Mitsubishi's been making SUVs that could rumble in the rough before it was even fashionable to pretend you could. The rugged Montero dates to 1983, and its legacy in the world-renown Dakar Rally goes back nearly as long. Even in the automotive cultural bubble known as North America, it got enough respect that a second model called Montero Sport was sprung off. Mitsubishi took pride in carrying Japan's off-road torch.Now they'd rather let Toyota and Nissan worry about that. In 2004, Mitsubishi lobbed over something called the Endeavor, an SUV with a similar look but totally different ancestry (hint: it became the basis for the Galant and Eclipse). Fact is, the Endeavor's cheaper to make (and is made locally), cheaper to sell, and is more in line with normal driving habits. It doesn't hurt that last year, 756% as many Endeavors as Monteros made the transition from dealers to driveways.When you've got a checking account as overdrawn as Mitsubishi's, sales take precedence over bragging rights. So with the corporate crystal ball giving clear readings, product planners axed the Montero Sport in 2004, then penciled in the Montero's date with death for later this year.All stakes ride on the brave new warrior. Can Endeavor endure the pressure?