Shanghai Clone Wars: Landwind X8 vs Mitsubishi Outlander

There are clones and there are clones. While some come pretty close such as Lifan Motors' effort to give birth to a five-door MINI Cooper, other like Jiangling Motors's Landwind X8 that made its debut at the Shanghai Show this week, is a dead ringer for Mitsubishi's Outlander. For those of you with a weak memory, China's Landwind became known for being the first Chinese automaker to enter the European market with the SUV that spectacularly failed a crash test carried out by the ADAC, Germany's largest auto club.

And it's not only the exterior design of the Outlander that has been copied, it's also the interior as the X8 gets the same exact dashboard styling with the deep set instrument panel featuring the two circular tube-like structures.

But you still haven't heard the best part of the story; according to the Landwind, the X8 will be offered with two engines: a common-rail turbo diesel from Italy's VM Motori that develops 140HP and 350Nm of torque and -get this- a Mitshubishi sourced, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with 150HP!

Sales of the Landwind X8 are to start in China during the second half of the year.

Mitsubishi Outlander SUV

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Landwind X8 SUV

Mitsubishi announces Outlander GT Prototype for New York Show

One blurry image and two teaser shots of the crossover's front end along with some initial details is all that Mitsubishi is willing to reveal on the Outlander GT Prototype that will make its world debut at the New York Auto Show on April 9, 2009. From the look of it, the compact CUV could be a sportier Outlander with a face transplant from the Lancer EVO that includes the so called "Jet Fighter" grille.

Mitsubishi said that the GT Prototype showcases a host of new technologies like the Idle Neutral Logic that automatically shifts the transmission into neutral during vehicle standstill, improved performance and fuel economy from its more powerful 3.0-liter SOHC MIVEC V6 engine, and a Super-All-Wheel-Control System.

For more details we'll have wait until next week's official unveiling.

Mitsubishi Releases Special Edition Outlander V6 for Australia

Limited to a release of only 300 units, the Outlander V6 RX is a special edition version of Mitsubishi's compact SUV that goes on sale this month in Australia. The specially specked-up Outlander RX is based on the 3.0-liter V6 model with a 6-speed automatic transmission and it comes equipped with 18-inch RAYS alloy wheels, front, rear and side air dams, chrome exterior door handles and mirrors and HID headlamps and headlamp washers.

Inside, the Outlander RX boasts new design appointments which include decorative front and rear door trim ornaments, chrome interior door handles, and unique seat trim.