Latest News & Reviews from Indian Auto Industry
Mitsubishi has revealed details of its sportiest SUV, the Eclipse Cross, ahead of its official debut at next week’s Geneva motor show. The Japanese brand is set to fill a gap in its soft-roader portfolio between the baby ASX and mid-sized Outlander with the Eclipse Cross.
Mitsubishi as a coy carmaker, taking its own sweet time to bring the competitive product in the market, has unfolded a new drama by unveiling its own Android-based infotainment system called FLEXConnect. The system is placed inside the Cadillac prototype, apparently for the testing purpose.
Said as more cost-effective than the others presently available in the market, quality isn’t hampered in the process. As reported, it uses a 12.1-inch providing users an access to 3-functtion at a time, where they can see contents in the following screen modes: full-screen, half-screen and one-third screen. This means navigation, climate control and media player can get underneath our fingertips at a same time without flipping over the pages.
The FLEXConnect system of Mitsubishi also features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster followed by a head-up display (of resolution 480×240).
But the most important part of this new infotainment system is its ease of sharing the knowledge between the screens, making the task a lot easier. 
Explaining more of it in detail, Gareth Williams, Manager, Strategic Technologies, Audio, Video & Communications, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, said, any other system using the architectures consisted of multi-processor would struggle hard to show up to this engaging user experience. FLEXConnect is built technically flexible to share the contents between the passengers’ own phones, tablets and other entertainment systems.
Hence, it remains interesting to see for the Mitsubishi to launch it in its own models, but then again, the time remains a major constraint for the maker.
Soon after the Mitsubishi’s denial for more Lancers, and the core concentration only on SUVs, it is now witnessed the sources have got their eyes guarded across this carmaker. A one from them in Japan, the home country of Mitsubishi, managed to get his hands on the brochure of 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander quite ahead of the official debut.
As of now, the SUV is polished to look more premium like Montero. The X-shaped front bumper, large tail lights infused of LEDs and revamped rear bumper are some other details that this SUV holds for 2-16 model.
The brochure also confined of it attaining better sound proofing materials, which even includes a noise-proof windshield.
Now, to speak of the power, engine bay and drivetrain, a CVT transmission s there to take care of everything that is planted in the bay. At present, only the information of a 2.4-litre MPI MIVEC petrol engine is revealed, which will produce the max power of 170PS and peak torque of 226Nm.
At the launch, this new Outlander will toughen its fight against the likes of Ford Endeavour, new Hyundai Santa Fe, X-Trail of Nissan and Honda’s CR-V.
Apparently, the diesel will come to the market sometime by 2016. And this same is also speculated to arrive in India with Mitsubishi’s other four models.
Till then, stay tuned to us for more details.
Finally, Mitsubishi has concluded Lancer with the final edition. Reported at one of the auto shows recently, Lancer wasn’t a beneficiary equation for the brand to sustain further, unlike the profit earning SUVs and hybrids that are a talk of the town. And now the verdict came, Japanese carmaker said to launch the final 1000 cars in its home country before going off the sales floor with Lancer.
Based on the Evo-GSR trim, Lancer with 5-speed manual shift receives blackened front grille with garnish of chrome, 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, suspension bits from Bilstein and Eibach, brakes are sourced from the famous Brembo. Lower bumpers and model emblems covered in the gloss black shade contrast the whole deal.
Stepped inside the cabin, black leather takes over every nooks and corner, but before reaching there not very easily, it is the Recaro seats that hold one’s eyesight in its track. The unique numbered plaque on the dashboard conveys about the exclusivity of the car.
Power of 300bhp is fed by a 2.0-litre petrol engine sending traction to all four-wheels.
Hence, a so lethal disappointment – the discontinuation of Lancer – final edition must waive off the sales floor in a jiff.
Mention your last words for Lancer in the comments section below…
Nothing came close to Lancer, but since the sedan segment wasn’t profiting the organization, it had turned its focus to SUVs and hybrids where a fine example of Outlander from Mitsubishi received a ‘facelift’ at the New York Motor Show, just for the cause to keep running its factory around the world. The vehicle features a new front grille, front fender, LED headlamps, rear bumper, lower section of door and 18-inch alloy wheels.
