According to the official Press Release from Mitsubishi, the exterior of the sporty Outlander ACTiV offers the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and black roof rails with roof rail cross bars, as well as a stylish black front center grille and chrome exhaust tip.

On the inside the Outlander ACTiV provides increased occupant comfort with the addition of privacy glass and automatic air-conditioning, and enhanced safety with the addition of reverse parking sensors and Bluetooth 2.0. Safety features include Mitsubishi’s acclaimed reinforced impact safety evolution body, active stability control, active traction control, multi-mode anti-lock breaking system and electronic brake force distribution.

For now, the Mitsubishi Outlander ACTiV will only be available in Australia, but cross your fingers and hope this special edition will come to the United States and Canada.

Although we’ve been expecting Mitsubishi to bring a gasoline-powered version of its i microcar to North America, company spokesmen have confirmed that no decision has been reached on a small Mitsubishi for the U.S. We’ve been told that the Japanese automaker is still debating whether it wants to keep the i’s unique shape strictly for the electric i-MiEV, which is scheduled to arrive here in late 2011. This would be similar to what Toyota has done with the hybrid-only Prius, associating its silhouette with eco-friendliness. Should Mitsubishi decide not to offer a gas i here, it would most likely bring a version of the small car that will replace the Colt, based on its upcoming “global small” platform. – Car & Driver

This news won’t effect North American Mitsubishi sales, or models like the Evo or Lancer. It will pretty much erase Mitsu from most major racing events, however. The high cost of specialized parts and maintaining a race team is mostly to blame…well that and the automotive apocalypse our world just went through. Details in a press release below.

Press Release:

Partial Cease of Business Activities along with Ralliart Inc’s Business Scale Down
Ralliart Inc (President Masao Taguchi) has announced as follows.

Dear all of our customers ,

First of all, we much appreciate for your usual patronage to our company.
Our company have done the various activities relating motorsport with the support of many people since the establishment in April,1984 so far. However, because of the sudden change of economy situation since the year before last, the business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc., would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010.

Along with the scale down of our business activities this time, we would cease the following business and operation which we have done so far. We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers though we would make you much inconveniences.

Meanwhile, we wish you a continuous support to Ralliart family and entrants driving Mitsubishi cars who play an active part all over the world.

Items which would cease our business and operation along with our business scale down;

1. Support to motorsport customers(Support to the participation, Technical Support, and Awarding of Mitsubishi/Ralliart Driver of the Year)
2. New Planning, Development and Merchandize of Ralliart products (Except FIA VO parts) :*1
3. Information of new products and dispatching motorsport information(at web):*2

*1 FIA VO parts development and those application work shall be done by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as it is.
*2 FIA Group-N information shall be open at the web site of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

Date of the cease: 1st April, 2010

“For the second consecutive year, the Dakar is welcomed in South America for a challenge of 9000 kilometres leading the riders and crews on the roads, the tracks, the mountains and the deserts of Argentina and Chile. From the 1st to the 17th of January, the competitors will fight it out on 14 stages: the loop to cover, anti-clockwise, will include a thorough visit of the Atacama Desert and its gigantic dunes. The white sand close to Fiambala or the grey one in the area of Nihuil will complete the spread of colours and the variety of difficulties all along the event.”

With that we present the Mitsubishi Ralliart Edition. What, Mitsubishi is running in Dakar again? Well, umm…no. Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota and Nissan are all running the intense Rally Competition this year. But no Mitsubishi racing. Check our what could have been with this slick Lancer turned Rally Car and also these stunning 2010 Dakar Photos via Boston.com.

Dakar 2010

Mitsubishi’s concept contained the clean-diesel burning engine and a 4WD option. No word yet if a production model will have similar options, but we do know RVR is slated to be released below the Outlander. Nice to see those R&D renderings were factual. Stay tuned for more on the RVR Crossover, and read details in Mitsu’s press release below.

PRESS RELEASE – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has decided to name its all-new compact crossover the RVR. This all-new compact crossover is planned for sequential release globally, and will be first released in Japan next spring.

This new compact crossover will be released globally, including North America, Europe, and Asian regions including China.

Riding on Mitsubishi’s mid-size global platform (which also underpins the Lancer and Outlander), the compact crossover will be powered by a variety of four-cylinder engines including a new 1.8-liter turbo-diesel with 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque.

via: wcf

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces all-new Compact Crossover – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announces today the forthcoming introduction of its all-new on-road Compact Crossover, to be retailed first in Japan from February 2010 onwards.

Derived from the much-acclaimed 2007 Concept-cX show car, it is the latest development of MMC’s mid-size global platform (“Project Global”).

This most important product will further support Mitsubishi Motors’ strategic shift from being an SUV-focused nameplate to a manufacturer of environment-friendly passenger cars & crossovers*, with a presence in the “authentic off-roader” segment** – itself preempting structural changes in market demand.

As such – and after i-MiEV – this on-road Compact Crossover will be the Corporation’s next game changer towards lower impact vehicles, in their format and/or in the innovative MMC proprietary technologies they will feature. The European premiere is scheduled for the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

via WCF

Both vehicles boast an 81 mile range with the help of lithium-ion batteries. 81 miles not grand enough for you? If this helps, both vehicles’ batteries can be recharged 80% within thirty minutes, thanks to a rapid charger. No rapid charge on hand? Expect to wait six hours for the batteries to be full again. i-MiEV/iOn’s electric motor produces 64 horse power and 180 Nm of torque. Peugeot stated the iOn has a top speed of 81 mph, which is good because we all know what happens when your Peugeot reaches 88.

Look for more of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Peugeot iOn EV and more at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Sept 17th.

First off, we have to say it’s great that Mitsubishi stuck with the i-MiEV’s concept design (for the most part) – it takes the futuristic style of Mitsu and other Japanese brands and mixes in the compact/fun nature of a European car. In fact, it almost looks like Fiat and Mitsu had a baby, then decided to make it electric!

We also dig recharge time: I-MiEV is powered by a a lithium-ion battery, which is mounted in the center of the car, under the floor. Range is somewhere around 100 miles per charge (MPC?) when driven under normal conditions. The battery can be recharged to 80% capacity using standard outlets in 30 minutes.The i-MiEV goes from empty to fully-charged in 7 to 14 hours. The regenerative braks also help.

It would be nice to have more solid numbers to back up this car. Mitsubishi claims the car gives “maximum fun” “maximum economy” and “maximum regenerative” yet doesn’t share any hard digits when it comes to top speed, 0-60 time, etc. Although the electric motor is rated at 47kW, with 180 Nm of torque.

Currently the tiny car has a price $47,544 USD. It is certainly not the most inexpensive automobile on the highway. But with gas already heading back up to $3 a gallon in the States (in only the first week of June) it may only be a matter of time until people start weighing tag cost over long term price of fuel. One thing is certain, if Mitsubishi wants to market the i-MiEV to North America, they’re going to need a reduction in cost.