Manufacturer Mitsubishi Production 1991–2002
2010–present | Also called Mitsubishi ASX | |
 | ||
Class Compact MPV (1991–2002)
Compact crossover SUV (2010–present) | ||
The Mitsubishi RVR is a range of cars produced by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi from 1991 to 2002 and from 2010 to present. The first two generations were classified as compact multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), whereas the model introduced in 2010 is a compact crossover SUV.
Contents
- First generation 19911997
- North America
- Second generation 19972002
- Third generation 2010present
- Next generation
- References
The RVR was Mitsubishi's Recreational Vehicle debut during the Japanese economic boom. The cars were sold at the Mitsubishi Japan dealership chain called Car Plaza. RVR is an acronym for "Recreation Vehicle Runner". In addition, the original logo had a Cyrillic Я on the first letter. It had a convenient size passenger cabin and spacious 4–5 person capacity with a youth-oriented approach, therefore making it more appealing to young people . Television commercials in Japan used Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as spokespeople. It was also developed and released during Japan's "bubble economy", and had gained popularity due to its ease of use sliding door on the passenger side.
It was a tall wagon, off-road model that sought awareness towards "sports gear" or outdoor lifestyles to other companies, similar to an approach used for the introduction of the Honda CR-V, allowing drivers to setting their own routes, and it had an especially good sales record in the beginning, even with the decline of the RV sales boom. Unfortunately due to declining sales, it was discontinued in August 2002.
The reintroduction of the "Sports Gear" RVR nameplate is an attempt to inherit the popularity of the first generation vehicle. It was released in Japan on February 17, 2010. It does not feature a rear sliding door, due to the current perception that SUVs have conventional doors, and sliding doors are typically installed on family vehicles. The RVR logo no longer uses the inverted Cyrillic "Я" on the first letter.
The trim level that is typically used is the grade name "Sports Gear", a feature Mitsubishi is reintroducing, such as Airtrek and Grandis.
First generation (1991–1997)
The first RVR, introduced February 1991, is a compact MPV, manufactured between 1991 and 2002. It was known as the Mitsubishi Space Runner in Europe and Mitsubishi Expo LRV in the United States, while export markets in Asia and Oceania used the Japanese market name. The RVR was also sold by Chrysler as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Wagon and Eagle Summit Wagon captive imports in North America. Its "tall wagon" appearance reflected a popular appearance which found favor with many international manufacturers, which can trace their beginnings to the 1978 concept car Lancia Megagamma.
The Hyper Sports Gear R trim package in Japan used the drivetrain of the first Mitsubishi Galant VR-4; the 4G63T 2.0 L 16V DOHC turbo straight-4 mated to either a four-speed auto or a five speed manual which was not offered in North America. Open front and rear differentials were used on vehicles equipped with 4WD. Power output was rated at 170–184 kW (231–250 PS; 228–247 hp). In Japan, the RVR saw competition from the Nissan Rasheen, the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, the Subaru Forester, and the Suzuki Escudo.
The RVR was essentially a second generation Mitsubishi Chariot (known in some markets as the Space Wagon) with a shortened chassis and sharing the components of the longer vehicle. It is a tall wagon SUV with two rows of seats, equipped with a sliding door on the passenger side, similar to the Toyota Raum and Nissan Prairie. There was no door for the rear passengers on the driver's side; only one sliding door was installed on the passenger side for all trim levels, and for all vehiches sold internationally. This was a different configuration from the larger Chariot in that the longer vehicle had conventional doors on both sides of the vehicle. Also, the Mitsubishi sliding door latched to a "B" pillar, whereas those of the Toyota and Nissan vehicles did not. The rear windows didn't retract into the doors or body, instead they popped out at the back edge of the window. The rear windows on the longer Chariot did retract into the doors.
The fuel tank access door was installed on the right side for all versions sold internationally, however, for the LHD models, and the sliding door was on the right side, care needed to be taken to avoid opening the sliding door when fuel was being added to the fuel tank. An interlock prevented the sliding door from opening too far when the fuel filler door was open.
The standard installed fixed position rear bench seat arrangement could accommodate three persons and the seatbacks had a 50:50 split: the reclining seat backs could be folded forward, flat upon the seats, and then the seat cushion could be detached at the rear and folded up and forward towards the front seats, leaving a flat floor for large cargo items. When the entire bench was removed, the flat floor extended all the way from the back of the front seats to the rear hatchback door. The optional sliding bench rear seats could accommodate three people, with the setup allowing rear seat passengers additional leg room by sliding the entire rear seat assembly back. Depending on seating arrangements, the rear seats can then produce a large enough interior space by sliding the seats completely forward, then extending the seatbacks completely flat.
Originally installed with a naturally aspirated 2.0L/1.8L gasoline engine, it was later introduced with a diesel turbo engine model thereafter. The mid-model sports model with a detuned type of turbo engine 4G63 is also carried on the Lancer Evolution its "X3" and "Super Sport Gear" and offered an optional sliding metal sunroof. In North America, a 2.4L (2,351cc) 101 kW engine was available on FWD versions, and standard on AWD versions at least as early as MY 1993. The final and most powerful model, the "Hyper Sports Gear", was added in January 1997.
