Why the Mitsubishi Outlander's Australian chassis tune took so long
At the launch of the upgraded Outlander, the Japanese auto brand said the delay in undertaking its most comprehensive product development program since it ceased car manufacturing in Australia in March 2008 was due to recent global events and plenty of customer and media feedback.
Among a host of other equipment and detail updates, the headline act of the 2025 Outlander is a suspension and steering package developed in Australia, specifically on roads south of Adelaide, where previous Mitsubishi models including the Magna and 380 were also partly developed.
As you can read in our review, the result is a car that steers more precisely and rolls over less in bends, yet is more compliant over bumps and more stable in a straight line, while also being more refined inside thanks to reduced noise and vibration levels.
Mitsubishi Australia product manager Tony Dorrington said the global pandemic delayed local development of the Outlander, but also allowed more time for owner and press feedback of the pre-update model.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'If we think back to COVID times, a lot of the Outlander's development was done during COVID. That really prevented that collaborative effort. Japanese [engineers] couldn't travel here, we couldn't travel to Japan,' he said. 'What really prompted it was the feedback that we got from [media] and from our customers.'
The Outlander's local chassis tune involves recalibrated electric power steering and revised suspension including smaller-diameter front anti-roll bars to suit the retuned steering, plus new front and rear shock absorbers, and different front and rear spring rates, in conjunction with increased cabin insulation and revised body materials and reinforcements to create a quieter and more comfortable cabin experience.
Mr Dorrington said Mitsubishi Australia's work in developing the Outlander's new steering and suspension setup had been well-received by its Japanese parent company, prompting its rollout in many other global markets.
'When we became a core market for [Mitsubishi Motors], they came here and did a lot of road surveys. Out of that, they acknowledged that developing a local tune for Outlander would be really beneficial for our customers,' he said.
'As I'm sure you know, Australia is probably the toughest proving ground in the world. In the end, [Mitsubishi] acknowledged that what we had done locally would be applicable for the rest of the world.
'They took cars to the US and Europe and got them to evaluate them, and they agreed.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Mitsubishi's local CEO Shaun Westcott said Australia's roads are a perfect testing ground for new models, and a stretch of Inman Valley Road from Yankalilla to Victor Harbor had also been used to test previous Mitsubishi models like the South Australian-made 380 in the early 2000s.
'In fairness, and I don't want to be disparaging about Australian roads, but they're – and I don't want to say they're below world standards – they're actually below world standards,' he said.
'The cars were typically developed for European, American markets, but once we had the car in-market, developed during COVID so limited options to test it in Australia, we identified through [initial feedback] where people picked up on some of the harshness that was coming through the suspension and things like that.'
Mr Westcott said the feedback from media and customers was relayed to the brand's headquarters, which showed interest in why Australia's conditions were unique, prompting a simple suggestion from the local division to 'come and see'.
'That really started a significant development program to the point now that Japan has actually replicated an Australian road, they came and scanned a section of [Inman Valley Road], and rebuilt it at our Tokachi testing ground in Japan,' he added. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
When asked about whether Australia would play a role in the development of future Mitsubishi models, product strategy and product relations general manager Bruce Hampel said the lessons learned from Outlander would be carried forward.
'What they've found… and the proof point of that is that they intended to do this as an Australian-only tune for Outlander but it ended up turning into the global tune,' he said.
'We've found that in other companies as well that if you get it right in Australia, it actually works quite well globally.
'So as they've now learnt that and they're embracing it more and more, getting a deeper understanding of the Australian market conditions and the customer preferences, we're expanding that into all the product lines going forward.'
The next Mitsubishi model to feature an Australian-developed chassis tune will be the Outlander PHEV, which is due to launch locally in September.
