Yokohama nabs OE fitment on 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has spec'd an 18-inch rim-diameter version of the Yokohama Geolandar X-CV crossover/SUV tire as an OE fitment on its 2022 model-year Outlander SUV, according to Yokohama Rubber Corp.

The seven-passenger Outlander crossover/SUV — which accounts for about one-fifth of Mitsubishi's global annual unit sales — is at the core of the Japanese vehicle maker's global sales growth strategy, YRC said.

Equipped with a proprietary new-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system that "delivers a more powerful performance and greater driving range," the new Outlander delivers safe, secure and comfortable driving in various weather and road conditions, YRC said.

Mitsubishi began fitting gasoline-powered models of the Outlander sold outsider of Japan in July with the Geolandar X-CV tires and recently started equipping the PHEV versions to be sold in Japan, Australia and other countries.The gas-powered models' drivetrain features a standard 2.5-liter engine with 181 hp, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

The fitment is size 235/60R18 103H; Yokohama did not say to which trim level or levels this applies.

The Geolandar X-CV is designed to deliver the high steering stability and sharply reduced rolling resistance that further enhance the environmental benefits of PHEVs, YRC said. In addition, a newly optimized tire pattern helps improve fuel efficiency.

The X-CV model being supplied for the Outlander is based on the previously developed Geolandar X-CV tire sold on the replacement tire market, YRC said. The X-CV represents a new dimension in highway terrain tires developed for high-performance crossover SUVs that have focused in recent years increasingly on high-speed performance and maneuverability.

Geolandar is Yokohama Rubber's global brand of tires for SUVs and pickup trucks, and is considered a central cog in the company's YX2023 mid-term growth strategy.

The latest Outlander is the fourth generation of Mitsubishi's midsize crossover built on a new platform with a more powerful standard engine and new interior technology.