Amid the SUA controversy besetting Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, the local brand managers took the wraps off the new Montero Sport. After a highly successful seven-year run and a tumultuous 2015, Mitsubishi’s best selling mid-size SUV got a redesign and ended up loaded with performance, comfort and safety features.
Held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the launch was part of a weekend extravaganza which highlighted Mitsubishi’s full line up of vehicles under one roof. Adding some sizzle to the event was the presence of Paris-Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka, who dazzled the crowds with his driving skills as he took the wheel of the Montero Sport around a specially designed dirt course beside the WTC. “This is a great way for the public to see and feel the overall performance of the Montero Sport,” said Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC’s First Vice President for Marketing.
At the heart of the new Montero Sport is Mitsubishi’s Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control technology. According to MMPC engineers, this new 2.4 liter 4N15 diesel is Euro 4 compliant and cleaner, more powerful and fuel efficient than the previous model. Compared to traditional diesel engines, the 4N15 engine boasts low compression ratio, thus reducing fuel consumption, smoke and Carbon Dioxide emissions while maximizing the output of the Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT). As a result, the power output of the all-new Clean Diesel engine with MIVEC is raised to 181 Ps/3500 RPM and 430 Nm/2,500 rpm. Differentiating it from its predecessor, the 4N15 engine uses an aluminum cylinder block, making it significantly lighter.
As an innovation in its class, the automatic variant is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode which is designed for quick sprints and relaxed highway cruising. The GLS 4WD on the other hand is equipped with a new 6-Speed Manual transmission. These new transmissions bring out more pleasurable drive and better performance on every journey. The all-new Montero Sport uses an improved Super-Select II 4WD system which features a dial type selector. This is complemented by the new off-road Mode (first on a Mitsubishi model), which gives an excellent all-terrain performance and stability.
The all-new Montero Sport debuted in Thailand in August 2015 and the Philippines will be the fourth country to release the all-new Montero Sport. It will be available in four variants: the GT 4 Wheel Drive 8-Speed Automatic Transmission, GLS 4WD 6-Speed Manual Transmission, GLS 2 Wheel Drive Premium 8-Speed AT, and the base model GLS 2WD 8-Speed AT. The all-new Montero Sport which is produced at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, will be introduced in more than ninety countries from around the globe including Asia, ASEAN, Oceania, East Europe, Middle East Africa and Latin America regions among others.
The new Montero Sport starts at P1.5M for the entry level GLS 2WD AT and the top tier GT 4WD, P1.998M.