MORE: 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander to bring Australian chassis tune
MORE: Everything Mitsubishi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
6 hours ago
- Herald Sun
CH4 Global seeks retailers for low-emission beef launch
Seaweed-based cattle feed producer CH4 Global is in talks with supermarkets, restaurants, butchers and other retailers as it launches into the next phase of its ambitious plan to eliminate a gigatonne of carbon emissions by 2032. After launching its EcoPark production facility near Port Lincoln earlier this year, and commencing sales of its cattle feed supplement to farmers in South Australia, the company is now looking to partner with retailers at other end of the beef supply chain. EcoPark at Louth Bay has begun growing and processing asparagopsis – a red seaweed native to SA which drastically reduces methane emissions by up to 90 per cent when added to feed for cows. The facility also consists of a research and development hub, a seedling hatchery and harvesting and drying technologies to convert the seaweed into CH4's flagship Methane Tamer product. During a visit to Adelaide to meet with retailers, CH4 founder and chief executive Dr Steve Meller said the company was now looking to partner with supermarkets, butcher stores and restaurants interested in stocking greener beef produced from cattle fed with the company's methane-busting supplement. 'We're trying to enable the supply chains around beef and dairy to be able to get products to consumers that have a dramatically lower carbon footprint by doing what we do on the front end with cows with Methane Tamer,' he said. 'We will be providing product to beef and dairy farmers, but the way we've defined our business model is that our customers are our consumer-facing partners, whether they are the large companies – like the partnerships we have with Mitsubishi or Chipotle in the US – or whether they're supermarkets or butcher stores or restaurants in Adelaide. 'We've found some interesting ways in our business to make sure the farmer puts money in their pocket, the retailers have additional products to sell that have these value-adds to them, and the consumer is willing to buy it. 'We're working to align partnerships with those retailers for that first beef that will be coming into the commercial markets in October. It's going to be hitting the retail shelves at select restaurants and supermarkets in Adelaide – initially starting with hundreds of cows per month ramping up to thousands in the near future.' Earlier this year CH4 entered an agreement with Mitsubishi to accelerate the adoption of its cattle feed supplement across Asia-Pacific markets, with a focus on expanding commercial sales in Australia and introducing the product into Japan. The EcoPark facility currently has 10 large-scale cultivation ponds with a combined capacity of 2 million litres – capable of producing 80 metric tonnes of seaweed each year. CH4 intends to expand the facility to 100 ponds by next year, which could produce enough asparagopsis to serve 45,000 cattle per day. Dr Meller said the facility had not been affected by the toxic algal bloom that had devastated nearby fishing communities, given the asparagopsis is grown on land using heavily filtered water from the ocean. Having raised around $100m from investors in the six and half years since the company was established, including from US restaurant chain Chipotle's Cultivate Next venture capital fund, CH4 is now looking to raise more capital for the EcoPark expansion. 'The next phase of what we plan to build is about $50m – that's what we're focused on now, to build the next stage on exactly the same site, on the land that we already have access to, under the permits that we already have in place to ensure we grow supply because of the high demand we see now,' Dr Meller said. 'We are a global company and we have demand for almost 10 million cows outside of the US, with multibillion-dollar global corporates where we are working with our partners on regulatory approvals. That's when we get to large scale. In order to get to there it's the small steps now that matter – and the next step for us is to validate the entire end-to-end commercial proposition with consumers in market. 'That's what we're doing in Adelaide – I want to build this Adelaide base and I want to make it unique.' Investors back methane-busting feed producer Originally published as CH4 Global seeks retailers for low-emission beef launch
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Overseas stars lure tourists Down Under in new push
Australian celebrity Robert Irwin, English television cook Nigella Lawson and other international stars are tempting tourists to the land Down Under. Shots of these celebrities set against iconic Australian landscapes are part of the federal government's newest tourism push to attract travellers from five countries. Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." The advertisements will go live in China from August 7 on TV and online. Australian celebrity Robert Irwin, English television cook Nigella Lawson and other international stars are tempting tourists to the land Down Under. Shots of these celebrities set against iconic Australian landscapes are part of the federal government's newest tourism push to attract travellers from five countries. Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." The advertisements will go live in China from August 7 on TV and online. Australian celebrity Robert Irwin, English television cook Nigella Lawson and other international stars are tempting tourists to the land Down Under. Shots of these celebrities set against iconic Australian landscapes are part of the federal government's newest tourism push to attract travellers from five countries. Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." The advertisements will go live in China from August 7 on TV and online. Australian celebrity Robert Irwin, English television cook Nigella Lawson and other international stars are tempting tourists to the land Down Under. Shots of these celebrities set against iconic Australian landscapes are part of the federal government's newest tourism push to attract travellers from five countries. Advertisements featuring Chinese actor Yosh Yu, Ms Lawson and Japanese comedian Abareru-kun will air in their home countries, while Steve Irwin's son will become the face of the American campaign and wellness advocate Sara Tendulkar will star in ads broadcast in India. This $130 million push builds on Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign, which launched the lovable animated mascot Ruby the Roo. "Traditionally tourism campaigns have leveraged one famous face across every market but for our latest campaign Ruby will be joined by well-known talent from five different markets to showcase personal lasting memories of a holiday to Australia," Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. "These international stars combine with local talent ... to create bespoke invitations for five markets." Since the resumption of international travel, the domestic tourism industry has grown with the number of international arrivals expected to reach a record 10 million in 2026 and 11.8 million in 2029. More than 700,000 jobs and 360,000 Australian businesses depend on tourism. The teaser for this campaign was first launched in July during the prime minister's trip to China. Chinese travellers remain Australia's second biggest cohort of tourists behind New Zealand, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. "Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities right around the country and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs," Tourism Minister Don Farrell said. "The previous campaign struck a chord with visitors, with Ruby the Roo bounding into the imagination of countless guests, encouraging them to book a holiday down under. "I know this iteration, featuring popular talent like Robert Irwin, will be a smash." The advertisements will go live in China from August 7 on TV and online.
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Lawyers' picnic' looms over right to work from home
An Australian-first plan to legislate the right to work from home could become a "lawyers' picnic", experts warn. The Victorian government has promised to introduce legislation in 2026 to create a right for employees to work from home two days a week. The laws are yet to be drafted but the right is slated to apply to all Victorian public and private sector workers who can reasonably do their job from home. Carve-outs in the Fair Work Act allowed for protections under state anti-discrimination laws, employment lawyer Daniel Victory said. But how wide the state Labor government cast the net could open the proposed laws to legal challenge, particularly from the private sector. "The broader they make the right the greater the possibility of a challenge," Mr Victory told AAP. Employers trying to "squeeze" staff to return to the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic was a major "bone of contention", Maurice Blackburn's principal lawyer of employment and industrial law in Melbourne said. He described working from home as a "fact of life" and said enshrining it as a right would help make it a "cultural norm" for businesses to reflect. Industrial relations laws are set by the federal government and regulated by the Fair Work Commission. Section 109 of the constitution dictates that if a state law conflicts with a Commonwealth law, the latter prevails. Joellen Riley Munton, an expert in labour law at the University of Technology Sydney, noted the commission assessed working-from-home clauses in awards and enterprise bargaining agreements. "It would be a very easy thing for someone who objects to the state law to just say 'I only have to abide by the federal laws'," Professor Munton told AAP. "That will be the obstacle for the effectiveness of any Victorian law." Former Fair Work Commission vice president Graeme Watson agreed the proposed right, if as general as initially described, was headed for a clash with federal laws. If Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act was chosen as the vehicle to legislate the right, he said the laws would have to establish what discrimination they were guarding against. "Then you're proceeding into a bit of maze," the King & Wood Mallesons strategic counsel told AAP. "It's either going to be clearly invalid or likely unworkable, but probably both." Mr Watson said arbitration existed for disputes over flexible work arrangements and argued a need to change that remedy had not been demonstrated. He compared the proposal to Victoria's wage theft laws, which were subject to High Court challenge before their repeal after the Albanese government instituted federal legislation. "This