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Future Models
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| First look: Mitsubishi’s baby SUV |
Small stuff: Mitsubishi has released these pictures of its new baby SUV, the RVR.
Mitsubishi’s new RVR compact crossover set for mid 2010 launch in Oz
By PHILIP LORD
4 December 2009
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MITSUBISHI released images of its new compact SUV at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show and announced it would resurrect the RVR nameplate for the new model.
The baby crossover – sitting below the Outlander in both size and price – will go on sale in Japan in February before making its formal show debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show in March.
It is expected to hit the showrooms in Australia early in the third quarter priced from about $25,000.
The RVR was to have been unveiled at the Tokyo motor show in October, but Mitsubishi released teaser sketches instead and delayed the show debut until the Swiss event.
First seen as the Concept-cX at the Frankfurt show in 2007, the RVR was fast-tracked into production to meet growing demand for small SUVs.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited president and CEO Robert McEniry confirmed that the RVR would make its public debut in Japan in February, ahead of a world premiere at the Geneva show in March.
He said that Australian RVR launch would be the third quarter next year, “but it should be closer to mid-year”.
 Left: The Mitsubishi RVR. Below: The Mitsubishi Concept-cX.
The new wagon is 4.3-metres long, which makes it 340mm shorter than the Outlander.
According to Mitsubishi, the RVR has a lightweight body to aid fuel-efficiency and a new 1.8-litre petrol engine.
However, Mr McEniry said a 1.8-litre turbo-diesel would also be offered in Australia and presumably Europe.
Mr McEniry said he would announce more information about the new model in the New Year.
No further specifications have been confirmed, although it is believed that the RVR will use an on-demand all-wheel-drive system similar to Outlander. A two-wheel-drive version is also rumoured - an essential asset in this small SUV market populated by vehicles such as the Nissan Dualis.
Mitsubishi has confirmed the new compact SUV will be released in North America, Europe and Asia, including the all-important Chinese market.
Mr McEniry said the RVR and newly-released Challenger would provide a significant boost to the Mitsubishi line-up, adding: “Effectively, we’re adding two new model lines.”
The RVR name was last seen on a compact people mover built by Mitsubishi between 1991 and 2002. It was sold only as a second-hand import in Australia.
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