2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor
Spacious, Family-Friendly 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor Now Includes Navigation System, Rearview Video Camera, Power Sunroof Free of Charge on SE Edition
Last year, the already very affordably priced 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor crossover utility vehicle (CUV) saw numerous premium features such as a hands-free Bluetooth® system with voice recognition added across the entire model lineup. But for the 2011 model year Endeavor, this capable crossover receives its most upscale, value-packed equipment package added to two of its most popular models completely free of charge: Both the 2WD and AWD versions of the Endeavor SE now include the Navigation & Sunroof package that consists of a touch-screen DVD-based navigation system, rear view back-up camera, power sunroof and a cargo cover at no cost to the consumer.
In addition to the front- and all-wheel drive iterations of the Endeavor SE, the 2WD Endeavor LS model that features a lower sticker price than its big brother but still packs a long list of standard equipment along with the same potent V-6 engine under its hood is also available for the 2011 model year.
New for 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor
Free Navigation & Sunroof Package (Endeavor SE 2WD & AWD)
The very convenient and richly-appointed Navigation & Sunroof package is now included as standard equipment on both 2WD and AWD variants of Mitsubishi's top-of-the-line Endeavor SE model crossover. Lavish accessories included in this package are an informative and easy to use DVD-based touch-screen navigation system, a rear view back-up camera, a power sunroof and a cargo cover for the rear storage area.
Spacious and Stately
The 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor mid-size crossover is an excellent combination of roomy versatility and capability with an impressive amount of welcome niceties.
Capable of carrying up to five people, all occupants will find the Endeavor's comfortable and spacious seats, crisp handling and quiet cabin to be welcome relief from the cramped and/or noisy confines of some of the similarly-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) competitors of this well-engineered Mitsubishi crossover that don't possess its solid unibody construction and confident handling capabilities.
Whether carrying groceries, a full complement of camping gear for a weekend in the woods or picking up several sheets of four-foot-wide plywood, the 2011 Endeavor can easily accommodate it all, thanks to hand its 60/40 split/fold-flat rear seat backs and a full 76.4 cu. ft. of cargo capacity (a plentiful 40.7 cu. ft. is available in the rear cargo section with the rear seat backs in the up position).
Endeavor owners and their passengers are further put at ease by the car's impressive list of included features, among them air-conditioning (automatic climate control in the Endeavor SE); premium fabric seating surfaces (rich-texture leather seating surfaces in the Endeavor SE); and exquisite sounding 6 speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with MP3 playback capability (the Endeavor SE's sound system is an even more amazing 360-watt Rockford-Fosgate® 6 CD/MP3 sound system with digital sound processing and 9 speakers including an 8-in. subwoofer; steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a 3-month pre-paid subscription to SIRIUS® satellite radio) and other convenient touches including a hands-free Bluetooth® system with voice recognition; steering column-mounted cruise control; and numerous cupholders, front and rear map lights, a pair of 12V power outlets, carpeted front floor mats and, in the upscale Endeavor SE, heated front seats.
Other welcome no-cost features included on all Endeavors are eye-catching ice-blue LED illumination of instruments and controls; 17 x 7-in. 7-spoke alloy wheels (larger 18 x 8-in. 5-spoke alloy wheels on the Endeavor SE); large, easy to read gauges with chrome trim; auto-off headlamps; parabolic fog lights; alarm system; variable intermittent windshield wipers; tubular roof rails; chrome front grill; and an anti-theft engine immobilizer.
Refined and Able V-6 Engine
With its polished performance and proficient power, it's no wonder that Mitsubishi's engineers elected to use a single engine across the Endeavor line.
The 3.8-liter SOHC 24-valve V-6 that powers the 2011 Endeavor provides plenty of power to this stylish crossover vehicle with virtually no vibration, harshness or noise detected within the nicely-appointed cabin. Consisting of an extremely strong cast-iron engine block with light weight aluminum cylinder heads and featuring a compression ratio of 10.0:1, this 3,828 cc normally-aspirated powerplant produces a welcome 225 hp at 5,000 rpm and an even more generous 255 lb.-ft. of torque at a lower 3,750 rpm from its sublimely smooth operating six cylinders. Running on unleaded fuel, this engine has been granted the very clean Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) status for all 50 states. This engine's bore and stroke measure 3.74 x 3.54 in. (95.0 x 90.0 mm).