is a lawyers' picnic," Mr Watson said. "Why are you creating all this work for lawyers?" She defended her claim Liberals across the country were "drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office". Opposition Leader Brad Battin denied it was a touchy subject internally after Peter Dutton backflipped on ending working from home for public servants during the Liberals' disastrous 2025 federal election campaign. The state Liberal leader is waiting to see the detailed legislation before the party decides its stance. Senior federal minister Tanya Plibersek said the Albanese government wasn't going to give its Labor colleagues' plan a "tick or a cross" when asked if it would step in to overrule the state. An Australian-first plan to legislate the right to work from home could become a "lawyers' picnic", experts warn. The Victorian government has promised to introduce legislation in 2026 to create a right for employees to work from home two days a week. The laws are yet to be drafted but the right is slated to apply to all Victorian public and private sector workers who can reasonably do their job from home. Carve-outs in the Fair Work Act allowed for protections under state anti-discrimination laws, employment lawyer Daniel Victory said. But how wide the state Labor government cast the net could open the proposed laws to legal challenge, particularly from the private sector. "The broader they make the right the greater the possibility of a challenge," Mr Victory told AAP. Employers trying to "squeeze" staff to return to the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic was a major "bone of contention", Maurice Blackburn's principal lawyer of employment and industrial law in Melbourne said. He described working from home as a "fact of life" and said enshrining it as a right would help make it a "cultural norm" for businesses to reflect. Industrial relations laws are set by the federal government and regulated by the Fair Work Commission. Section 109 of the constitution dictates that if a state law conflicts with a Commonwealth law, the latter prevails. Joellen Riley Munton, an expert in labour law at the University of Technology Sydney, noted the commission assessed working-from-home clauses in awards and enterprise bargaining agreements. "It would be a very easy thing for someone who objects to the state law to just say 'I only have to abide by the federal laws'," Professor Munton told AAP. "That will be the obstacle for the effectiveness of any Victorian law." Former Fair Work Commission vice president Graeme Watson agreed the proposed right, if as general as initially described, was headed for a clash with federal laws. If Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act was chosen as the vehicle to legislate the right, he said the laws would have to establish what discrimination they were guarding against. "Then you're proceeding into a bit of maze," the King & Wood Mallesons strategic counsel told AAP. "It's either going to be clearly invalid or likely unworkable, but probably both." Mr Watson said arbitration existed for disputes over flexible work arrangements and argued a need to change that remedy had not been demonstrated. He compared the proposal to Victoria's wage theft laws, which were subject to High Court challenge before their repeal after the Albanese government instituted federal legislation. "This is a lawyers' picnic," Mr Watson said. "Why are you creating all this work for lawyers?" She defended her claim Liberals across the country were "drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office". Opposition Leader Brad Battin denied it was a touchy subject internally after Peter Dutton backflipped on ending working from home for public servants during the Liberals' disastrous 2025 federal election campaign. The state Liberal leader is waiting to see the detailed legislation before the party decides its stance. Senior federal minister Tanya Plibersek said the Albanese government wasn't going to give its Labor colleagues' plan a "tick or a cross" when asked if it would step in to overrule the state. An Australian-first plan to legislate the right to work from home could become a "lawyers' picnic", experts warn. The Victorian government has promised to introduce legislation in 2026 to create a right for employees to work from home two days a week. The laws are yet to be drafted but the right is slated to apply to all Victorian public and private sector workers who can reasonably do their job from home. Carve-outs in the Fair Work Act allowed for protections under state anti-discrimination laws, employment lawyer Daniel Victory said. But how wide the state Labor government cast the net could open the proposed laws to legal challenge, particularly from the private sector. "The broader they make the right the greater the possibility of a challenge," Mr Victory told AAP. Employers trying to "squeeze" staff to return to the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic was a major "bone of contention", Maurice Blackburn's principal lawyer of employment and industrial law in Melbourne said. He described working from home as a "fact of life" and said enshrining it as a right would help make it a "cultural norm" for businesses to reflect. Industrial relations laws are set by the federal government and regulated by the Fair Work Commission. Section 109 of the constitution dictates that if a state law conflicts with