Archive for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi has proposed a new business model for its business in Europe, with both product offering and management structure changes to reflect the new way it is taking forward. They want to switch from a mainly SUV nameplate in Europe to one focused on environmentally friendly passenger cars and crossovers. This will probably begin with the Mitsubishi i MiEV (shown above), which will also be sold in Europe by PSA.

Design & Engineering functions will be located to a central hiub in Japan, shifting its product planning strategy from one that is regional-based to a new global car strategy. It’s also proposed that all vehicle-related functions such as Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Business Planning, etc be relocated back to Japan.

Support functions like logistics, planning, ordering, finance and HR would remain in Europe but will be trimmed to be leaner. Aftersales functions including sales and marketing of parts and accessories, technical services and training would be moved to MMC’s European Parts Distribution Centre in The Netherlands.

The Geneva Motor Show officially comes to an end, and just before the shutter rolls down, here is a report on Mitsubishi’s iMiev Prototype and the iMiev Sport Air Concept. The iMiev Prototype is basically meant for the European market, and is expected to debut sometime in 2010, while the iMiev for the Japanese market is set to hit showrooms by summer this year.

Compared to the Japanese market model, the European Prototype iMiev features widened front and rear tracks and extended rear overhangs to help provide higher levels of pedestrian protection expected in Europe as well as better occupant protection in the event of a rear-end shunt. With a clean and simple Ice Blue interior treatment, the exterior is finished in a snow-white body finish.

Propulsion power of the iMiev with a rear-midship layout is provided by an electric motor that can output 47kW and 180Nm of torque. This rear wheel drive 4-seater prototype stores energy in a 330V lithium-ion battery pack.

Next up is the iMiev Sport Air Concept which is a sporty concept version of the electric iMiev. Sharing the same platform as the iMiev, this tear-drop shaped Sport Air Concept features a number of new fitments and accessories including front and rear lights that have a 3D look as well as a detachable “clear cutaway” roof panel that also features a solar inlay.

The interior is treated to a high-contrast colour scheme of greyish blue and “greige”, which is an intermediate color between grey and beige with blue illumination for the instruments and interior lighting. Compared to the iMiev, this 4-seater concept features a more powerful electric motor which generates 60kW and 230Nm of torque. The Sport Air Concept is also about 100 kilograms lighter than the iMiev thanks to its body structure that uses tailgate panels and plastic body to help reduce weight. Continue reading to view an image gallery.

Click here to read the rest of Geneva 2009: Mitsubishi’s iMiev Prototype and iMiev Sport Air Concept

Words are being exchanged that Japanese auto maker Mitsubishi is planning to reveal the a plug-in hybrid crossover at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

There are no other details thus far regarding this matter, but we just know that this hybrid would equal the size of the Nissan Qashqai. Apparently, an executive from the company revealed that Mitsubishi would now like to focus on more fuel efficient, smaller engines to power its SUV’s.

In line with that, the auto maker will also launch a new 1.8 diesel power plant later this year. The executive also mentioned that Mitsubishi has re-assigned its motor sport engineers who were part of the Dakar racing program to help develop the company’s electric vehicle program.

It seems that one by one all the Japanese manufacturers are pulling out of motorsports (Honda, Suzuki, Subaru, Kawasaki). The latest casualty is Mitsubishi’s Dakar rally team. Some expected this as Mitsubishi’s luck in the rally took a down turn this year after it won the event 7 times running. It could be the new V6 diesel-based Racing Lancer (shown above), or simply because its opponents got better.

“It is extremely regrettable. I am sorry for our fans. We were a good team too. Since 2004, we continued to participate in the rally even in difficult times by cutting costs. We gained much technologically during this time. It pains me to say we will no longer be able to participate,” said president MMC Osamu Masuko.

According to Mitsubishi, pulling out from the race will cost it some money but in the long run it would be saving money. This decision comes after announcing an expected net loss of 60 billion yen (670 million dollars) for the current financial year to March, attributed to dropping sales and a strengthening Yen.

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We first heard of a joint study between Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen to evaluate a potential cooperation between the two companies on the supply of electric vehicles back in June 2008. The study also included evaluating the feasibility of shared production sites for producing components for electric vehicles.