All the 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor engines have been paired with an equally quiet and silky 4-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission with INVECS-II technology that allows the driver to manually make gear changes with the gearshift lever when so desired. The FWD Endeavor LS and SE, along with the all-wheel drive version of the SE, engage identical gear ratios within their transmissions, save for the final drive ratios (the front wheel drive Endeavor has a final drive of 4.011 to the all-wheel drive model's 4.316).
Ready and Willing Chassis - On- or Off-Road
The Endeavor is equally at home on smooth ribbons of pristine asphalt on the way to the office as it is tackling a rough-and-tumble dirt road when venturing off the beaten path. A great deal of this on- or off-road driving aplomb is no doubt due to this crossover's excellent, well-damped suspension design that features independent MacPherson struts with coil springs up front (including gas charge strut inserts) along with a coil spring independent multi-link with trailing arms suspension design and gas charged shocks at the rear of the vehicle. Further aiding the vehicle's fine handling at speed on freeways or city streets are front and rear stabilizer bars that help diminish body roll that measure 24.0 mm thick at the front and 20.0 mm at the rear (an even thicker 22 mm anti-roll bar for the all-wheel drive Endeavor SE).
For even better handling and tractability in off-road driving, consumers would be wise to opt for the top-of-the-line Endeavor SE model with all-wheel drive. Its AWD system can provide an even 50:50 torque split between the front and rear wheels, thanks to a transfer case with a center differential that has a viscous coupling. In good weather or bad, on road or off, this all-wheel drive system vastly improves overall grip when compared to the levels of traction offered by a front-wheel drive vehicle.
5-Star Crash Test Safety Rating
The Mitsubishi Endeavor has achieved the highest test score of a 5-Star rating for both frontal (driver) and side impact (front and rear seat) crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Endeavor its highest-ranking - "Good" overall - in the organization's frontal offset crash test.
These well-earned scores from respected automotive safety agencies are the result of the company's commitment to engineering excellence as witnessed by Mitsubishi's patented Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) safety automotive body construction system that helps to minimize injury to its vehicle's occupants as well as its inclusion of advanced safety features and technologies as standard equipment on the Endeavor. These include an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with occupant sensors; front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and rollover-sensing side curtain air bags; an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Active Stability Control (ASC) and Traction Control Logic (TCL); and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
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6 Airbag Safety Tips
Practicing airbag safety in your vehicle is more than just having an airbag installed and letting it do its job. An airbag is made of a highly elastic material, which inflates at a very high speed if there is an accident. The airbag functions as a cushion, thereby protecting the inhabitants of the vehicle from collisions with hard objects and the vehicle itself. When used with seat belts, airbags help save many lives. However, because airbags deploy at very high speeds with tremendous force, they come with their own risks, which can results in serious injury and even death, if proper precautions are not observed.
Tip 1: Wear Your Seat Belt
In the absence of a seat belt, an airbag can be very dangerous. The occupants of the vehicle can be propelled forward at high speeds. When they collide with the airbag at such speeds, the results can be fatal. Some vehicles have separate lap belts and shoulder belts, both of which should be worn when traveling.
Tip 2: Seat Children under 12 in the Rear of the Vehicle
Children under the age of 12 are safest in car seats. They must also be properly and securely strapped in. a young child may not be properly secured with a seat belt, which may be loose. It is important to set up the car seats in the back of the vehicle. This is because if they are kept in the front of the vehicle, the children may be too close to the dashboard. In the event of a collision, the airbag may be deployed and can strike the children at very high force. This force can seriously injure young children.
Tip 3: Never Place a Rear-facing Infant Car Seat in the Front
A rear facing car seat must always be placed in the back seat of the vehicle. If a rear facing car seat is placed in the front and if the airbag is deployed, it can hit the car seat at a great force that can be life-threatening to a young infant. Never hold an infant in the lap while driving.
Tip 4: Sit a Safe Distance Away from the Dashboard
Whether you are a driver or a passenger in the front seat, it is important to keep a safe distance from the dashboard. Keep your seat pushed back as much as is comfortable. This will prevent the airbag landing at close proximity. It will also reduce the chances of burns from the hot gas that is used in airbags.
Tip 5: Avoid Leaning against the Side if Your Vehicle has Side Airbags
Never lean against the side of the vehicle or its window. Be aware of the airbag placement in your vehicle and ensure that all the passengers follow the same safety precautions.
Tip 6: Never Store Objects between Yourself and the Airbag
If you keep any objects between yourself and the airbag, they could be deadly in the event of a collision. When the airbag is deployed, these objects become wedged between yourself and the airbag. Thereby increasing the chances of fatal injuries.
