mid-size crossover SUV
Mid-size crossover SUV is an automobile classification used mainly in North America to describe a segment of crossover SUV, a type of sport utility vehicle, between compact crossover SUV and full-size crossover SUV.
A mid-size crossover S ...
built by
Mitsubishi Motors
is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.manufacturing facility in
Normal, Illinois
Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the town's population was 52,736. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statist ...
from 2003 until 2011. Based on the PS platform, it was the first vehicle built under Mitsubishi's "Project America", a program aimed at introducing vehicles for
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
without having to compromise for, or accommodate, global markets."Mitsubishi Motors Announces "Project America" -- First product Is Next-Generation SUV" , Mitsubishi Motors press release, February 14, 2000
Design
Its design origins can be traced back to the Mitsubishi SSU which debuted at the 1999 North American International Auto Show, although the Endeavor does not share the concept's mechanical underpinnings."2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor" Chuck Schifsky, autoMedia.com The prototype was powered by a version of the '' 6A13TT'' 2.5-liter
twin-turbo
Twin-turbo (not to be confused with a twincharger setup, which is a combination of a supercharger and a turbocharger) refers to an engine in which two turbochargers work in tandem to compress the intake fuel/air mixture (or intake air, in the case ...
V6, which directed the power to a full-time
all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one ...
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
and AYC."Mitsubishi SSU Concept Model Unveiled At 1999 Detroit Motor Show" , Mitsubishi Motors press release, January 5, 1999 When the Endeavor debuted, it used the '' 6G75'' 3.8-liter V6 offering (improved to in 2004) and , mated to a four-speed
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
with an optional
all-wheel-drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
system that splits the torque 50/50 by default. In 2011, the Endeavor again featured a 3.8L V6 but upgraded once more to produce and of torque. It received a mild restyle for the 2006 model year.
History
Despite some reasonably favorable reviews on its release, the Endeavor's performance in the marketplace failed to meet Mitsubishi's expectations. On its release in March 2003 the company aimed for 80,000 annual sales but achieved only 32,054 by the end of its debut year, and sales fell every year since.
Mitsubishi did not produce any 2009 Endeavor models for the retail market. However, they did produce a 2009 model for fleet customers which shared the exterior appearance with the incoming 2010 model and was equipped with cloth interior and ''Bluetooth''. For the 2010 model year, the Endeavor received a facelift, with new front and rear facias. The 2010 Endeavor went on sale in June 2009. It only came in one trim level for 2010, lacking the navigation package of the 2008 Limited trim, but equipped with leather seating and hands-free ''Bluetooth'' calling.
On April 25, 2011, it was announced that Endeavor production would end in August 2011.