Struggling Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will launch a new sport utility vehicle in its Grandis minivan series.

The Grandis Sport Gear, developed under the "active and sporty" theme, will go on sale June 24.

"We are putting our hope on the launch of this new Sport Gear model" and two other models scheduled to go on sale later this year and early next year, MMC President Osamu Masuko told reporters at its head office.

When the ailing automaker devised its revival plan in May 2004, it said it would differentiate its vehicles from other automakers' products by focusing on sportiness.

MMC said this new model for the Grandis minivan series is part of the company's emphasis on a sporty lineup.

"The first completely new model will be launched this autumn, but we had to do something before that," Senior Executive Officer Tetsuro Aikawa said.

Powered by a 2.4-liter engine, the new minivan is 1.5 cm higher than the other models in the series.

The Sport Gear also has 17-inch wheels. MMC officials said wheels of this size will be the core identity of MMC vehicles.

The monthly sales target is 300 for the Sport Gear model, versions of which will sell for 2.67 million yen and 2.92 million yen.

Together with the other models in the Grandis series, which will have minor changes, MMC hopes to sell 1,000 units a month.