Mitsubishi Released Special Edition Black Series Models of Montero, Strada
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) officially launched the special edition Montero Sport Black Series.
The unveiling of the new SUV followed through with the earlier release of other models in the same series last year, including the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete and the Xpander, completing the trio of new models given the dark aesthetic treatment.
The Black Series Montero sports a blacked-out grille, headlamp extensions, roof rails and spoiler. The all-black concept continues to the SUV’s rear bumper and is accentuated with 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Black Series however, is not limited to just one color as Mitsubishi offers the model in two paint options namely Jet Black Mica and White Diamond. The latter option is offered with a black roof that gives a two-tone design and has an additional price tag of P15,000.
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport Black Series is powered by a 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine; and equipped by technological advances with both active and passive safety features such as the Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) aimed to prevent adverse pedal misapplication; Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) that gives driver warnings preventing possible accidents; Adaptive Cruise Control as well as Active Stability and Traction Control.
Meanwhile, the company has also capitalized on the popularity of off-road oriented pick-up trucks that have become in-demand to the local market.
The new Strada Athlete sports a rough design graced with several elements emphasizing its off-road aesthetics. Overall, the pick-up mirrors the design logic of the other two models in the series.
The Strada Athlete 4x4 comes with a 2.4-liter DOHC turbo diesel engine capable of 178hp and up to 430Nm of torque bolted with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Mitsubishi equipped the Strada with smart safety features to ensure easy and worry-free driving experience. It includes safety features that came with the Montero, like the UMS and FCM. The Strada also has a Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA) that helps warn the driver of an an adjacent vehicle near its blind spot; and the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) that alerts the driver of a possible collision while reversing out of a parking spot.
The Strada is also equipped with the Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC) and Trailer Stability Assist, aimed to help the vehicle run safely while carrying heavy loads, as well as Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist to assist with ramps and steep inclined slopes.
Mitsubishi has been releasing a lot of cosmetic upgrades to its recent line-up. It was only last year when the company announced that it will bring back Ralliart and had many fans excited of the news considering its possible motorsports implications. The outcome however, was a bit lackluster and had some people feeling disappointed as the company only released aesthetic upgrades to the Strada Ralliart and Montero Sport Ralliart.
It is worth noting that Mitsubishi has had its fair share of criticism with its lengthy period of car development during the past decade. The last remarkable sports car of Mitsubishi was the Evo X, which has not had a follow-up since God knows when.
The release of the Black Series may be a practical corporate move of extending the lifespan and sales of certain models. Ford has done it with multiple “limited edition” versions of the same Mustang, so why not try? Even fellow Japanese car giant, Nissan learned to cut a few corners with the development of the latest Fairlady Z reincarnation using the old 370Z platform. It's okay to be smart, and Mitsubishi is playing it that way.
Article by: PAULO CUENTO
January 04, 2022