a Commonwealth law, the latter prevails. Joellen Riley Munton, an expert in labour law at the University of Technology Sydney, noted the commission assessed working-from-home clauses in awards and enterprise bargaining agreements. "It would be a very easy thing for someone who objects to the state law to just say 'I only have to abide by the federal laws'," Professor Munton told AAP. "That will be the obstacle for the effectiveness of any Victorian law." Former Fair Work Commission vice president Graeme Watson agreed the proposed right, if as general as initially described, was headed for a clash with federal laws. If Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act was chosen as the vehicle to legislate the right, he said the laws would have to establish what discrimination they were guarding against. "Then you're proceeding into a bit of maze," the King & Wood Mallesons strategic counsel told AAP. "It's either going to be clearly invalid or likely unworkable, but probably both." Mr Watson said arbitration existed for disputes over flexible work arrangements and argued a need to change that remedy had not been demonstrated. He compared the proposal to Victoria's wage theft laws, which were subject to High Court challenge before their repeal after the Albanese government instituted federal legislation. "This is a lawyers' picnic," Mr Watson said. "Why are you creating all this work for lawyers?" She defended her claim Liberals across the country were "drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office". Opposition Leader Brad Battin denied it was a touchy subject internally after Peter Dutton backflipped on ending working from home for public servants during the Liberals' disastrous 2025 federal election campaign. The state Liberal leader is waiting to see the detailed legislation before the party decides its stance. Senior federal minister Tanya Plibersek said the Albanese government wasn't going to give its Labor colleagues' plan a "tick or a cross" when asked if it would step in to overrule the state. An Australian-first plan to legislate the right to work from home could become a "lawyers' picnic", experts warn. The Victorian government has promised to introduce legislation in 2026 to create a right for employees to work from home two days a week. The laws are yet to be drafted but the right is slated to apply to all Victorian public and private sector workers who can reasonably do their job from home. Carve-outs in the Fair Work Act allowed for protections under state anti-discrimination laws, employment lawyer Daniel Victory said. But how wide the state Labor government cast the net could open the proposed laws to legal challenge, particularly from the private sector. "The broader they make the right the greater the possibility of a challenge," Mr Victory told AAP. Employers trying to "squeeze" staff to return to the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic was a major "bone of contention", Maurice Blackburn's principal lawyer of employment and industrial law in Melbourne said. He described working from home as a "fact of life" and said enshrining it as a right would help make it a "cultural norm" for businesses to reflect. Industrial relations laws are set by the federal government and regulated by the Fair Work Commission. Section 109 of the constitution dictates that if a state law conflicts with a Commonwealth law, the latter prevails. Joellen Riley Munton, an expert in labour law at the University of Technology Sydney, noted the commission assessed working-from-home clauses in awards and enterprise bargaining agreements. "It would be a very easy thing for someone who objects to the state law to just say 'I only have to abide by the federal laws'," Professor Munton told AAP. "That will be the obstacle for the effectiveness of any Victorian law." Former Fair Work Commission vice president Graeme Watson agreed the proposed right, if as general as initially described, was headed for a clash with federal laws. If Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act was chosen as the vehicle to legislate the right, he said the laws would have to establish what discrimination they were guarding against. "Then you're proceeding into a bit of maze," the King & Wood Mallesons strategic counsel told AAP. "It's either going to be clearly invalid or likely unworkable, but probably both." Mr Watson said arbitration existed for disputes over flexible work arrangements and argued a need to change that remedy had not been demonstrated. He compared the proposal to Victoria's wage theft laws, which were subject to High Court challenge before their repeal after the Albanese government instituted federal legislation. "This is a lawyers' picnic," Mr Watson said. "Why are you creating all this work for lawyers?" She defended her claim Liberals across the country were "drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office". Opposition Leader Brad Battin denied it was a touchy subject internally after Peter Dutton backflipped on ending working from home for public servants during the Liberals' disastrous 2025 federal election campaign. The state Liberal leader is waiting to see the detailed legislation before the party decides its stance. Senior federal minister Tanya Plibersek said the Albanese government wasn't going to give its Labor colleagues' plan a "tick or a cross" when asked if it would step in to overrule the state.
