Mitsubishi RVR

The first generation RVR, introduced February 1991, is a compact MPV, manufactured from 1991 until 1997 and marketed as the Mitsubishi Space Runner in Europe and Mitsubishi Expo LRV in the United States. Export markets in Asia and Oceania used the Japanese market name. The RVR was also marketed by Chrysler as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Wagon and Eagle Summit Wagon captive imports in North America. Its "tall wagon" configuration traces to Italdesign's 1978 Lancia Megagamma concept. The RVR was essentially a second generation Mitsubishi Chariot (marketed in some markets as the Space Wagon) with its chassis shortened by , sharing most components with the longer variant. Its tall wagon body style featured two rows of seats, equipped with a single rear door and, in all markets, a single sliding door on the passenger side. The Mitsubishi sliding door latched to a "B" pillar, whereas those of the Toyota and Nissan vehicles did not. The rear windows did not retract but were forward hinged. The rear windows on the longer Chariot did retract into the doors. The fuel tank access door was on the right side for all versions sold internationally. In the LHD models, which had the sliding door on the right side, an interlock prevented the 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. ==Second generation (N60/N70; 1997)==

}} The second generation was introduced in 1997. This generation was split into the regular, more minivan-like RVR GDI and the RVR Sports Gear with sporting off-road pretensions. Thanks to various bumper and fender extensions, the Sports Gear was too large to classify as a compact car in Japan and was thus placed in a considerably higher tax grouping. This generation RVR was not sold in North America (except Mexico). In Europe, this car was restyled and sold as the Mitsubishi Space Runner. The model offers a significant facelift, which was done to mirror the image design of the Chariot Grandis and its brisk sales in 1999 at the time. Standard grades were grouped into "X" (later the "Exceed") and the sportier "Sports Gear" models, the standard type "X" has a 1.8-litre gasoline engine while the "Sports Gear" used a 2.4-litre GDI engine or the turbocharged, two-litre 4G63. Vehicles installed with the 2.4-litre 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 . Vehicles with the smaller engines were installed in vehicles with reduced width at so that buyers weren't liable for additional taxes. The high performance "Sports Gear X3" model came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with self-leveling xenon headlights; the model-specific seat fabric received an interwoven hummingbird pattern. In February 1999 a special "Fishing Gear" package was released, aimed at fishing enthusiasts (bass fishers in particular). This package was available for the entire lineup and consisted of various extras suitable for sport fishers, such as a built-in refrigerator, a fishing rod stand and holder, a roof box, additional interior and exterior lights, and special, water-repellant seat covers. File:1997 Mitsubishi RVR 01.jpg|1997 Mitsubishi RVR (pre-facelift) File:Mitsubishi RVR 012.JPG|Mitsubishi RVR (facelift) File:2003 Mitsubishi Space Runner (4793929030).jpg|The narrow-bodied version, here a European-market Mitsubishi Space Runner File:2000 Mitsubishi Space Runner 2.0 GLXi (rear).jpg|2000 Mitsubishi Space Runner 2.0 GLXi (facelift, Netherlands) ==Third generation (GA/XA/XB/XC/XD; 2010)==

The third-generation RVR, which is a subcompact crossover SUV, first released in the Japanese domestic market on 17 February 2010. The name RVR is only used in Japan, South Korea, and Canada. In most markets, it is sold as the Mitsubishi ASX (an abbreviation of "Active Sports Crossover"), and as the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and Indonesia. The design was influenced from the Concept-cX prototype first exhibited at the 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show in July 2007. 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. ==References==