IIMS 2017: Mitsubishi XM ‘Low MPV’ coming this year

IIMS 2017: Mitsubishi XM ‘Low MPV’ coming this year

Besides the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport that’s now assembled in Indonesia, MMC has the Mitsubishi XM Concept on display at the 2017 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS). It’s essentially the same concept car that we saw at GIIAS 2016, but with a reminder that the production version will debut this year. Hadir tahun ini, Mitsubishi says.

The XM Concept is a preview of an upcoming contender in Indonesia’s core “Low MPV” segment, which houses the ubiquitous Toyota Avanza (and its twin sister Daihatsu Xenia), Suzuki’s Ertiga and the Honda Mobilio. But like Honda with the BR-V, Mitsubishi will be injecting some SUV flavour into its three-row, seven-seat people carrier.

The XM name is a fusion of “X” for crossover and “M” for MPV – the concept described as blending “the toughness of an SUV with the versatility of an MPV”. It fits in nicely with MMC’s brand image and Dakar-winning off-road heritage nicely. We’re not sure if the XM name and the bold looks of the concept will make it to production, but it will be good for the brand if it did.

IIMS 2017: Mitsubishi XM ‘Low MPV’ coming this year

The XM features Mitsubishi’s new Dynamic Shield front end design, with slit-like headlights flanking a large black grille. The flared wheel arches and sculpted character line give it a strong look that is typical of an SUV, while a sleek cab-forward profile and a “floating roof” illusion given by the blacked-out D pillar creates a free-flowing MPV look. The black portion of the rear end has similarities with the eX Concept from Tokyo 2015.

The production XM will roll out later this year from MMC’s new plant in Bekasi, which has started producing the Pajero Sport. The US$565 million factory was inaugurated last week by Indonesian president Joko Widodo, and the ceremony was attended by MMC’s new chairman Carlos Ghosn and CEO Osamu Masuko. MMC is of course the latest member of the Renault-Nissan Alliance after a buyout in October 2016.

“The Bekasi assembly facility symbolises our ambition to be a market leader in Indonesia, where we will produce our best-selling Pajero Sport and a new MPV to meet growing demand for high-quality, rugged and reliable passenger vehicles. This will enable us to build share in a market where we have been present for more than 45 years,” Masuko said.

Will this Mitsubishi seven-seater fare well in Malaysia as a Honda BR-V rival?

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Just make sure rear is stronger than BRV, but who am i kidding. This is for 3rd world market where life is cheap but the sheeps dun know about it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 10
    • Sir Zaini on May 02, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      Going against the momentum of a bus, no vehicle can be safe from the rear unless of course a tank or a cement truck

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 14
      • Very wrong. Its how the platform was designed for, the materials used, area of impact, and speed of collision.
        A BRV is essentially an enlarged Jazz, which means the structural rigidity may not cater for such a large SUV body.
        And did Honda said if they used high tensile or HPF steel at the rear area?
        As for area of impact, the full front surface of bus wud make contact with the full flat rear surface. In other words, a blunt objects collision shud have least damage.
        That leaves the speed of bus. But if the bus was really going high speed, then more vehicles wud be involved (cuz it happened during jam).

        All this wud infer: that BRV is soft milotin.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
        • nope. its an enlarge brio

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
          • That… wud make it much, much more worse.

            Ballooning an A segment compact into a upper b segment SUV is literally stretching it.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
          • Sama L00 on Jul 24, 2017 at 1:57 pm

            BRV and XM, you won’t go wrong with sushi cars. In fact, most ppl prefer fortuner.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Mokmok on May 02, 2017 at 10:55 pm

      No point making a car stronger if can’t even put on rear passanger seat belt.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Middle Age Driver (Member) on May 02, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    It will all boils down to how aggressive the marketing team is. Right now i can say its sleeping. No fight against Honda. No fight against Ertiga as it will be priced much higher. So lets see when it comes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Karma Coming on May 02, 2017 at 9:14 pm

    Sigh….Mitsubishi seems to run out of good idea these days…..only excel making ppl-moving-box with 4 wheels…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ollie on May 03, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Please put explicit content warning when showing cars this ugly. I almost vomited on my screen.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • PSA-PROTON on May 04, 2017 at 11:39 am

    LOUSY DESIGN… AMATEUR LOVER FOR THIS 4 WHEELS

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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