在第三代三菱Outlander登陸美國市場2年后，這款跨界多用途汽車進行了全新改版，升級為2016版，除了全新的標志性車身，另外還會在工程與設計方面進行100多項改動。
“我們很清楚，之前的車型在有些方面，比如外飾和駕駛性能都是低于競爭標準的，因此需要盡快進行修改，” 三菱汽車北美公司（MMNA）銷售副總裁Ken Konieczka表示，這是他在近日于加州舊金山舉辦的2016版 Outlander媒體發布會和試駕項目上提到的。
新版Outlander是MMNA第一款展示前臉“動態盾牌（Dynamic Shield）”造型的車型。除此之外，這輛三排七座汽車的許多技術變更都是為了提升駕乘體驗。比如說，下一代CVT（無級變速器）可將變速扭矩損耗降低26%，顯著提升傳至車輪的動力水平。
全新CVT-8變速箱以及電控單元的重新校準，使靜止啟動和行駛加速兩方面的性能都得到了提升。若用搭載了2.4L四缸發動機和CVT的全驅Outlander舉例，從0加速到60 mph (97 km/h)的時間從11.2秒降至10.2秒，整整縮短了1秒的時間。
三菱CVT-8變速箱與2015版Outlander Sport一起在美國登臺亮相，該車型使用是2.0L四缸發動機。在2016版Outlander身上，全新CVT的齒輪比為2.631-0.378:1，而終減速比為6.026:1。Outlander舊款CVT的齒輪比為2.349-0.394:1，終減速比為6.466:1。
麥弗遜前懸掛和多連桿后懸掛系統也完成了一些駕乘與操縱方面的調整，其中包括前懸掛橫向構件的加固、前減震器的重新調試、后懸掛彈簧速率與阻尼的調整等，此外還換上了一個更大的后減震器。電動助力轉向的重新編程也使新車的駕乘與操縱體驗上了一個新臺階。
MMNA為新款Outlander開發了31種降噪方案，其中包括懸掛、發動機和變速箱托架、車身板、外后視鏡和前后擋風玻璃的調整。
MMNA的產品戰略經理Melvyn Bautista表示，以上各種降噪技術是根據美國市場用戶反饋、J.D. Power新車質量研究結果、第三方靜態與動態汽車評估等多方面信息進行綜合考量的結果。
在本次降噪項目中，MMNA甚至還聘請了日本工程師為整個懸掛安裝麥克風。“幾個星期以來，工程師每天都在靠近MMNA加州西普萊斯總部的一段鬧市街區駕駛新款Outlander。他們每天需要收集6個小時的駕駛數據，并據此研究車內降風降噪的解決方案，” Bautista在訪談中告訴《汽車工程雜志》。
在低頻范圍內降噪效果尤其明顯。與2015版Outlander相比，2016版的前部中心噪音在10-500赫茲范圍內從64.1降到了60.8分貝。
新款Outlander軸距總長105.1英寸（2670毫米），車身配置包括LED前大燈、LED行車燈、LED尾燈、電動外后視鏡、以及擋風玻璃防凍雨刮。“這些配置對MMNA而言都是全新的，” Bautista表示，“我們還在雨刮器下方安裝了一個電氣加熱裝置，以防雨刮器不工作時粘在擋風玻璃上。”
新款Outlander將有兩種版本上市，分別為166hp（124千瓦）四缸發動機搭配CVT，以及224hp（167千瓦）3.0升V6發動機搭配六速自動變速器。四缸前驅款的美國環保局mpg評級為25城市/31高速公路，全驅款為24城市/29公路。V6全驅款的評級為20城市/27公路。
2016版Outlander將于2015年7月上市，基本前驅款的建議零售價為22,995美元。
Mitsubishi puts NVH in 2016 Outlander's crosshairs
Two years after the third-generation Mitsubishi Outlander arrived in the U.S. market, the crossover utility vehicle was revised for the 2016 MY with new signature front-end styling and 100-plus engineering and design changes.
“It was very clear to us that (certain) things, like exterior styling and drivability, [were] below the competitive standard, [and] had to be changed very quickly,” Ken Konieczka, Vice President of Sales at Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA), said at a recent San Francisco, CA, media ride and drive program for the 2016 Outlander.
The latest Outlander is the first MMNA vehicle to showcase the front fascia Dynamic Shield styling, and many of the seven-passenger, three-seating-row vehicle’s technical modifications are aimed at refining the driving experience. For instance, the next-generation CVT (continuously variable transmission) reduces the transmission torque loss by 26%, effectively improving the amount of power transferred to the wheels.
This new CVT-8 and a recalibration of the transmission ECU elicit improvements in both the standing start and passing acceleration. In all-wheel-drive models equipped with the 2.4-L four-cylinder engine and CVT, 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration improved by 1 s, going from 11.2 to 10.2 s.
Mitsubishi’s CVT-8 debuted in the U.S. on the 2015 Outlander Sport equipped with the 2.0-L four-cylinder engine. On the 2016 Outlander, the new CVT has a gear spread from 2.631: to 0.378:1 and a final drive ratio of 6.026:1. Outlander’s previous CVT had a gear spread from 2.349: to 0.394:1 and a final drive ratio of 6.466:1.
Ride and handling modifications were made to the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Those changes include front suspension crossmember reinforcement, front shock absorber re-tuning, rear suspension spring rate and damping changes, as well as larger shock absorbers in the rear. The re-programming of the electric power steering also helps improve the 2016 vehicle’s ride and handling.
Outlander’s suspension, engine and transmission cradles, body panels, side mirrors, windshield, and rear glass were the source points for 31 noise-reduction solutions.
According to Melvyn Bautista, MMNA’s Product Strategy Manager, the various sound-absorbing techniques were undertaken based on comments from U.S. customers, JD Power Initial Quality Survey results, and third-party static and dynamic vehicle evaluations.
The noise reduction crusade even had engineers from Japan placing microphones throughout the current generation Outlander’s suspension. “Six hours a day for weeks they drove the vehicle back and forth over a rough residential street near MMNA’s Cypress (CA) headquarters to get data and come up with solutions to minimize the wind and road noise going into the cabin,” Bautista said in an interview with Automotive Engineering.
Noise reduction is notable in the low-frequency range. For instance, compared to the 2015 Outlander, the 2016 vehicle’s front center noise was reduced from 64.1 to 60.8 dB in the 10-500 Hz frequency range.
The 105.1-in (2670-mm) wheelbase Outlander’s new offerings include LED headlamps, LED running lamps, LED taillamps, power folding side mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer. “It’s an all-new feature for MMNA,” said Bautista, “An electric heater element, located underneath where the wipers sit, helps prevent the windshield wipers from sticking in the park position.”
Outlander is available with the 166-hp (124-kW) four-cylinder engine mated to the CVT or a 224-hp (167-kW) 3.0-L V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder-powered front-wheel-drive model has EPA mpg ratings of 25 city/31 highway, while the AWD version’s mpg is 24 city/29 highway. The V6-powered AWD model has mpg ratings of 20 city/27 highway.
The 2016 Outlander goes on sale in July 2015 with a MSRP of $22,995 for the base FWD model.
前擋風玻璃處的全新金屬板和100多項升級造就了2016版三菱Outlander。自2014年起，這款跨界多功能汽車每年都會獲得高速公路安全保險協會的頂級安全評級Top Safety Pick+。
Melvyn Bautista 表示，新款Outlander比舊款安靜了許多。圖為Melvyn Bautista站在2016版Outlander前方。