Outlandish French SUVs

PEUGEOT, Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors have signed a final co-operation agreement to build a range of four-wheel drives, the first of which could be on sale in Australia late next year.

All three vehicles will be powered by Mitsubishi’s newly developed petrol engines (with aluminium cylinder blocks) and by PSA Peugeot Citroen’s latest-generation turbo-diesel engines (equipped with particulate filters).

The Mitsubishi version, the Outlander replacement, will be launched in Japan this October and is tipped for Australian release late in 2006.

The French versions will be unveiled at the 2007 Geneva motor show ahead of an Australian launch later that year.