There were some other minute additions that were plugged to upkeep the engaging experience, for example the rear mirror, wiper and power folding side mirrors. The cabin too hosts brand new steering wheel, seating surface, accents, folding seat at rear, display of audio system, auto-dimming rear view mirror and headliner.
In fact, the Outlander facelift isn’t a treat on the outer, chassis also carries amendments which results as increased body, better suspension setting, noise-cutting windshield and door glass, addition of sound deadening materials, new rear differential and fresh set of front suspensions.
However, this SUV will appropriately hit international markets soon with the number of engine options. The same isn’t yet confirmed for India. So, the fans of this Japanese carmaker may have to wait for some more time apparently to get this SUV in the country, which will also pose a great rival against its own Pajero (due to the segmentation issues) and well-known other models of the segment.
Surprising, Mitsubishi to launch a MPV by 2017 in Indonesia! Though, no one believed once they said it at a press meet in Indonesia to a source; since the silhouette of the car released, everyone in the room believed it as a new face of Mitsubishi for a bright future.
Termed to see the launch by August 2017, it stated confirmation only for Indonesia, where no plans for other market rolled off the floor. Worked out on the graphical silhouette of the sides presented, it is abreacted the MPV will take cues from Mitsubishi Concept AR of Geneva Motor Show last year. Talking to our source, Mitsubishi MPV will use a 1.5-litre petrol engine, and may wear sporty attire on the body combined with tough appearance. No question rose the moment when Japanese carmaker answered there will be comfortable space for seven passengers.
However, Mitsubishi has already denied of working on sedans like Lancer due to low profit margins, where the focus is over to SUVs that holds right proportion of profit and are talk of the town, including the hybrid version for many markets. It seems feasible this MPV may take other markets as well for the brand to cope up with the numbers and gross maximum profits out of it.
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Source: Autocar India
Mitsubishi Lancer once may have filled the air with excitement especially that Evo variant that sends some thrilling power down the acceleration when dabbed hard. Usually the surprises at Geneva Motor takes us back again to the excitement board where it starts. But for the Mitsubishi it wasn’t the case at Swiss this year. Rather the maker disappointed us for the reason of shifting market demands. Speaking to a source at the stand, where it portrayed SUVs and electric stuffs, Mitsubishi COO, Mr. Tetsuro Aikawa commented, it is tough for brand to come up with a new Lancer. For the reason of shifting market demands, the manufacturer is unable to churn profits out of the segment. By their indication, it was pretty much clear Japanese carmaker now wants to focus on SUVs and electric powertrains that are current talks of town.
Obviously, it was sad for us the car that once took the storm of rear-wheel driving arenas and still does well if worked out rightly is laid off due to some market reasons.
As Mitsubishi has nothing exciting to offer its buyers, flowing models from international repertoire to India may help it to become exciting at least for the audience to look out for more models into its boredom-annexed brochure on the sales floor. Speculated of bringing number of them till the next year, still no one had found a perfect trace on that grey scape of the brand’s planning for India. However, now in a toned down manner, a source of industry revealed Mitsubishi of launching a Delica MPV and Attrage sedan in India during the next three to four years. Once again, with such a long gap from now this piece of news, expectations can be said of losing hope over the positive vicinity.
Reportedly, the Delica MPV when launch will be a strict rival to the Toyota Innova with prices expected to fling in between Rs 15-20 lakh. Presently, the MPV Is being produced in countries like Indonesia, but for India the model will see a local production to keep the cost in check. Speaking about Delica, Mr. P Vijayan, CEO of HMFCL confirmed to a source, the company needs to work hard for getting the boxes ticked right on localization and setting the prices. Initially, 15-20% localization is speculated, but later on the ratio will move to 30-40%. Right now, the plans are on the evaluation stage and the feasibility is being studied, where the aforesaid decisions taken may be changed over depending upon the results of hardcore research during coming years.
