Were you one of the nearly 4,000 Filipinos who placed orders for the Xpander? If yes, you'll be glad to know that the Mitsubishi MPV's first batch of units has arrived and will be ready for delivery by the end of this month. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) shared a short video of the pioneer batch of units fresh off the boat at the Bauan International Port in Batangas. The brief 18-second clip begins with a handful of the MPVs rolling onto the port, eventually panning out to show an entire fleet of brand-new Xpanders neatly parked side by side. MMPC president and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri thanked the Philippine market for welcoming the Japanese carmaker's newest offering with open arms, adding that he hopes the Xpander will see the same level of success here as it did in Indonesia where it took home Car of the Year honors. You can check out the video embedded below for more. How do you think the Mitsubishi Xpander will do in the Philippines? Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. The All-New Mitsubishi XPANDER has arrived! Deliveries will start soon. #MitsubishiMotorsPH #XPANDER #XpandYourPossibilities ARTICLE BY TOPGEAR PHILIPPINESEven though Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko said that the Lancer will be no more, it looks like the name will be here to stay, albeit as a completely different vehicle. Mitsubishi Motors chief operating officer Trevor Mann and chief designer Tsunehiro Kunimoto are said to be currently working on the new car. Mann then told correspondents from Auto Express the new direction the Lancer will be taking, which will be a crossover. Mann said that the design of the next-generation Lancer is close to being finalized. The executive added that they will be replacing the ASX and the Outlander with just one model and he specifically mentioned the Lancer. Given that Mitsubishi turned the Eclipse into a crossover, perhaps it was inevitable that the Lancer would follow suit. On the design front, Kunimoto mentioned that the future Lancer's looks will be based on the e-Evolution concept shown during the Tokyo Motor Show late last year. While it's unlikely the radical styling could reach production, it is likely we will see a toned-down version of it in a few years time. Kunimoto also said that it won't be a conventional hatchback, possibly hinting it may well be a crossover. He added that they are going also 'radical' with the new look. The next Lancer could compete against the likes of the Toyota C-HR and Subaru XV. For now, these are the only pieces of information Mitsubishi is willing to give to the public surrounding the next-generation Lancer. As Nissan now owns a large chunk of Mitsubishi Motors, it is possible that the platform that could be used will be shared with both Nissan and Renault. Hybrids and all-wheels drive versions are a possibility as well, says Auto Express. Source: Auto Express ARTICLE BY AUTOINDUSTRIYA.COMThe Mitsubishi Xpander might be new for our market, but it's been around in Indonesia since August last year. So it's had a lot more time to make an impact over there. It also seems that it's made quite a big impression, as it was just named the country's Car of the Year. Otomotif, Indonesia's leading tabloid, bestowed the honor on Mitsubishi's MPV. It also gave the Xpander awards in two other categories: Best of the Best MPV and Best Small MPV. Since its launch, Mitsubishi's Indonesian office (MMKSI) has taken 60,000 orders for units, and is already a bestseller in its segment. Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko said: "We are very grateful to have received this award from Otomotif, which is a recognition of the wonderful reception that Xpander has been given by the people of Indonesia. Many people had a hand in this success, including our friends and business partners at MMKSI and the Indonesian government. Years of careful research went into the design of the Xpander, a modern MPV that meets the needs of Indonesia's hard-working families." Congratulations, Mitsubishi! Do you guys think the Xpander will win similar accolades in our country? ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESWith Mitsubishi establishing their brand identity through their new Dynamic Shield design, it appears they're bound to apply it to another hot-selling model in their lineup. Following the Montero Sport and the Xpander, their stalwart pickup will now receive the new face for its updated version. Thanks to a few spy photos from Paultan.org as well as a rendering from Minkara, we get an idea of how the Strada will look like with its new face. We know that the Dynamic Shield is distinguished via thin headlamps that join into an X-Shaped grill with a chrome garnish and the triple diamond emblem on the upper half. This layout then pushes the turn signals and foglight array towards the far sides of the front fascia. Judging from what we can see on these photos, the updated Strada seems to follow these design cues to a tee much like the rest of Mitsubishi's lineup. While most of the changes happen on the front end, the rear bed still clearly hints at the Strada's lines from the current model. The J-Shaped profile that splits the cab from the bed is still present, while the swooping lower profile of the bed itself lends towards making the Strada look a tad taller than it actually is. The dynamic shield face is not totally alien to the Strada, as it was originally previewed with one on the GR-HEV concept back in 2013. Somehow, the company decided on a different strategy when they unveiled the production version. Details on release dates and technical specifications have yet to be mentioned for the Strada, but considering that the current generation has been on sale since 2015, it's safe to say that the Strada is ripe for an update very soon. Sources: Paultan.org, Minkara ARTICLE BY : AUTOINDUSTRIYA.COMNo doubt one of the most anticipated arrivals this year is Mitsubishi's Xpander MPV, the somewhat replacement for the beloved Adventure. We've driven it in Japan, and we can say that it lives up to the hype. And now the wait for local ownership is almost over, as Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has announced that it is accepting pre-orders for its much-anticipated Xpander. Here are the variants and the indicative prices: GLX MT - P900,000 GLX Plus AT - P990,000 GLS AT - P1,050,000 GLS Sport AT - P1,100,000 All Xpanders are powered by a 1.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine with MIVEC tech. If you're worried about it being underpowered, for most motoring needs it's not. And believe us, even the manual variant is fun to drive. But if you're paying for the top spec variant, you'll be getting Hill Start Assist, Active Stability Control, Emergency Stop Signal, and ABS with EBD. To pre-order, go to the Xpander's website (xpander.mmpc.ph) and fill out the pre-order form. Then you have to pay P10,000 at your preferred Mitsubishi dealer to complete the pre-order. The Mitsubishi Xpander is that rare model that lives up to the hype. It's comfortable, fun to drive and (depending on your taste) stylish. Watch out for more content on this MPV soon! ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES2018 is going to be an important year for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation. Next year it will launch the Xpander MPV in our market, a seven-seater model introduced in Indonesia this year. Mitsubishi says it’s not a replacement for the outgoing Adventure, but that’s sort of the void the Xpander will be filling. Is the Xpander any good? Based on our first drive in the Japanese carmaker’s Okazaki compound, oh yes. From the moment I sat inside, I already noticed the very good driving position. My knee rested snugly against the center console, something I like to do to brace myself for long drives. It made operating the three pedals and shift knob an easy process despite the right-hand-drive configuration. Yes, this being Japan I was on the opposite side of the cockpit. This made me a little apprehensive because I haven’t driven a manual RHD car in 10 years. But the Xpander’s clutch was so forgiving and responsive at the same time. It was easy to find the biting point of the clutch, and the leather-wrapped ball-shaped shift knob was a joy to grip. That driving exercise is one example of why we like Mitsubishi so much. It didn’t treat us with kid gloves and set up a sissy driving course. We did slaloms, lane changes, and high-speed runs on a banked oval. You would think this kind of setup would reveal the flaws of a tall vehicle like the Xpander. Instead, the driving course highlighted what this new model can do. Body roll was there but kept to a minimum on the slalom. I was still getting a feel for the car in the beginning, but there was a very short learning curve. In second gear, it was easy to weave in and out of cones. Same thing with the lane changes. The stability of the Xpander is commendable. On the high-speed runs I had to ask my Japanese companion if there was a turbo in front, but it’s only a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to reach 120kph—even touching 140kph at times. Again, the Xpander felt stable and planted. And that transmission! Shifting was such fun. The Xpander is one of those vehicles you look forward to driving because you feel so involved. As an MPV I have no complaints about the cabin. Mitsubishi reps say size-wise it’s the biggest in its class—but this is in the subcompact MPV segment where the Toyota Avanza dwells. So it’s bigger than Toyota’s small MPV, but smaller than the Innova. I peeked at the third row and it looked rather small, but that’s par for the course in this category. Adults not my size should fit and be fine for short drives. We only had a brief time with the new Xpander, but it was a drive full of promise. This model is slated to arrive in our market in the first quarter of 2018. Based on what we’ve experienced, Mitsubishi looks like it has another winner in its hands. ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESWe already know the new Mitsubishi Evo (of sorts) is an electric SUV. And now we have an idea of what the e-Evolution will look like. Yep, Mitsubishi has confirmed the name of one of the finest rally reps ever is going to be stuck on the back of a plug-in crossover. The good news is that it sounds a fair bit more advanced than an Outlander PHEV, and it looks a bit more interesting too. It’s a full EV—not a hybrid—with three motors driving all four wheels. One is on the front axle, with two at the rear, and those are operated via a yaw control system. Which proves there’s some credence to the use of the Evo name. But the big story concerns the e-Evo’s artificial intelligence (AI). “An array of sensors allows the AI system to instantly read changes in road and traffic conditions, as well as the driver’s intent,” says Mitsubishi. “Seamlessly coordinating driver intent with vehicle performance, the system supports drivers of all abilities and by making it easier and safer to control the vehicle, thereby bringing the motoring experience to a new level.” If we’re understanding that correctly, Mitsubishi hopes to mimic all the clever diffs and systems of Lancer Evos old via a mix of AI witchcraft and something resembling the license modes of Gran Turismo. Perhaps it’ll project cornering lines onto the road ahead… “After building a picture of the driver’s skill level, the system constructs a training program that provides advice through voice dialogue and a large dashboard display,” the e-Evo’s press material continues. “As a result, drivers of all abilities quickly experience a vehicle that behaves the way they want it and soon they find themselves enjoying the driving experience to an even greater degree.” Yikes. We thought AI was just about cars developing a ‘brain’ that learns how cold you like the A/C. Mitsubishi sees it as a more intelligent stability control system that administers driving advice. Whether it’s a safety-conscious nanny or a Ken Block-like fellow trapped in the dashboard, we don’t yet know. Perhaps inevitably, it’s just a concept, too. We’ll see it at the Tokyo Motor Show in a couple of weeks, when we’ll have a better idea of when the car—and its intriguing tech—will arrive. ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESBoys and girls, it’s our first look at an all-new Mitsubishi Evo. A sentence that, 10 years ago, would have had the internet comments section in an immediate frenzy. There’d be debates about how much more power had been wrung out of a two-liter turbo engine, how much the rear wing had been extended by, and just how much fun we’d all have pretending to be rally drivers when we got a go in the thing. Either in real life or on a games console. This time though, it’s different. The seemingly endless battle in the '90s and '00s between fast Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos, um, ended. You can still buy an STI-badged Subaru, but its spec sheet has been stagnant for years. Fast Lancers, meanwhile, are dead and buried. The e-Evolution Concept, as Mitsubishi has named the car teased above, will be at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. We're told it mates Mitsubishi’s latest four-wheel-drive electric setup with artificial intelligence “under a low-slung, highly aerodynamic SUV Coupé shape.” Which leads us to conclude it’s a sportier, sexier, cleverer version of the really quite popular Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a car that launched as a pioneer but now finds itself increasingly surrounded by plug-in SUV rivals. Will it be a proper performance car, though? Well, you could argue those old Evos were very good at channeling new tech, and as highly turbocharged performance cars, were well ahead of the curve. Perhaps the e-Evolution’s ethos isn’t a million miles away. But does it have to be an SUV? “The e-Evolution Concept signals the start of anexciting new era that will see long-term growth and sustainable development for the brand,” says Mitsubishi. To achieve those things, it kinda has to be a crossover of some description. If that really must be the case, let’s cross all our fingers and toes it's miraculously inspired by the Mitsubishi Pajero Evo. NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made. ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESNo teasers, no shadows, no silhouettes. This is your first real look at Mitsubishi's next-generation MPV. The Japanese carmaker pulled the wraps off its upcoming seven-seater earlier today, and it's expected to make its global debut at the 2017 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show this coming August. The yet-to-be-officially-named vehicle (though some sources report it will be dubbed the 'Expander'), which the company describes as a combination of an SUV and MPV, looks near-identical to the XM crossover concept brought in for the 2016 Philippine International Motor Show. It still flaunts the signature Dynamic Shield design up front, boasts a tall ride height, and feature modern design elements all around. