Description
The 2006 Mitsubishi Raider was the last attempt of the Japanese brand to sell a re-badged Dodge onto the American market. Even though the design was far from Dodge, it couldn't convince buyers.
Chrysler and Mitsubishi built more than a car together. The Mitsubishi 3000/Dodge Stealth or the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon were just two examples, where the cooperation between the two car-makers had proved successful. But the Dodge Dakota/Mitsubishi Raider was a flop, especially for the Japanese brand.
Since the car was a body-on-frame pickup truck, it was easy to change the exterior styling with a more aggressive bumper, headlights, fenders, and hood. The Raider look was closer to Mitsubishi products even though it wasn't a Mitsubishi. And that was more obvious on the inside. The Crew Cab was mostly for private owners, featuring good rear-seat room and wide doors.
The dashboard was taken directly from the Dakota, but behind the styling found in other pickup-trucks like the Ford F150 or the Toyota Tundra. It was good and practical but without the same amenities and, more important the good look. Since the Raider Crew Cab was a light and medium pickup-truck, it was used more by families than for work only. In that segment, the look was more important than the payload.
The small sales figures made the Mitsubishi ask DaimlerChrysler to stop production for the Raider after the total sales of the Raider were under 25.000 units in five years.
Press Release
The Mitsubishi Raider is a mid-size pickup truck from Mitsubishi Motors that debuted in the fall of 2005 as a 2006 model for the United States market and is based on the Dodge Dakota. The Raider is not sold in Canada. The Raider fills the gap in the Mitsubishi lineup since the discontinuation of the Mighty Max in 1996. The Raider is built in the United States by DaimlerChrysler. Engine choices include a 4.7 L PowerTech V8 making 230 hp and 290 ft.lbf and a 3.7 L PowerTech V6 which produces 210 hp.
The name is recycled from the Dodge Raider SUV sold from 1987 to 1990, which was a rebadged Mitsubishi Montero.
Sales have been poor, with just 377 and 492 sold in January and February 2006, respectively, compared to 4,583 and 6,260 Dakotas. Mitsubishi dealers reportedly have a 6-month supply of Raiders on their lots, and the company has asked DaimlerChrysler to cut production. 9,861 Raiders were built in 2005, and just 297 more were built from the first of the year through March 11, 2006 according to Automotive News.
