If you had been to study the new Mitsubishi Raider, your eyes could behold the unmistakable triad emblem targeted within the center of its beefy searching grille. However, as you let your eyes run the total duration of the truck’s body and take a look at its styling cues, you’ll see something one of a kind, yet very acquainted. Indeed, aside from some fascia, body, and cabin changes, the Raider is genuinely a Dodge Dakota. Yes, the tables were reversed and Mitsubishi’s pick out up truck is now a Dodge instead of the alternative way round. Beyond the obvious similarities there are a few variations between the models that offers the Raider a uniqueness all of its own.
Back throughout the Seventies and Eighties whilst Chrysler wanted small motors and vehicles to fill out its constrained line up, the business enterprise tapped its business courting with Mitsubishi to supply what it wished. Included inside the blend turned into a small pick out up truck, maximum currently the D50. When Chrysler developed the midsized Dakota during the past due Nineteen Eighties, the want for the small Mitsubishi truck decreased and via the early 1990s the D50 turned into no extra.
Mitsubishi for its component has lengthy been a builder of small vans, however as the automaker commenced to promote cars inside the North American market, its line up has grown drastically. Demand for a small Mitsubishi select up truck dropped so the “Mighty Max” become discontinued from its line up. Eventually, the automaker decided to accomplice with DaimlerChrysler to sell rebadged Dakotas as Raiders.
The courting is wise because the Raider fills a void for Mitsubishi even as permitting DaimlerChrysler to hold its truck constructing capability excessive. As odd as the connection may also appear, Isuzu and General Motors are doing the equal thing as each Isuzu vehicles offered within the U.S. Are rebadged GMC vans.
So, what sets the Raider other than the p.C., especially its Dodge cousin? Price for one. Starting out at round $19,000, the truck is priced as low as a number of the smaller trucks available on the market which includes the popular Toyota Tacoma. Apparently, Mitsubishi desired to have an entry level version to fulfill anticipated demand. Yes, bare bones versions of the Tacoma may be had for a great deal much less, but that’s what you get, bare bones. There isn’t any four cylinder Raider bought, you both get a 210 h-p V6 or a beefy 230 h-p V8 to electricity your Raider. The V8 is specifically attractive to folks that tow as its pulling ability is a respectable 6500 lbs. Tranny choices consist of both 4 or five pace automatics or a 6 pace manny tranny.
The Raider comes available as both a 4×2 or a 4×4 and with two or 4 door cab configurations. Seating ability can be as excessive as six passengers despite the fact that you wouldn’t be as at ease riding in a Raider/Dakota with six people as you would be in a complete sized Ram.
What many Raider fanatics will like is the more care Mitsubishi gave to the interior. Unlike the Dakota, the Raider comes with trim features more akin to a sedan than to a pick up truck. Sirius satellite radio, Alpine speakers, front bucket seats with heated leather surfaces, and energy everything are some of the features that make the Raider lots extra than a truck.
Ten years after the remaining “Mighty Max” pick up trucks had been sold by using Mitsubishi, a new truck has entered the fold thanks to an essential courting with DaimlerChrysler. Perhaps the fulfillment of this courting will spawn extra model sharing. Could we see a rebadged Dodge Ram quickly offered as a Mitsubishi? In in recent times of widespread model sharing, something is possible.