Even earlier the company laid confirmation of battling the competition with its five new models for the India, where it included Mirage hatchback as well, which is certainly dropped off by the bosses seeing to stiff competition in the market by others.
Moving to Attrage, the sedan, Mitsubishi sounds feasibility of rolling out in India during 2017. Further stating his comments for this, Mr. Vijayan said, studies are underway and decision is still pending. The diesel trim sells more in India, where Attrage posing no exception to this trend will be housing the same powrplant in its bay. Currently, during 2015, efforts are on the verge of launching the new versions of SUVs like Outlander and Montero in petrol engine options, both given with manual as well automatic transmission. Then, adding diesel to them will be worked out next year, said the source.
Though, whatever may be cooking inside the closet of Mitsubishi, we suggest them to hustle up before the customer at its bay dies away of hunger.
Start of a year is the season of price-hike. To mark the calendar’s start, Mitsubishi has hiked the price of its Pajero with manual transmission. Earlier, where it used to cost Rs 24.98 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, in this year it has went to Rs 25.28 lakh.
Reportedly, this move is in cognizance to the hike of excise duties on SUVs from 24% to 30% effective from January 1, 2015.
Under the hood, Pajero Sport comes powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine dwelling out a whip of 175bhp and 400Nm for the manual guise, whereas the automatic transmission makes only 350Nm. This lot of power package is sent to the rear wheels, whereas only manual buyers can go for the options of 4WD.
Pajero Sport stands in rivalry with Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva and Ford Endeavour.
Big SUVs, more popular as full-size SUVs, possess less utilitarian and more show-off appeal after ideally maligning in comparison to the road conditions of India. But however, since they have developed a taste of the most powerful machine the money can buy for cost of a D-segment sedan, they (SUVs) also galore a ‘take me anywhere’ feel out on the road. In addition, over the mindset of most car buyers in India, who are quite young, believes driving the SUV makes them feel better rather than sitting snug behind the steering of a sedan on the tarmac. As every second meter stretch of the road is riddled with crater-type potholes and speed-breakers touching the belly of sedan relenting it to suffer bruises and a hefty service bill for owners, driving a sedan also sound a bit tad and impractical.
In order, India has always remained invaded by one or the other forces, so people of the nation are more of the preference to avoid them by using an invading machine (SUV) itself that mimics a brave attitude and stud accents of our way of living. Hence, the said has craved as a major reason for the makers to be striking chunk of sales from the SUV body-type in this market. After the recent launch of Mitsubishi Pajero automatic for the price of Rs 23.55 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) the business became a bit tough for existing players of diesel automatic SUVs in 4×2 like, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Nothing can better grunt-ify the rival than its powerful machine. The biggest in size – Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner – are strapped by the 3.0-litre unit, but both of them produces the least amount of power (in comparison) at 154bhp (379Nm) and 169bhp (360Nm) respectively. The smallest Hyundai Santa Fe’s 2.2-litre units milk the maximum at 194bhp and 436Nm of torque. Amidst of all, Pajero’s 2.5-litre is good enough for 176bhp and 350Nm.
In the gauge of transmission, all the SUVs are mated to a 5-speed automatic, where only Hyundai makes an exception with the 6-speed automatic.
Measuring them from all the angles, Endeavour surprisingly comes up with the maximum space between the front and rear wheels – wheelbase, as well as the overall length. However, all of them are more or less similar in the sizing, but the long length of Ford’s SUV makes ample of space for the rear passengers and luggage.
The max power of Santa Fe offers on-paper the speediest deal, whereas the Pajero isn’t bad either. With acres of spaces, sluggish Endeavour is designed to carry the maximum luggage and additional comfort for rear passengers. But as said in the start, the looks is what matters for the show-off SUVs appeal, Fortuner and Endeavour emerge as the best options to choose from. And they spruce commanding visuals with their beefy tyres. The remaining two offset them by overcoming on the power and handling aspect a lot.
So the choice is a bit precise, either to go for the hard-core off-road with chunks of metals, or just ply the tarmac easy for the most with the racy experience behind steering wheel.