, 6.1-inch infotainment display, new color choices, and some fresh 18-inch wheels. That's about it for updates, though. Things are the same as they ever were under the hood, with either a 2.0- or 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine powering the Sport, offering up 148 and 168 horsepower, respectively. So it's better equipped, but I wish it still looked as good as the pre-facelift model. Nevertheless, the Outlander Sport does well for Mitsubishi, and hopefully potential buyers won't be too put off by that unfortunate nose. UPDATED FOR 2016 - 2016 Outlander Sport adds bold, sleek exterior design elements with Mitsubishi's "Dynamic Shield" front design concept - Interior enhancements add stylish accents to further Outlander Sport's value CYPRESS, Calif. Nov. 18, 2015 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today unveiled the updated 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport featuring a newly redesigned, bold exterior front fascia/grille. The brand's best-selling CUV is now equipped with Mitsubishi's "Dynamic Shield" front design concept adding a sleek, audacious element to a vehicle that already makes a statement of its own. "The Outlander Sport is a brand leader for Mitsubishi Motors, and we are excited to unveil this eye-catching 2016 model-year," said MMNA executive vice president, Don Swearingen. "The Outlander Sport has always been a fun vehicle that delivers on its promise of reliability and value, and the 2016 model year continues to do so with a great new family look that unifies the Mitsubishi CUV lineup." In addition to the new exterior design, the 2016 Outlander Sport is equipped with new power folding side mirrors with LED turn indicators, wheel lip moldings, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink® and a new 18-inch alloy wheel design. Also new to the vehicle this year are three new exterior colors: Cool Silver, Diamond White Pearl and Quartz Brown.

NHTSA, IIHS, and 20 automakers to make auto braking standard by 2022

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and virtually every automaker in the US domestic market have announced a pact to make automatic emergency braking standard by 2022. Here's the full rundown of companies involved: BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo (not to mention the brands that fall under each automaker's respective umbrella). Like we reported yesterday, AEB will be as ubiquitous in the future as traction and stability control are today. But the thing to note here is that this is not a governmental mandate. It's truly an agreement between automakers and the government, a fact that NHTSA claims will lead to widespread adoption three years sooner than a formal rule. That fact in itself should prevent up to 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. The agreement will come into effect in two waves. For the majority of vehicles on the road – those with gross vehicle weights below 8,500 pounds – AEB will need to be standard equipment by September 1, 2022. Vehicles between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have an extra three years to offer AEB. "It's an exciting time for vehicle safety. By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives," said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in an official statement. "It's a win for safety and a win for consumers." Read on for the official press release from NHTSA. Related Video: U.S. DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment of 20 automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.