Mitsubishi India's current line-up has only one vehicle, Pajero Sport SUV. The Japanese manufacturer entered the country in a joint venture with Hindustan Motors in 1998. The Lancer sedan became one of the most successful cars in India in the next decade. However, as time passed by, their sales went down due to the launch of wrong models of cars and choice of engines.
The scene is set to make a change as the new Montero and Outlander SUVs are scheduled to be launched in 2016. The new generation of the Pajero Sport will join the portfolio in 2017, increasing the number of SUVs to three.
"We would like to inform that our resources are being utilized for the activities involved in introduction of the new Montero and Outlander models in 2016 and followed later by the new generation Pajero Sport launch which tentatively would be sometime in the later part of year 2017," said Uttam Bose, Managing Director of Hindustan Motor Financial Corporation (HMFCL) -- the manufacturer and marketer of Mitsubishi vehicles in India. Uttam Bose inaugurated the new dealership JF Mitsubishi at Nagpur on 15 October.
Mitsubishi previously sold fourth generation Pajero as Montero in India. The new Montero is likely to come with the 3.2-litre Common rail DI-D diesel engine that develops 163bhp at 3,500rpm and 373Nm of torque at 2,000rpm mated to 4-speed automatic transmission with sports mode. The SUV will be equipped with Super Select 4-wheel drive II and all wheel traction control (AWC).
The Outlander's latest avatar is expected to come with 2.4-liter MIVEC diesel engine that produces 165bhp at 6,000rpm and 222Nm of torque at 4,100rpm. The engine will be mated to CVT gearbox power transmitting to all four wheels.
