Mitsubishi's Budget Mirage Supermini Enters Production

The all-new Mitsubishi Mirage, a no-frills supermini that we first saw at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, has entered series production at the company's brand-new factory at Laem Chabang in Thailand. The Japanese automaker's "global compact car" will first go on sale in Thailand next week before it is exported to other Southeast Asian countries followed by Japan, Europe and other markets around the world later this year.
"I am pleased to present the Mirage first in Thailand," said Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
"The Mirage is an all-new compact car focused on premium fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions just right for the times where demand for superior fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness are increasing all over the world."
At 3710 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, the new Mirage falls between city cars like the Fiat Panda and superminis like the Ford Fiesta.
It is powered by a new 1.0-liter three-cylinder MIVEC gasoline engine that can be equipped with Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system linked to a CVT driving the front wheels. Mitsubishi claims a combined fuel efficiency of 30km/L (equal to 3.3lt/100km or 70mpg US) on the Japanese test cycle.
The Thai-market Mirage will be priced between THB 380,000 to 551,000 (US$12,300 to US$17,900 or €9,400 to €13,600) depending on trim level, and Mitsubishi's plans are to sell approximately 2,500 units per month in Thailand.

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All-New Mitsubishi Outlander Breaks Cover

Just a little over two months after Mitsubishi teased the new Outlander with the second iteration of its Concept PX-MiEV at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company lifted the wraps off the production model that will make its world premiere at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March. Even though we only get a single picture from Mitsubishi, it's easy to see that the all-new Outlander is almost a carbon copy of the PX-MiEV II right down to the design of the alloy wheels.
This doesn't mean that there aren't differences over the study but that they are limited to details such as the conventional headlamp units, exterior mirrors and door handles while Mitsubishi also added a pair of fog lamps up front.
Mitsubishi says that the new Outlander's will feature the "same uncluttered quality look" inside the cabin with higher grade materials that include padded surfaces, soft-touch finish, silver accents and gloss black appliqués along with a new multifunctional steering wheel and "easy-to-read instrument displays".
The Outlander will also gain a power tailgate and sport full third row seating and a flat floor cargo area.
Under the hood, the new Outlander will launch in Europe towards the end of summer with a choice of two four-cylinder engines, including a revised 2.0-liter MIVEC petrol or 2.2-liter MIVEC Clean Diesel, in both FWD and four-wheel drive variants. Depending on the market and the engine, an Auto Stop & Go system as well as an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission will also be available.
In early 2013, Mitsubishi will add a new plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. According to the company, the Outlander plug-in hybrid will allow for a driving range and very low CO2 emissions similar to that of the PX-MiEV II concept at over 800 km (~500 miles) and a target of below 50 g/km, respectively.
The new Outlander will first go on sale in Russia early this summer followed by Europe in late summer, Japan, Oceania, China and North America.

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MITSUBISHI PX-MiEV CONCEPT