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The market has grown to include a consumer demand for vehicles with the versatility, power, and ground clearance offered by an SUV and the economy, size, and emissions of a car. Mitsubishi has recognized and addressed this demand, beginning with the Mitsubishi ASX (Active Sports Crossover) concept vehicle, introduced in the 2001 North American International Auto Show. The ASX was the base for the Mitsubishi Airtrek crossover SUV, which was released in Japan that same year.
The Airtrek, which name was coined to describe a feeling of freedom and adventure, was produced parallel to the Mitsubishi Outlander, which was given a modified grille and headlights and was otherwise the same vehicle. In 2005, the vehicle underwent a redesign and the second generation was born with most markets adopting the Mitsubishi Outlander name. The Outlander is supposed to invoke feelings of adventure and the exploration of exotic and foreign lands, and is still in production now.
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