Japanese newspaper The Nikkei (the same guys who reported the Suzuki Kizashi would be axed) now reports that the deal went through and Mitsubishi will supply the French company up to 10,000 electric cars a year by the year 2011. This could include the Mitsubishi i MiEV, which is shown above as an artist’s impression with Peugeot styling (look after the jump for a Citroen version).

PSA would benefit by getting electric car technology fast, while Mitsubishi would benefit from PSA’s vast distributor network in Europe, which would be beneficial for Mitsu’s coffers anyway since they are the supplier, despite the cars not having Mitsubishi badges.

Source

Click here to read the rest of Nikkei: Mitsubishi to supply 10,000 electric cars a year to PSA Peugeot Citroen?

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Mitsubishi Motors has commissioned this interesting photoshoot featuring the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 side by side in static and action shots. Both are turbocharged and feature all-wheel drive, but they are totally different machines despite sharing the Lancer nameplate.

The Racing Lancer does not use the Lancer’s chassis, as you would already know looking at how much larger it is, or if you’ve been reading this blog’s previous coverage of the Racing Lancer. It’s actually built on a tube steel frame structure, with carbon fiber “skin” bolted on. It’s a hardcore rally machine that’s used as Mitsubishi’s entry in the Dakar 2009.

Powering it is not a variation of the 4B11T that powers the Lancer Evolution, nope. This one’s an oil burner! A 3.0 liter V6 mated to a Ricardo 5-speed sequential gearbox puts out 260 horsepower and a massive 650Nm of torque over a decent torque curve, or at least that’s what Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart’s driver Hiroshi Masuoka says. According to Hiroshi, the diesel engine outperforms its petrol-powered siblings in terms of controllability on a challenging terrain, and it also rushes faster out of corners and along straights.

One may wonder if Mitsubishi plans a “CrossLancer” by putting a higher suspension and offroader styling bits onto its Lancer hatchback by deriving the look from the Racing Lancer’s styling elements. Anyway, check out two more shots after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 for Dakar 2009
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer MRX-09 in action!
Mitsubishi Racing Lancer wins its maiden race!

Click here to read the rest of Mitsubishi Racing Lancer and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X: side by side comparison photos

After many years of going around in circles talking to companies such as PSA Peugeot Citroen, Volkswagen and GM, Proton has finally ended up at a familiar place, Mitsubishi Motors. Proton announced to Bursa Malaysia today that it has entered into a product collaboration program with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan. The following is the scope of the product collaboration:

• A Development Agreement, to develop a new Vehicle Model for PROTON based on details of work, target specifications, job sharing and time schedule as determined by both parties (”Licensed Product”).
• A Licence Agreement, where MMC grants PROTON a non-exclusive license to use technical assistance and patents solely for the purpose of utilization of technical information for restyling, modification and improvement work, manufacturing of local parts, assembling, selling and after sales services / support of the Licensed Product to be sold under PROTON’s trademark and styling; and
• An Engineering Services Agreement, wherein MMC will provide the work and services for PROTON’s manufacturing of the Licensed Product.

StarBiz revealed today that the Mitsubishi vehicle to be provided to Proton is the new Lancer, which will be used to replace the Waja. A quick check with sources inside Proton revealed that the vehicle would pretty much be a Lancer with only minor changes to the design, even less than what Mitsubishi Taiwan has done to their version of the Lancer.

The Lancer Fortis is shown in the image above, just compare it to the original Lancer (chopped by Theophilus with Proton badges) shown below, it’s a world of a difference! So the good news is our version will likely keep the Lancer’s original aggressive looks.

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The new Lancer-Waja will likely be priced at a higher price point than the current Waja CPS, but lower than the Perdana. We’ll also get the GEMA series of engines that comes with the Lancer, though it’s not clear at this moment which one. The GEMA engine is available in 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 liter displacements.

Other proposed areas that Mitsubishi and Proton are in discussions about include the rebadging of the Persona and the 2009 Proton MPV as a Mitsubishi in certain markets and the joint development of an A-segment hatchback (a new Savvy-sized vehicle), but when contacted by this blog, sources in Proton indicated these additional projects are at best only in discussion stages only, and not something confirmed.

In fact, an A-segment hatch may not be such a good area for Proton to venture into right now, given how price sensitive the A-segment market is. Maybe later, if Proton gains enough technical know-how on how to build a car cheaply and once it has enough economies of scale to price it low yet make a sufficient profit.