The First Minivan
The 1936 Stout Scarab came about in the early 1930s when William B. Stout, head of the Stout Engineering Laboratories in Dearborn, Michigan, dreamed of rear-engine/rear-wheel drive. Stout created the 1936 Stout Scarab so that drivers would have better visibility. His Scarab, with its flush glass and electric door locks, bore scant resemblance to any car on Depression-era roads.
Although the Scarab looked long -- like an old Greyhound bus with postwar "bathtub" Nash overtones -- the dimensions weren't terribly startling. The 135-inch wheelbase was on the long side, but the overall length of just over 16 feet-about the same as a 1936 Pontiac-allowed only minimal overhang at each end. And the rear-mounted engine couldn't be more commonplace: an 85-bhp flathead Ford V-8 hooked to Ford's three-speed gearbox. On a 6000-mile trip, Stout's car got a creditable 18.8 mpg.
Scarab interiors were as unique as their bodies. Only the driver's seat was fixed. All the others could be moved around the big, flat floor-even positioned around a fold-down table if desired.
A Stout ad in Fortune announced that 1936 production would be "limited to 100 cars," with prices starting at $5000. Scarabs actually cost a lot more to build, however, and nearly all of them went to Stout board members, including such notables as Phillip Wrigley and Harvey Firestone.
Ahead of its time? Absolutely. Not everyone falls for the unorthodox shape, but they all take notice if a Scarab glides into view. Just a glance at that elegantly fanned rear grillework confirms that the Scarab was -- and is -- something special.
Winter Auto Maintenance Checklist
By Matthew Wright
In addition to the added perils of winter driving, the change in weather can bring peril to your car's systems. Freezing temps, salted roads and wintery precipitation can gang up on your car if you don't give it a baseball-bat sized maintenance session. These winter maintenance jobs will keep you out of trouble.
• Check your antifreeze
Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car's winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. Many service stations and repair centers will check this mixture free, or you can buy a tester for around $5. You did remember to perform a radiator flush last spring, didn't you?
• Inspect your tires
The last line of defense between you and an oak tree are your tires. Winter is not the time to get cheap about your tires, so take the time to check the tread depth. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32" of depth to be safe. It's been my experience, especially in winter weather, that anything less than 4/32" (1/8") be replaced soon. The old penny test is as reliable as anything to find out whether your treads are ready for winter action. Also, be sure to check your tire pressure. Believe it or not, they lose a little pressure when it gets cold, so pump 'em up.
• Replace your wipers
Wipers? What do your windshield wipers have to do with winter weather? Two things. First, anything falling from the sky is going to end up on your windshield, and unless you have a team of beavers riding on the hood of your car the task of clearing it falls on your wipers. Second, in areas that see snowfall in the winter, you're also driving through that soupy muck that's left on the road once the highway department does their thing. This muck includes a lot of sand and salt, both of which end up on your windshield. It takes wipers that are in top shape to keep your windshield clean and safe.
• Check your windshield washer fluid
You'll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield sparkly. A mile stuck behind an 18-wheeler will have your windshield looking like a Desert Humvee if you're low on washer fluid. *Tip: Don't fill your washer fluid reservoir with anything except washer fluid, it won't freeze!
Annual Maintenance Procedures
On top of the checks you need to perform to ensure safe winter driving, now's a good time to do some annual maintenance. These aren't necessarily specific to winter driving, but it's a good point on the calendar to get around to doing this stuff.
• Clean your battery posts
Starting problems are a bummer any time of year. Regularly treating your battery to a cleaning can keep electrical gremlins at bay.
• Inspect your spark plug wires
Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability. Be sure yours are in top shape.
• Inspect your brakes
Brakes are not a good area to cut corners. Be sure your brakes have enough meat left to get you through the season.
• Check Your Engine Oil
This should go without saying and should be done at least monthly. But in case you're an amnesiac ... you should also do an oil change!
Cold weather safety should be a concern for anybody living in a cold climate. These tips will give you the upper hand when Old Man Winter tries to put a chill on your winter travels. If you're extra curious about staying generally safe in winter weather, the National Weather Service has an excellent Winter Safety & Awareness guide that covers everything from how storms brew to a list of history's billion dollar winter wonders.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
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The correct answer is Shirley
It was originally called Shirley Hundred and was built in the 1723. During the Civil War, Shirley served as a Union military hospital. Carter's Grove was built in 1750.
