Challenger fast-tracked for Oz

Mitsubishi's segment-busting Challenger offroader will hit Australian roads before the end of 2009. That's the promise from Mitsubishi Australia boss Robert McEniry who wants the four-wheel drive wagon in his dealerships before vehicle-related government tax incentives evaporate at the end of the year.

Expected to be delayed into 2010, the Challenger will now be launched before the end of October, with cars in dealer showrooms during November, says McEniry.

Essentially a wagon version of Mitsubishi's Triton LCV, the Challenger features Triton-derived styling and rides on a lightly modified version of the ute's running gear. It will be offered in diesel only and is built alongside the Triton in Thailand.

Mitsubishi is claiming the car will deliver new levels of comfort, safety and convenience into the "serious" offroad segment.

Though question marks have been raised over Mitsubishi's safety claims (body-on-frame light commercials and vehicles derived from them have a chequered history when it comes to crashworthiness) the arrival of stability control and side and curtain airbags in the latest Triton update augurs well for the standard equipment levels to be offered in the Challenger.

"We see the Challenger as an opportunity to ratchet up our performance in the medium duty 4WD segment," McEniry told the Carsales Network.

"It should give some of its softer competitors pause for thought," he said.

"The Challenger will offer all the comfort, safety and convenience these other [midsized SUV] vehicles offer but with one very important and clear difference – Challenger has serious four-wheel drive capability… It has the potential to cut a new niche in the market," McEniry opined.

Challenger will feature Mitsubishi's full MATT (Mitsubishi All Terrain Technology) all-wheel-drive system. Now offered in the top-of-the-range GLX-R Triton, the system integrates the company's Super Select 'shift on the fly' four-wheel-drive system, stability and traction control, Multi Mode antilock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution. An optional locking rear diff is likely to be offered.

It is expected to be priced above comparable Triton models.

The Challenger is sold as the Pajero Sport in some international markets. Previous generations of the vehicle were sold here with modest success.

Interestingly Toyota also builds a wagon version of its HiLux LCV, the Fortuner, that competes with Challenger in key South East Asian markets. At this stage there are no plans for the vehicle to take on the Mitsubishi Down Under.