The only two car manufacturers enjoying success in that market segment are Suzuki and Daihatsu, who are experts in small cars. It’s very hard to profit and with the current condition of Proton’s economies of scale, I doubt Proton could create an A-segment hatch that could have the right features, quality and price to enjoy a decent amount of success whether in Malaysia or overseas.

I doubt even accounting for the potential units sold under the Mitsubishi badge could help out there as Mitsubishi themselves do not have much successful experience in that area.

Fujian-based Southeast Motor only sold Mitsubishi vehicles like the Zinger MPV in China, up to now. This is their very first self-branded car called the Southeast Motor V3 Lingyue, which uses the 4G15 Mitsubishi 1.5 liter MIVEC engine.

Dimensions of 4,405mm x 1,700mm x 1,415mm with a 2,500mm wheelbase make it slightly bigger (and heavier) than our own second generation Proton Saga. The 1.5 liter MIVEC engine it uses puts out a decent 109 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 134Nm of torque at 3,000rpm.

It’s priced between 60,000 yuan (RM31,850) to 80,000 yuan (RM42,450), depending on which model. Four models are available, but all of them come with 5-speed manual transmissions with no automatic available.

Looking at its dimensions, wheelbase and the detailing of the design it looks pretty much like the sixth generation Mitsubishi Lancer (the one the Evo4, Evo 5 and Evo 6 is based on) refreshed with a different front end and rear end and some technical updates.

Look after the jump for many more shots of the V3 Lingyue.

Click here to read the rest of Southeast Motor V3 Lingyue: Mitsubishi distributor’s first own-brand compact car

This is the Mitsubishi Zinger, sort of like a replacement for the MPV known as the Mitsubishi Kuda in Indonesia. It’s based on the Mitsubishi Challenger’s ladder-frame rear wheel drive truck platform.

In a nutshell, you could call it Mitsubishi’s equivalent to the Toyota Innova, a cheap way to put together a decently sized 7-seater people carrier that can be priced cheap and positioned lower than premium car-based MPVs such as the Grandis.

The Zinger usually comes with the 2.4 liter 4G64 engine that produces 136 PS at 5,250rpm, and a variant of this engine in a nearly similiar tune is also found in the Chery Eastar MPV. Quite an old design I must say, but in certain markets you can also get a newer model called the “Super Zinger” which features the newer 2.4 liter MIVEC 4G69 engine from the Grandis that produces 159 PS.

It’s currently being sold in Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Indonesia. There are probably some other countries which I’ve left out. The most recent facelifted model with the 4G69 engine has just recently been launched in China by Southeast Motor.

Southeast calls it an not something simple as an SUV or an MPV… it gets a completely new term called an “MICS-RV”! The M is supposed to stand for Multi-purpose, the I for Interior Roominess and Ride Comfort, the C for Compact body size, the S for Sophisticated Styling, the R for Rough-road capability and the V for value for money. What a tongue twister… phew!

Looking at the success of cheap MPVs like the Nissan Grand Livina and the Toyota Innova here, and Mitsubishi’s uncanny ability to do magic with the pricing of its cars lately such as the massive price cut for Grandis and the Lancer having an unbelievable price for a CBU Japan car, could the Mitsubishi Zinger do well in Malaysia?

Look after the jump for more photos of the Mitsubishi Zinger.

Click here to read the rest of 2009 Mitsubishi Zinger MIVEC launched in China

The Mitsubishi Racing Lancer has emerged tops in its maiden race at the Baja Portalegre 500, piloted by Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret from France. It finished 515.16km of stages in 6 hours, 11 minutes and 48 seconds, winning by a margin of 4 minutes and 3 seconds.

According to Peterhansel, the 280 PS 3.0 liter V6 motor in the Racing Lancer is a huge improvement in all areas especially the strong torque that helps bring the Racing Lancer faster out of slower turns. He also commended the chassis and the suspension, which apparently was set up very well by Mitsubishi engineers.

Second and third place were BMW X3 SUVs. I wonder if those are actual X3s or tube frames with X3-like body panels just like the Racing Lancer.

Look after the jump for two more shots of the Racing Lancer.

Click here to read the rest of Mitsubishi Racing Lancer wins its maiden race