2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Confirmed

The American auto sector is showing slight signs of recovery and Mitsubishi hopes to benefit from a more significant growth that might take place in the next few years by refreshing its local lineup. One of the new models to be launched in United States is the Outlander Sport, a small crossover projected to hit American stores in 2010.

John Koenig, executive vice president for operations at Mitsubishi Motors North America, has already confirmed the report for Automotive News and revealed the car will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations and will be based on the Lancer sedan platform.

The car will use some design cues from the cX concept revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show and will be unleashed in production form at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2010. It will go on sale in Mitsubishi's domestic market in the first months of the next year.

A couple of spyshots captured earlier this year revealed that Mitsubishi is working on a new crossover boasting a bulky appearance, somewhat like a Nissan Qashqai. The crossover engine lineup is said to comprise several engines, including Lancer’s 140-hp 2.0-litre DI-D configuration. Official details are yet to be disclosed.

The cX concept shown in 2007 was powered by a 1.8-liter clean diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry (VG) turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) with diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust system. It complies with Euro 5 regulations.