All-conquering Outlander

MITSUBISHI used to be on the lips of every boy racer with their all-conquering Lancer Evolutions. But with their withdrawal from the top echelon of World Rally Championship (WRC), coupled with lean COE numbers, Mitsubishi's presence in Singapore is a faint shadow of its former self.

But the road to recovery appears to be in sight with the charge led by a most unlikely halo car - the Mitsubishi Outlander. The Outlander has, in a short space of time, become the bestselling SUV in Singapore. No mean feat as most pundits would think Mitsubishi had limped off into the sunset with its tail between its rear wheels.

The new Outlander is actually a facelifted version of the model introduced locally last year. Cosmetic changes to its facade are minimal but do help to mask the bulk of this large seven-seat SUV. Up front, there are two shiny chrome "blades" framing the grille, while the bottom of the doors get protective cladding and the rear lamp plastics have gone from clear to red. Together with new 18-inch alloys, the changes help make the Outlander look less stodgy and more edgy.