Archive for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (joint venture betweeen Mitsubishi Japan 52% and EON 48%) is in talks with Proton Holdings Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd, among a few other car manufacturers on the possibility of assembling Mitsubishi cars locally.

Currently Mitsubishi models like the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan are CBU models, fully imported, thus having to pay hefty CBU taxes. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia officials have said they are waiting for the full details of the National Automotive Policy to be announced before deciding which models to assemble locally.

Source: The Edge

Mitsubishi showcased the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Ralliart at the 2005 SEMA Show this year. The Eclipse is kitted up with a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine, aftermarket enhancements, bodykit and a Ralliart theme paintwork.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Ralliart

The Edge reported on Monday that Proton Holdings Bhd is exploring partnership options with other automers including Mitsubishi Motors Corp of Japan. Talks between Proton and Volkswagen AG seems to have run into difficulty.

It’s interesting to hear that Mitsubishi has popped up among the possible partners that are Volkswagen AG and Hyundai (well, mainly through Sime Darby). Proton had a 20 year old relationship with Mitsubishi which broke down. Mitsubishi disposed it’s entire 16% stake in Proton, most of which were picked up by Khazanah Nasional, which holds 42.7% of Proton shares now.

The Mitsubishi-Proton partnership was deemed a failure because of the lack of technology transfer. What would be different about it this time? Does NAZA and Peugeot’s partnership on the Peugeot 206 involve technology transfer? It’s an outgoing model after all, due to be replaced with the Peugeot 207.

If talks with Volkswagen really break down, we may not see the proposed use of Volkswagen’s Sharan and Passat platforms for Proton’s new MPV and Perdana replacement model.

Whatever the result, everything has just been speculations so far from industry sources. We eagerly await solid outcomes with official announcements.

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Mitsubishi Motors and Smart gmbh have signed an agreement where Mitsubishi will supply its next generation normally aspirated and turbocharged small-capacity engines to smart to be used in the successor to the Smart Fortwo model due in 2007.

This same engine will be used in the Mitsubishi i minicar. The Mitsubishi i will be available in January 2006. The engines will be produced at Mitsubishi’s engine plant in Mizushima. According to spec sheets of the concept, it’s powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged MIVEC engine, so likely that and a normally aspirated version would be supplied to smart.

This deal will help ailing Mitsubishi Motors Corporation realize better economies of scale for the new minicar engine series, lowering costs per unit.

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