If you had been to examine the new Mitsubishi Raider, your eyes would behold the unmistakable triad brand targeted within the center of its beefy looking grille. However, as you let your eyes run the full duration of the truck’s body and test its styling cues, you’ll see something one of a kind, but very acquainted. Indeed, aside from some fascia, body, and cabin adjustments, the Raider is in reality a Dodge Dakota. Yes, the tables had been reversed and Mitsubishi’s choose up truck is now a Dodge instead of the opposite way round. Beyond the obvious similarities there are some differences between the fashions that gives the Raider a uniqueness all of its very own.
Back at some stage in the Seventies and Eighties when Chrysler wanted small automobiles and trucks to fill out its constrained line up, the corporation tapped its commercial enterprise relationship with Mitsubishi to supply what it wanted. Included inside the mix changed into a small choose up truck, maximum lately the D50. When Chrysler evolved the midsized Dakota for the duration of the past due 1980s, the need for the small Mitsubishi truck reduced and via the early 1990s the D50 turned into no more.
Mitsubishi for its element has long been a builder of small vans, but as the automaker began to sell automobiles in the North American marketplace, its line up has grown notably. Demand for a small Mitsubishi choose up truck dropped so the “Mighty Max” turned into discontinued from its line up. Eventually, the automaker decided to accomplice with DaimlerChrysler to sell rebadged Dakotas as Raiders.
The relationship is sensible because the Raider fills a void for Mitsubishi while allowing DaimlerChrysler to keep its truck constructing capacity high. As unusual as the connection may also appear, Isuzu and General Motors are doing the same element as each Isuzu automobiles sold within the U.S. Are rebadged GMC trucks.
So, what sets the Raider aside from the percent, particularly its Dodge cousin? Price for one. Starting out at round $19,000, the truck is priced as little as some of the smaller trucks available on the market inclusive of the famous Toyota Tacoma. Apparently, Mitsubishi desired to have an entry stage model to fulfill predicted demand. Yes, bare bones variations of the Tacoma may be had for lots much less, but that is what you get, naked bones. There is not any 4 cylinder Raider offered, you either get a 210 h-p V6 or a beefy 230 h-p V8 to energy your Raider. The V8 is in particular appealing to folks that tow as its pulling capacity is a decent 6500 lbs. Tranny picks encompass either 4 or five speed 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 potential can be as high as six passengers despite the fact that you wouldn’t be as comfortable driving in a Raider/Dakota with six human beings as you’ll be in a complete sized Ram.
What many Raider fanatics will like is the greater care Mitsubishi gave to the interior. Unlike the Dakota, the Raider comes with trim features more comparable to a sedan than to a select up truck. Sirius satellite radio, Alpine audio system, the front bucket seats with heated leather-based surfaces, and energy everything are a number of the capabilities that make the Raider much greater than a truck.
Ten years after the ultimate “Mighty Max” pick out up trucks were offered with the aid of Mitsubishi, a new truck has entered the fold thanks to an crucial relationship with DaimlerChrysler. Perhaps the fulfillment of this courting will spawn additional version sharing. Could we see a rebadged Dodge Ram quickly sold as a Mitsubishi? In nowadays of extensive model sharing, some thing is feasible.