Due to platform sharing with the longer Chariot, and the benefit of development time, many of the mechanical components from past Galant contributions with new mechanism improvements, the RVR is basically reliable and robust. However, the individual is about 60,000 km Automatic Transmission capable, greet life with a plug cord about three years, would upset the sensors and around the throttle servo mechanism (such as not idling as symptoms appear), etc.
Automatic Transmission shift lock was mechanism instead of an electrical control, a unique method that deregulation was mechanically wire extending from the brake pedal. This was also the advantage of being unaffected by the battery.
North America
In North America the RVR was sold by Chrysler as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista Wagon and Eagle Summit Wagon captive imports in North America. These were marketed as station wagon versions of the Dodge/Plymouth Colt and the Eagle Summit, but as those cars were rebadgings of the Mitsubishi Mirage and Lancer, the cars didn't share much beyond the nameplate. These Wagons were sold in the model years 1992 through 1996 and replaced the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista and the Canada-only Eagle Vista Wagon, all based on the previous generation Mitsubishi Chariot. The Summit Wagon was available in DL and LX trims, as well as in a four-wheel drive (AWD) version considered a trim level of its own. It was marketed as blending the maneuverability of a small car with the roominess of a minivan with its interior offering high seating positions and removable rear seats. It was designed to attract young families with seating for five.
Second generation (1997–2002)
The second generation was introduced in 1997. This generation assumed the Chariot name, supplanting the previous RVR name, and the longer previous generation Chariot was changed to the name "Chariot Grandis", while still being the shortened model and sharing the components for reuse. Mechanisms such as sliding doors and rear seat was a long slide that is characteristic of the predecessor remain. It was not sold in North America. In Europe, this car was restyled and sold as the Mitsubishi Space Runner.
The model offers a significant face lift, which was done to mirror the image design of the Chariot Grandis and its brisk sales in 1999 at the time. Standard grades of "X" (later the "Exceed") and type of sport "sports gear" is classified into, the standard type "X" is a 1.8L gasoline engine, "Sports Gear" is a 2.4L GDI engine with a turbo engine or 2L 4G63. Vehicles installed with the 2.4 L. engine were liable for additional yearly tax charges in Japan due to the engine size exceeding the Japanese regulations concerning engine displacement, and the width of the vehicle was 1780mm. Vehicles with the smaller engines were installed in vehicles with reduced width at 1695mm so that buyers weren't liable for additional taxes. The high performance model "Sports Gear X3", came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with self-leveling xenon headlights, and the original seat had been an interwoven pattern image of hummingbirds.
Third generation (2010–present)
The third generation RVR is a compact crossover vehicle, first released in the Japanese domestic market on February 17, 2010. The name RVR is only used in Japan and Canada. In Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Australia, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Russia, and the Philippines, it is sold as the Mitsubishi ASX (an abbreviation of "Active Sports Crossover"), and as the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in the United States and Indonesia. In Puerto Rico, it uses both the ASX and Outlander Sport titles. It is based on the design of the Mitsubishi Concept-cX prototype first exhibited at the 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show in July 2007. It is a return to the original concept of offering the platform used for the longer Mitsubishi Outlander with reduced seating capacity to five people, while sharing components of the longer vehicle, demonstrating a corporate decision to return Mitsubishi to smaller, fuel efficient vehicles in favor of larger, truck-based products. It was also exhibited at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in September the same year. In Japan, buyers must pay an additional tax due to the exterior dimensions exceeding Japanese government reguations for cars classified as "compact".
The Asian RVRs are powered by the 4B10 1.8 litre gasoline engine mated to an manual or INVECS-III continuously variable transmission. North American, Singaporean, Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Philippine and Australian vehicles getting the larger 4B11 2.0 L and 4B12 2.4 L engines(starting 2015MY), while the European ASX use a new 4A92 1.6 litre gasoline engine. In Europe and Australia the 4N13 1.8 L direct-injection turbodiesel engine is also available as options. With a 2015MY update in Europe Mitsubishi 4N1 engine was replaced with PSA DV6C engine. The almost whole range of petrol engines – 1.6L (117 hp), 1.8L (140 hp) and 2.0L (150 hp) is offered on the CIS market.
Mitsubishi has concentrated on emphasizing the RVR's fuel economy and low emissions, as part of the company's plan to reposition itself as a maker of smaller and more efficient cars, in contrast to its previous successes building large SUVs. The vehicle is both eligible for an eco-car tax reduction in Japan, and Euro-5 compliant in Europe. In Australia the ASX received a 5 out of 5 star safety rating from ANCAP.
The European ASX was exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010, while the North American Outlander Sport/RVR was revealed at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. From the summer of 2012, production of the Outlander Sport will begin in Mitsubishi's Illinois plant, for both the North American and a number of export markets.
Next generation
In October 2014 Mitsubishi announced that the next generation ASX will have a plug-in hybrid version. The conventionally powered next generation ASX is scheduled for market launch in 2016 and the plug-in version will go on sale in Europe and other markets in 2017.