Fuel-Saving All-Wheel Drive (NAPS)—When purchasing a car, there are a lot of optional features to consider. While some offer convenience and comfort, others, such as an all-wheel-drive system, offer safety, making it one of the most important and helpful options to consider for your next car. All-wheel-drive systems power all four wheels on the vehicle at the same time rather than just the front or rear wheels, allowing for safer driving because of improved traction and handling performance. These features can improve driving in difficult conditions, including rain, snow and ice—especially beneficial during challenging winter weather. But all-wheel-drive systems generally come with a cost: increased fuel consumption. Now, however, the all-wheel- drive system available on the new 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 7-passenger crossover—in addition to providing outstanding agility and tractability and improved safety— has been cleverly engineered to reduce fuel consumption. The electronically controlled Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system features the convenience of push-button activation as well as four distinct driving modes— the standard “NORMAL” mode, enhanced traction in slippery conditions with the “SNOW?”setting, maximum traction in “LOCK” and an “AWC ECO.” In the first three settings, the vehicle operates in full all-wheel drive (4WD) with the enginerouting powerto all four wheels at all times while the vehicle is moving. When the driver selects the “AWC ECO”mode, it operates as a more fuel-efficient front-wheeldrive (2WD) vehicle that can switch to full all-wheel drive (4WD) in a split second for in- creased traction and stability the moment sensors detect any wheel slip or loss of traction from any of the vehicle’s wheels. Meaningful fuel savings can be achieved by automatically switching toallwheel drive only when absolutely necessary. This system is one of the most sophisticated available on any vehicle today and includes a hightech Active Front Differential (AFD) for precise delivery of power to the front wheels and Brake Control technology to improve the driver’s control over the vehicle as well as steering response. Because of its innovative en- gineering, the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander—an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick+”—-rated vehicle—offers bestin-class EPA fuel mileage ratings among 7-passenger crossover/ SUVs and is one of the highestfuel-economy SUV/crossovers in its segment in America today.
