[Crazy Dazz]

A combination of factors:

1) Mitsi, like a couple of the other smaller Japanese marques, is struggling and will increasingly look to model sharing to stay competitive. Clearly just don't have the money to develop a new, stand-alone, model.

2) Mitsi had been one of the slower companies to move production offshore, so closing an unprofitable Japanese factory has driven the timing of this decision.

3) This is a market the Japs had almost to themselves for a long time, but with the Koreans, Chinese, Europeans, and even Ford and GM (LHD) pushing more into the market, it has become extremely competitive.

4) Most large 4wds were bought by families, almost exclusively for urban use. That market is now saturated with passenger-car based SUVs, that are cheaper to build and operate.

5) Those wanting genuine offroad capability, have increasingly turned to 4wd light-trucks (and their wagon derivatives). Once cramped, gutless, and uncomfortable, those have improved substantially, and are now favoured. And again there's a LOT to choose from. From Mitsi's POV it's a lot cheaper to keep developing the Triton-based "_-Sport"