Mitsubishi Shogun Sport stands out
IF the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the brand’s technical flagship, then new Shogun Sport is undoubtedly Mitsubishi Motors’ flagship off-road vehicle. It is the most capable vehicle in its growing range of SUVs and 4X4 vehicles, combining luxury and comfort on-road with exemplary performance off road, while at the same time making an immediate impression with its bold, imposing style; versatile seven-seat interior and full complement of advanced comfort, technology and safety features.
The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport immediately stands out thanks to its bold exterior design, distinctive rear styling and chunky, muscular features. Its imposing front end is dominated by Mitsubishi Motors’ striking new “Dynamic Shield” front fascia and enhanced with chrome grille bars and powerful LED headlamp/DRL clusters. As well as giving the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport an unmistakable presence, the front has been specially honed to reduce aerodynamics, thereby reducing fuel consumption and noise, as well reduce the amount of splash-over created when wading. For example, air dams are positioned ahead of the front tyres to reduce air resistance and lift, while the A-pillars are rounded and flush with the glass.
From the side, the Shogun Sport is sharply contoured by a crease that punctuates the front wing and rear quarter panel, emphasizing the muscular nature of the squared off wheel arches, while rear wings taper inward at the rear to smoothen airflow and lower drag.
The rear design is both purposeful and stylish with an elevated rear valance to aid ground clearance and LED rear tail lights that have a distinctive vertical design. The integrated roof rails, sill trim and side steps reinforce the Shogun Sport’s all-purpose versatility while the whole design is finished off perfectly with diamond-cut, 18-inch alloy wheels with contrasting black gloss elements.
The Shogun Sport is powered by Mitsubishi Motors’ renowned 4N15 inline 4-cylinder 2.4L MIVEC turbo diesel engine. Engineered for high performance and fuel efficiency, the 4N15 uses a lightweight, aluminum cylinder block and Mitsubishi Motors’ MIVEC variable valve lift and timing control to switch between two cam profiles to tailor engine performance for low and high speed operation. This is aided by a variable geometry turbocharger, which controls turbine boost to maintain the optimum balance between power and efficiency, and a high-pressure (200MPa) fuel injection system. As a result, the Shogun Sport produces 181hp at 3,500 rpm and 430 Nm of torque from just 2,500 rpm.
To improve performance, economy and refinement still further, Shogun Sport is also equipped with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. With a wide spread of closely-stacked ratios, the new transmission extracts engine power more effectively to achieve smooth acceleration and while also ensuring that the optimum ratio is chosen for every driving situation, thereby improving both driver satisfaction but also fuel consumption and emissions. The transmission also employs idling neutral control which reduces internal energy losses caused by torque converter drag when the vehicle is stationary, improving fuel consumption in congested traffic.
The eight-speed automatic transmission also has Sport Mode manual override to allow the driver to change gears as they wish using either the shift lever or paddle shifters. So whether driving along winding roads, using the engine for braking on a down gradient or accelerating to overtake or power up an incline, Sport Mode allows the driver to shift gear rapidly as they wish. In 4WD models, the transmission switches to separate shift patterns when SAND or ROCK are selected in the Off-road mode. This prevents the driver from unintentionally shifting up and, by making frequent use of lower gears to provide the torque needed, delivers excellent all-terrain performance.
The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport has been engineered to deliver a superb driving experience regardless of the terrain. It fuses the legendary off-road ability that is synonymous with Mitsubishi Motors, with punchy on-road performance and effortless handling that makes even the most routine drives a real pleasure for the driver.
Up front, the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is equipped with a double-wishbone, coil sprung suspension with an anti-roll bar to ensure precise chassis and steering control and reduce body roll through corners. There’s a quicker steering rack to improve responsiveness and reduce the number of turns required lock-to-lock, and the power assistance has been calibrated to reduce steering effort at low speeds while providing greater feedback at higher speeds. In addition, its turning circle is just 11.2 metres, impressive for a vehicle of this size and a useful feature on the UK’s narrow roads.
The rear suspension comprises a multi-link arrangement with coil springs while the mount points and the structure of the lateral rod mounts have been engineered to offer excellent stability in a straight line and during cornering.
In addition to its sharp dynamics, the Shogun Sport also offers high levels of refinement and comfort. A large proportion of high-tensile steel has been used in the body, making it both lighter and more rigid, while a stiffened front end structure and the use of larger body mounts has reduced the amount of vibration transmitted to the body.