Although the conceptual packaging of the SUV has been around for 70 years, it has only been since the 1990s that the term "sport/utility vehicle" has become regularly used and commonly accepted. An emphasis on the "sport" aspect of SUVs is being showcased with winter and summer-themed concepts of its 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport SUVs.

The Outlander Sport gets the summer theme with roof-mounted Trek mountain bikes, a tennis racket, jump rope, kettlebell workout weights, resistance bands, and yoga and exercise mats. In addition, the Outlander Sport's waterproof under-floor storage compartment is highlighted with a wakeboard vest and ski rope. To capture all the fun-in-the-sun excitement, the vehicle is also equipped with a high-definition camera with a wi-fi remote. In case you run out of ideas for exercise or recreation, an extensive library of workouts is loaded on a USB drive plugged into the center console.

The high-energy theme is further emphasized with burnt orange paint, 20-inch graphite wheels, and orange stitching in the interior.

The larger Outlander gets a more subdued-looking winter theme, with roof-mounted snowboards, and associated apparel, including jackets, gloves, snow pants, goggles and snowboarding boots. The exterior is painted a season-appropriate white with brushed aluminum trim and brushed silver 20-inch wheels. All-weather floormats keep any residual snow from becoming a slushy mess. A cool touch (pun intended) is a ski pole grip for the shift knob. Neither of the concept vehicles are production-bound, but showcase the customization potential for Mitsubishi's SUVs.

Source: Mitsubishi