| The struggling Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi | | | | market. |
| Motors is known for its Mitsubishi Montero - a sports | | | | According to Mitsubishi, the TR4 Flex features some |
| utility vehicle that it marketed in the United States. In | | | | modifications. Different materials will be used on the |
| recent years though, the Montero did not appear in the | | | | construction of the new Pajero/Montero compared to |
| United States auto market. But for those who are | | | | its forerunner. The engine, of course, is modified to |
| looking for a new version of the Montero which is | | | | make it compatible with bioethanol. |
| known in other markets as the Pajero, Mitsubishi has | | | | Changes have to be made to an engine before it can |
| announced that a new model of the SUV is already | | | | operate using bioethanol as fuel. Due to the corrosive |
| being developed. | | | | nature of the alternative fuel, several components |
| According to the fifth largest Japanese car | | | | need to be fortified. Engine parts which need to be |
| manufacturer, the Mitsubishi Montero will be receiving a | | | | strengthened to take on the corrosive nature of |
| new model called the TR4 Flex. The said Montero | | | | bioethanol are the valve guides, the cylinder walls, the |
| variant will be sold in Brazil by July this year. According | | | | fuel tank and other metal components which come in |
| to the car manufacturer, the TR4 Flex will be the first | | | | contact with the fuel. |
| flex fuel, four-wheel drive vehicle. | | | | According to Mitsubishi, the 2.0-liter engine when |
| The flex fuel Montero, according to Mitsubishi will be | | | | running on pure gasoline can produce as much as 131 |
| powered by a 2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine. | | | | horsepower and 117 Nm of torque. While running on |
| The said powerplant is designed to operate on pure | | | | pure ethanol, the engine can produce as much as 132 |
| gasoline, pure bioethanol, or any mixture of the two | | | | horsepower and 186 Nm of torque. The disparity in |
| fuels. A vehicle such as this is not yet being marketed | | | | power output is due to the fact higher compression |
| in the United States due to the safety questions to | | | | ratio is needed to combust ethanol. This produces |
| using pure ethanol. | | | | more torque than gasoline where lower compression |
| Since Brazil is the biggest produced of bioethanol, it | | | | ratio is needed. Generally though, ethanol engines |
| makes sense that Mitsubishi should market the vehicle | | | | provide a similar power output to gasoline engines. The |
| in the country. The vehicle though will be making its | | | | engine that will be used by the Montero/Pajero can |
| appearance in the United States by the fiscal year | | | | produce more power and consume less fuel if it is |
| 2009. Whether the vehicle will be equipped with the | | | | complemented by a Mitsubishi cold air intake. |
| same engine that comes with it in Brazil is yet to be | | | | The development of the flex-fuel vehicle is |
| announced by the Japanese car manufacturer. | | | | Mitsubishi’s response to the growing call for auto |
| The Montero will be marketed in Brazil as the Pajero. | | | | manufacturers to develop more fuel efficient and |
| The SUV will be making its appearance in the Brazilian | | | | environment friendly vehicles. Whether the Montero |
| market after Toyota also announced that they will be | | | | FFV will be welcomed by American car buyers is still a |
| introducing a flex-fuel Corolla in the Brazilian auto | | | | question that would need an answer. |