Mitsubishi blog
Mitsubishi recalls 2004 Endeavor, 2010 GalantFiled under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Recalls, Safety, Mitsubishi, Off-Road 
Mitsubishi is recalling both the 2004 Endeavor SUV and 2010 Galant sedan over possible corrosion issues that could cause flammable fluids to leak. The safety recall affects approximately 56,113 Endeavors and 2,307 Galants across the United States.
 The Endeavors in question are those that were originally sold or currently registered in states where road salt is used to clear away snow and ice in the winter. According to NHTSA, road salt, mixed with other debris, can become trapped between the Endeavor's fuel filler pipe and a reinforcing bracket, which can cause corrosion and potentially a fuel leak. As for the Galant, the automatic transmission oil cooler pipe on some vehicles may have insufficient corrosion-preventing plating. If so, this pipe can develop a hole, meaning transmission fluid can potentially seep out.
The official safety recalls begin in March for the Galant and July for the Endeavor, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. Owners can contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037 for more information regarding either recall. Click through the jump to read the full details in NHTSA's press releases.
[Source: NHTSA]Continue reading Mitsubishi recalls 2004 Endeavor, 2010 Galant Mitsubishi recalls 2004 Endeavor, 2010 Galant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsRalliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi?Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Mitsubishi 
In a letter issued to its customers, Ralliart, a Japanese high-performance subsidiary of Mitsubishi, has announced that it is closing its doors. The company's business case has apparently faded, a victim of the wilting domestic aftermarket scene as well as its lack of continued motorsports involvement.
Naturally, we wondered if and how the closure of the company responsible for its high-performance parts and related merchandise would impact the development, production and marketing of Mitsubishi vehicles sold here in the States - more specifically, the Lancer Ralliart and Sportback Ralliart models. To answer that question, we spoke with Mitsu spokesman Maurice Durand, and he informs us that the closure of Ralliart will not, in fact, have any affect on the availability or continued marketing of these models (or any future branded offerings), as Mitsubishi owns the rights to the name, logo, and so on. Furthermore, all licensing agreements in foreign countries remain intact.
So, while you may not be able to get a genuine JDM Ralliart strut-tower brace or shift knob, you can breath easy that the SportBack that you've been saving your lunch money for will still be at your local dealer by the time you've got enough scratch. Official press release after the jump.Continue reading Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva 2010: Mitsubishi ASX is U.S. bound as Outlander SportFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mitsubishi 
2010 Mitsubishi ASX - Click above for high-res image gallery
Signaling a new path for Mitsubishi's assault on the automotive market, the 2010 Mitsubishi ASX will take the three-diamond brand away from its concentration on SUVs to "a manufacturer of non-mainstream environmentally friendly passenger cars & crossovers, retaining a presence in the 'authentic off-roader' sector."
Combining the atmosphere of the Outlander with the "on-road attitude" of the Lancer, the four-wheel-drive ASX will show up in America later this year as the Outlander Sport with a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder from the Lancer and an Outlander-besting 30-or-so miles per gallon. Get a good look at Mitsubishi's way forward in the gallery of high-res photos below, and feel free to read the good news in the press release after the jump.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: Mitsubishi ASX is U.S. bound as Outlander Sport Geneva 2010: Mitsubishi ASX is U.S. bound as Outlander Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva-bound Mitsubishi ASX coming to America this fall as Outlander SportFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mitsubishi
2011 Mitsubishi ASX/RVR/Outlander Sport
While we have known for some time that Mitsubishi will introduce a new compact crossover dubbed RVR in Japan and ASX in Europe, what we didn't know was what designation the car would carry when it hit North American showrooms. We do now. A source at Mitsubishi tells Autoblog that the inexpensive four-cylinder crossover will be called Outlander Sport, a nod to Mitsu's larger and more-established three-row Outlander CUV.
Astute carspotters will note that this isn't the first time that the Japanese automaker has used the 'Sport' moniker in this capacity, attached to the name of another more expensive and well-known model in its lineup. Back at the beginning of this decade, Mitsu marketed its Montero Sport (a vehicle that was eventually supplanted by the slow-selling Endeavor), a body-on-frame SUV that rode the coattails of the more established and luxurious Montero.
When the five-passenger Outlander Sport arrives in North America this fall, it will carry a Lancer-derived 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder backed by a CVT gearbox, and it will arrive with electronically controlled all-wheel drive. Other drivetrains remain a possibility, but the focus of the 2.0-liter setup will be fuel economy, with Mitsu engineers targeting a highway figure of 30 miles-per-gallon or better (the larger Outlander achieves a maximum of 25 mpg). A front-drive, six-speed manual model will be available in other markets, but its fate remains undecided for North America.
Pricing will be announced closer to launch, but we expect it to undercut the front-drive Outlander's MSRP of $21,605 (including destination) as it takes on vehicles like Nissan's Rogue and Hyundai Tucson. The new model will be revealed at next week's Geneva Motor Show.
Geneva-bound Mitsubishi ASX coming to America this fall as Outlander Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsPics Aplenty: Mitsubishi RVR CrossoverFiled under: Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Japan, Crossover, Mitsubishi 
Mitsubishi RVR Crossover - Click above for high-res image gallery
Mitsubishi has officially rolled out the Japanese market version of its new RVR crossover, which will also be dubbed ASX for the European market when it goes on sale later this year. The automaker has said that it has plans to bring the new small CUV to the United States, but no official nomenclature has been confirmed for the vehicle that will land on our shores. The European version will officially debut to the public at next month's Geneva Motor Show.
In Japan, the RVR is offered with a new 1.8-liter gasoline four, producing 139 horsepower and mated to a continuously variable transmission with column-mounted paddle shifters. Both front- and all-wheel drive versions will be available, and earlier reports have stated that European customers will have the choice of a few diesel powerplants, including a 1.8-liter unit mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
Have a click through our gallery to see the new Mitsubishi crossover from all angles, and expect more photos and information live from the Geneva show floor next month.
[Source: Drom.ru, Carscoop]Pics Aplenty: Mitsubishi RVR Crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsHighest and lowest depreciating cars of 2009 in the UKFiled under: Car Buying, Budget, Honda, Maybach, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, UK, Luxury 
Car price guide Parker's has produced its latest depreciation lists for cars in the UK. It's probably of most use if you're shopping at the lower-priced end of the car spectrum, since a straight-up comparison would be pointless. Seven of the 10 cars with the least depreciation are Japanese, headed by the Honda Jazz, and all of them are small. Five of the 10 cars with the greatest depreciation, headed by the Maybach 57S, are English, and none of them are cheap.
Parker's doesn't break the list down into model trims, but the least expensive Honda Jazz on Honda's UK site goes for £11,058 on-the-road (OTR). With 10,000 miles on the odo it will lose £1,379 in value a year later, or 12.5 percent of its value. A Maybach 57S goes for £297,945 OTR, and Parker's says it drops by £127,526 a year later after 10K miles, or 43 percent. If, however, you've spent £400,000 on a car after adding special features, you probably have better things to think about than your fleet's depreciation.
At the other end of the least depreciating vehicles is the Mitsubishi i, which loses £2,271 after a year, a slightly whopping 25 percent. That is almost as bad as the Ferrari F430, which does the 'best' on the most depreciating list, losing 'just' £37,188, or 27 percent. Back to that Maybach 57S for a moment, though: a dealer in Surrey has a used one for sale, with 10,000 miles, for £249,990. Perhaps he doesn't read Parker's?
[Source: Parker's via Gizmag]Highest and lowest depreciating cars of 2009 in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Mitsubishi looking to claw back to 100,000 sales in U.S. in three yearsFiled under: Car Buying, Mitsubishi, Earnings/Financials 
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT - Click above for high-res image gallery
When the healthy catches a cold, the sickly contract the flu. Over the past few years, Mitsubishi has been suffering from a degenerative case of bronchial pneumonia, with a side of strep and a nasty rash. In other, less contagious words, Mitsubishi has been faring very poorly during the industry's worst downturn in decades, and it's tough to say if the struggling Japanese automaker will ever leave the intensive care unit.
But to listen to John Koenig, executive vice president of Mitsubishi North America, that will all change over the next few years. Koenig has told Wards Automotive that he sees Mitsubishi hitting 100,000 sales in the U.S. within three years. Mitsubishi only sold 53,986 vehicles in 2009, down 44.5 percent compared to a still depressing 2008, and that's only one sixth of the Japanese automaker's 345,111 U.S. sales in 2002. Koenig says he's had to reassure dealers that Mitsubishi isn't leaving the North American market, adding "that's probably their biggest fear, because they're reading about it in various journals."
To get out of its sales rut, Mitsubishi plans to bolster sales with the help of the 2010 Outlander, a vehicle that we found to be pretty entertaining and capable. Koenig also points to the current Lancer as another vehicle that could help turn sales around.
Will Mitsubishi return to sales of 100,000 units a year in the States? It's difficult to say, really, but given the automaker's performance over the past few years, we're not all that optimistic. The good news though is that most sales problems can easily be cured with good products, and if the Outlander is as good as we think it is we're thinking, Mitsubishi has a shot at staying relevant - though they had better be readying a few new cannons in their arsenal.
[Source: Wards Automotive - sub. req.]Continue reading Report: Mitsubishi looking to claw back to 100,000 sales in U.S. in three years Report: Mitsubishi looking to claw back to 100,000 sales in U.S. in three years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsThe Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken BlockFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports, Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Mini, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Skoda 
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
Welcome to another edition of the Weekender. The Friday goods this week come from all over the world: Formula 1 drifting on ice in Montreal, an underwater Dodge Ram in Argentina, Skodas in Monte Carlo, a Hot Tub Edition Mini in New York, and free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show.
The domestic front also brings us a Fast Company profile of Volkswagen Group of America's head honcho Stefan Jacoby, which includes him admitting, "It was clear we were not understanding of our customers. We needed to change our style in the U.S., as we are a very stubborn bureaucratic German company - and German management - to some extent. I am here to listen."
And then there was all that singing and dancing at the Detroit Auto Show, but Beyoncé provided the lyrics this time, not the Chevy Volt marketing team. Follow the jump to get your weekend fill.Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsEric Bana confirmed for Bathurst 12 HourFiled under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Mitsubishi, Australia, Celebrities 
Ask the typical gearhead what race they most want to attend and you'll probably here something about the 24 Hours of Le Mans (with a couple of mental patients no doubt pining for the 24 Hours of LeMons). Awesome race, great movie, viva la France and all that, but let's be honest. Le Mans has become so concerned with something called "safety" that they chicaned the Mulsanne Straight! As any fan of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will tell you, "Boo!"
Now consider how they do things down unda. Recently, in the interest of safety, officials decided to limit fans of the Bathurst 1000 to 24 cans of beer per day. Not to be all low brow, but that's our kind of racing. And we think we'd like the Bathurst 12 Hour enduro quite a bit, too. And not because movie star Eric Bana is set to run it in a Mitsubishi EVO X - again.
The star of good movies like Chopper and Munich (and the face of bad films like Troy and Hulk) is returning to the Bathurst 12 to attempt to improve upon his team's 10th place overall finish. No stranger to motorsports (those familiar with his excellent car love epic Love the Beast know this), Bana has done quite a bit of racing, including several Targa Tasmania events, a Porsche GT3 Challenge and the Australian GT Championship.
Along with his teammates Tim Leahey and Peter Hill, Bana will be re-campaigning the same Mitsubishi EVO X. With more than 50 cars set to take the grid, improving upon last year's results will prove difficult. Of course, that's why they race. The Bathurst 12 Hour will take place February 12-14.
[Source: Car Advice]Eric Bana confirmed for Bathurst 12 Hour originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMotor Trend details 2013 Mitsubishi Evolution XI's plug-in electric drivetrainFiled under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Crossover, Mitsubishi, Rumormill, Electric 
Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumors that the 2013 Mitsubishi Evolution XI will come with a hybrid powertrain aren't new. In fact, we first heard such rumblings way back in October of 2009 when the Japanese automaker unleashed its PX-MiEV concept, which is also rumored to have received the green light for production using the same platform as the Evo, at the Tokyo Motor Show. But Motor Trend has a few more intriguing details to share, starting with the fact that it will boast a plug and a short-distance EV mode that won't ever activate the gasoline-fueled engine.
If MT is correct, a powerful electric motor would drive the front wheels of the Evo XI, drawing power from a lithium ion battery pack, while the (presumably turbocharged but possibly normally aspirated) 2.0-liter engine would drive the rear wheels only when necessary. The two combined powerplants could theoretically put out as much as 350 horsepower (or more, depending on final specifications) to all four wheels, catapulting the car from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds.
Finally, the Evo would reportedly be blessed with the Active Steering and Roll Control Suspension that Mitsubishi has been working on getting into production since 2006, as well as a new electronically-controlled Active Yaw Control system for the engine-driven rear wheels. Sounds like a lot of technology, which could potentially equal lots of weight and a hefty sticker price. Stay tuned. Thanks for the tip, Jim!
[Source: Motor Trend]Motor Trend details 2013 Mitsubishi Evolution XI's plug-in electric drivetrain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMitsubishi ASX compact CUV set for Geneva premiereFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Mitsubishi 
Mitsubishi ASX - Click above for high-res image gallery
Last month we told you a new compact crossover is on its way from Mitsubishi that will be called the RVR when it goes on sale in Japan. Today the Tri-Star automaker announced that the little CUV will wear the ASX badge in Europe and make its official debut at the upcoming 2010 Geneva Motor Show in early March. We've been told the RVR/ASX will eventually make it to American shores, but whether or not it gets yet another name is up to Mitsubishi.
In Europe, the ASX will be offered with a wide array of engines including a 1.8-liter diesel that can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission and what Mitsubishi is calling "Automatic Stop & Go," which we assume is their label for stop/start technology. Considering the CUV's small size and presumably light weight, that combo should yield impressive results at European pumps.
[Source: Mitsubishi]Continue reading Mitsubishi ASX compact CUV set for Geneva premiere Mitsubishi ASX compact CUV set for Geneva premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Mitsubishi inch closer to stock swapFiled under: Mitsubishi, Earnings/Financials, Peugeot, Citroën
Peugeot 4007, a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander - Click above for high-res image gallery
'Tis the season to form mergers, and the latest could involve a large stock swap between Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot-Citroen. The two automakers have longstanding ties that include such projects as the Mitsubishi iMiEV electric car (which Peugeot has shown as the iOn) and the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV (which Peugeot sells as the 4007 and Citroen as the C-Crosser). But now the rapprochement could be entering a new stage.
In a potential tie-in that could mirror rival French automaker Renault's alliance with Japanese automaker Nissan, reports suggest that PSA and Mitsu are on the verge of a stock swap. Insiders aren't sure what sort of arrangement could be brokered, but speculate that PSA could take effective control with a large minority stake in Mitsubishi in exchange for either stock in PSA, cash in hand or a combination of both.
The strengthened partnership would stand to help PSA, Europe's second largest automaker, compete not only with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, but also with Volkswagen, Europe's largest automaker which is teaming up with Suzuki for presence in Asian markets. Industry analysts, however, note that with PSA already burdened with growing debts and given Mitsubishi's relatively small production and market share, the move could be ill-advised for the French auto group. On speculation of the potential partnership, PSA stock reportedly fell 3.6 percent, while Mitsubishi's rose 7.5 percent - the largest respective drop and gain for each automaker in months. Thanks for the tip, Vladimir!
[Source: Bloomberg]Report: PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Mitsubishi inch closer to stock swap originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMitsubishi ponders Triton pickup production in StatesFiled under: Budget, Truck, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Mitsubishi 
Mitsubishi's been having a rough time of it lately here in the United States. Last year, sales fell 44.8 percent. Ouch. Even worse, Mitsu's lone U.S. manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois is way under capacity. How far under? Well, the Normal plant's website lists its capacity at 135,000 vehicles per year. Only thing is, back when that plant was a joint Chrysler/Mitsubishi venture it could pop out 240,000 cars per year. Last year, Normal made just 18,501 vehicles.
As you might imagine, Mitsubishi's uncertain as to whether the Normal plant will remain open. One solution might be to introduce and build their Triton pickup truck in the U.S.. America's been sorely lacking in the small pickup market for the last 15 years or so, and the Triton would be a welcome player to the segment.
Only thing is, because of the notorious chicken tax, Mitsubishi would need to build about 50,000 to 60,000 Tritons a year at the Normal plant to make the endeavor worthwhile. Last year's 44.8 percent drop in business meant that Mitsubishi only sold 53,986 cars and trucks last year. Anyone else sense a problem? Even if Mitsubishi's sales rebound over the 100,000 unit mark, it's doubtful that 50 to 60 percent of that total would be a small pickup truck, especially as Mitsubishi's mid-size truck, the Raider, was quietly discontinued last year.
[Source: Ward's Auto]Mitsubishi ponders Triton pickup production in States originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto salesFiled under: Car Buying, Japan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, South Korea
While it may come as no surprise that Asian car companies are constantly gaining market share in the U.S. market, the actual numbers are quite amazing. Ten years ago, companies like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and the rest accounted for a little more than one-quarter of total light-vehicle sales in the States. By 2005, that figure stood at 36.6 percent. By 2007? 41.9 percent. In 2009, Asian automakers sold a full 47.9 percent of the cars and light trucks we Americans bought.
These numbers come from the latest report by Ward's Auto. Perhaps predictably, that same dispatch tells us that American automakers were hurt the most by those Asian gains. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were once part of an American auto industry that accounted for nearly 70 percent of sales in 1999. The Detroit Three had just a 44.8 percent market share a decade later. The European automakers have also gained a bit in the U.S. over the past decade. Still, they only account for 7.3 percent of the market right now.
If the Japanese and Korean manufacturers post gains for 2010 that are similar to the 2009 increases, they will pass the 50 percent mark for the first time in history. Individually, companies like Toyota have fared the best, nearly doubling their slice of the American pie, going from 8.7 to 17 percent since 1999. While Ford shared the biggest gain last year compared to 2008, they were also one of the decade's biggest losers, dropping 8.3 percent. Maybe last year's gain is a sign of recovery for the domestic automakers, but the troubles at GM and Chrysler don't bode well for the group. Check out the full breakdown by clicking the Ward's source link below.
[Source: Ward's Automotive]Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsMitsubishi releases updated JDM Outlander Roadest with unique lookFiled under: SUV, Japan, Crossover, Mitsubishi 
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Roadest - click for high-res gallery
Normally when an automaker updates a model, even if it's just a quick cosmetic change, the earlier version is treated like cheek meat - nobody wants it unless it's a real good deal, and the dealers just want them gone. Mitsubishi evidently thinks its home-market will be kinder to the compact crossover-ute-thing we know and love as the Outlander.
While a new Evo-esque beak has been grafted onto our Outlander for 2010, the softer, older version will continue to be offered to JDM buyers alongside a more cosmetically aggressive model. To avoid confusion, a country-specific rhinoplasty-enhanced model will be branded Outlander Roadest (note that the fascia and, grille and foglamps are all distinct from the U.S. model), while the older bodywork model will continue on as just plain "Outlander." Regardless of the looks, both iterations will get a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as standard, good for 148PS (about 146 horsepower). The offal-likeness is in play with pricing as well, with the new-old Outlander selling for just ¥1,995,000 (about $22,000) while the Roadest will command ¥2,475,900 ($27,100).
[Source: Mitsubishi]Mitsubishi releases updated JDM Outlander Roadest with unique look originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsQuick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad nameFiled under: Budget, Japan, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Electric, Quick Spin 
Mitsubishi i - Click above for high-res image gallery
We're looking at a long, nearly straight, almost totally traffic-free downhill. We'd climbed up to the base of the Palm Springs to Idyllwild Ariel Tramway. Our goal was to see how fast Mitsubishi's tiny i could go. We're on the gas, and the teensy, turbocharged 660cc three-banger is giving us all its got. The speedometer ticks upwards, now cresting 100. In front of us is nothing but inviting tarmac. Deeper and harder we push and the numbers keep ticking up. 119, 120, 121 and then finally hitting 122. We felt we left a little on the table and could have probably achieved a terminal velocity of around 130. Maybe. 125 for sure.
Before you crime and punishment types climb upon your soapboxes, we should mention that the right-hand drive, JDM-only i reads out in kilometers per hour. Meaning that our top speed was almost 76 mph. And we stand by our assertion that we totally could have hit 80 mph.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsMitsubishi launches big incentives through Sam's ClubFiled under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Mitsubishi, Earnings/Financials
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT - Click above for high-res image gallery
Twin pack of bread, 36 bottles of water, 24 rolls of toilet tissue, a 64-oz. box of cereal and... a 2010 Mitsubishi Galant. That may sound a bit odd, but if you want certain 2009 and 2010 Mitsubishi models with zero percent financing or discounted lease pricing, you'll apparently have to head over to your local Sam's Club. Automotive News is reporting that the discount warehouse is offering special deals on select Mitsubishi models through its Auto Buying Program that could well be better than the offers you'll get at your Mitsubishi dealer. Eligible models for zero percent financing for 60 months include the 2009 Lancer, Eclipse and Outlander and the 2010 Galant and Endeavor. Discounted leases will also be available for the 2010 Lancer Sportback and the 2010 Outlander.
The Japanese automaker reportedly struck a deal with the retail giant to display some of its models at select stores. Mitsubishi Motors Credit America will supply the special financing, which will be reserved for Sam's Club customers with sufficient credit. The discount warehouse club will display the cars through February. With Sam's Club's 500 stores and over 40 million members, this could be a pretty good program for the struggling Mitsubishi, although we don't see it doing anything to combat the brand's discount perception.
[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd]Mitsubishi launches big incentives through Sam's Club originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsIs Peugeot-Citroën on the verge of buying Mitsubishi?Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Mitsubishi, Earnings/Financials, Peugeot, Citroën 
The French and the Japanese have gotten together to form a magic partnership once already with Carlos Ghosn at the helm. The question is, then, can that success be replicated? PSA Peugeot-Citroën seems to hope so, and it is reportedly on the verge of purchasing a controlling stake (somewhere between 30 and 53 percent, depending on the report) in Mitsubishi Motors.
The total price for the acquisition would cost the European automaker over $3 billion and the deal would also include Mitsubishi acquiring a somewhat smaller stake in PSA Peugeot-Citroën - again, similar to the situation between France's Renault and Japan's Nissan.
So, what does Mitsubishi have that Peugeot wants? Three things, apparently: A presence in the States, SUV expertise and, perhaps most importantly, electric vehicle technology. If a deal does indeed take place, the resulting entity would be the sixth largest automaker by sales in the world.
[Source: BusinessWeek]Is Peugeot-Citroën on the verge of buying Mitsubishi? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsBest Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEVFiled under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Specialty, Electric 
Mitsubishi Geek Squad i-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
While Mitsubishi didn't unveil any new vehicles at the LA Auto Show today, company president Osamu Masuko did announce the latest step in his company's plan to bring plug-in vehicles to North America. The vehicle - well, one of them - is an all-electric i-MiEV plastered with Best Buy's Geek Squad logo. The electronics giant will start using them in January (after they're shown off at CES) at some Geek Squad locations in California. Details have not yet been totally worked out, but the Geek EVs will start with a fleet of four vehicles and then expand and rotate to other stores over the course of three years. Most likely, the i-MiEVs will be doled out in pairs and the probable early cities where these vehicles will make house calls include Chicago, New York, Portland and San Francisco.
Best Buy plans to use the i-MiEVs just like any other fleet car, with the exception that they will be right-hand drive. Best Buy's Senior Vice President of emerging business, Rick Rommel, told AutoblogGreen that the idea is to learn "how these will fit into a Geek's daily life." The plug-in vehicle tests with Geek Squad are unrelated to how select West Coast Best Buy stores are selling electric bikes. That said, Rommel admits that the key thing is that Best Buy likes to conduct new experiments, and these EVs fit into that general concept.
Live photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsUPDATE: U.S. bound Mitsubishi Colt will be an all-new global small carFiled under: Budget, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi 
Yesterday, we reported that Mitsubishi is bringing its small, B-segment Colt to our shores. And that's true, mostly. What we've learned between now and then is that Mitsu isn't bringing over the current Colt, but rather the replacement for the current Colt, i.e. the next Colt. In fact, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko said as much during last month's Tokyo Motor Show. Here's what he told Automotive News:
"Mitsubishi will follow that with a global small car in 2012. That car will be smaller than the Colt, which is sold in Japan and Europe, and will have a 1.0- to 1.3-liter gasoline engine. A plug-in hybrid version and all-electric version of the global small car are scheduled for 2013. Mitsubishi is studying which of those would best suit the United States.
The scoop, then, is that this new global small car will be called Colt. As opposed to say, Havasu.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]UPDATE: U.S. bound Mitsubishi Colt will be an all-new global small car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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