OUTPERFORM YOUR IMAGINATION

Chic yet strong, Outlander 2010 is a comfortable, high-performance car capable of taking on the rest of the soft-roading world.

Yes, the hairy chest is gone, so is the lump of lard, and the muscles are sleekly defined now. But there’s still that reassuring stubble around the face. Rohit Bal’s new inspiration is definitely not one of the SUVs on the road.

It makes you an artist and a warrior of the road at the same time; it makes you a chap and a man at the same time. The avant-garde fashion designer inspired new hunk on the road, Outlander, is a perfect lifestyle vehicle. Stylish looks, great performance, plush interiors, innovative features and one that lends itself to business purposes as well as leisure driving, Outlander 2010 is a perfect value for its price tag of Rs 19.95 lakh.

Remember that James Caviezel and Sophia Myles hot French kiss on a distant land in the 2008 Hollywood movie 'Outlander'. Ah! Here you go and try it. Outlander won’t disappoint you for being an unsavory observer. The sharp and slick look of the vehicle will always entice you for one more. Apart from style, elegance and boldness, there is a lot of drama and even a touch of mystery in the line, which adds to its glamour, and to quote Rohit’s own word, “is reminiscent of what one sees in iconic movies like Grease, The Fast And The Furious and Wanted.”

Launching his fabric collection inspired by Outlander 2010, side by side, Rohit said, “I believe that the Outlander 2010 is a “mean” machine, that it embodies ‘”steal on wheels” and this is what is reflected in the garments.”

One of the most-awaited SUVs in the Indian market, the Outlander 2010 is a wonderful blend of technology and luxury. The ‘Stylish Utility Vehicle (SUV)’, as Mitsubishi refers to it, is fully loaded with a ‘custom’ sound system co-designed by the Mitsubishi with Rockford Fosgate, a leading US car audio brand. And it is a biggie with four six-inch speakers, twin dome tweeters, a 10-inch sub-woofer and a 650 watt amp sound. Once in action, trust me, the system rocks.

There is lot more to the lifestyle quotient of the Outlander. Ample space, sporty seats, huge wheel arches, four wheel drive, and a roof that arches down towards the rear are features that stand out. Car-like coil spring and strut suspension on all four wheels guarantees you a good on-road behavior with Mitsubishi’s reputed soft-roader handling. Add to that new combination meter, mirror mounted turn indicators, new door and dash trims, USB port, aluminum pedals, auto-folding Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs) and leather covered instrument panel and the Outlander looks to drool over.

The Outlander is not without its share of aggression. The deep-set headlights and the thick bumper, with its pushed-in fog lights, is very Range Rover.  And the luggage capacity is a jaw-dropping 882 litres (with third-row seats folded), and the space goes up to 1690 litres if the second row seats are dropped as well. The four-wheel drive system or the All Wheel Control, is a step up on the Honda CR-V. Unlike CR-V, it doesn’t lose energy and fuel efficiency in case it encounters any slip. And once you turn the dial to the 4WD auto mode—the system responds much faster to any slip requirements in extremely slippery, slushy or sandy conditions with no let up even if one or more wheels begins to slip. All enough to head out on a camping trip and get your feet dirty.

If you include value for money, the Outlander has everything to be counted. For high speed driving in slippery or extreme conditions, the Outlander has a vehicle stability control system, Active Stability Control (ASC), similar in concept to that of Mercedes’ ESP, a massive boon on SUVs as it keeps the car heading straight despite sudden loss of pressure to one of the wheels. At present, the only SUVs on sale fitted with this system retail for upwards of Rs 45 lakh. Outlander is one vehicle that is significantly well placed to be seen and noticed.

An integrated monocoque construction and a design that has an almost Audi-like restrained elegance about it, the wider Outlander’s bulk has a charm that is rugged yet attractive and contemporary yet stylish. The Outlander 2010 offers luxury and finesse along with significant off road capability. Finally, on the Indian auto horizon is something with enough appeal, enough substance and enough spunk.

If fashion designers are the new style icons, Rohit has been quite successfully outlandish in endorsing Outlander 2010, to fire the aspirations of an upwardly mobile generation.
Photo Credit: http://www.zcars.co