Mitsubishi's sales in the U.S. have hit the skids lately, but that doesn't mean they are throwing in the towel. In fact, they are working hard on creating the new products that are needed to get sales revived again. One important piece of this new-product plan is an all-new mid-size Mitsubishi Outlander. These photos capture a test prototype of the next-generation Outlander as it undergoes high-temperature testing in the southwest.

The test vehicle has right-hand drive, indicating that it is a Japanese home-market vehicle. It is expected that the new Outlander will be introduced in Japan for the 2006 model year, while its U.S. intro will lag until the 2007 model year.

The new Outlander is larger than before, and is expected to seat as many as seven people with the use of a fold-down third-row seat. The engine for the Japanese market will be a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, but the U.S. market is expected to get a 3.0-liter V-6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Styling is modern and more rounded than other recent Mitsubishi products like the Mitsubishi Endeavor SUV. The prominent Mitsubishi "beak" in the center of the grille has been banished, replaced with a simply styled grille featuring horizontal slats. The front-end shape integrates the grille with the front bumper, giving a more rounded look and eliminating the normal gap between the grille and bumper. Bold fender flares accent the big wheels and tires, and the roof sports the usual roof rack that seems to be a requirement of virtually every SUV.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A9080.html

At first I wasn't sure if this was the same thing as the studio picture from above. But the fender flares match, so I guess it probably is.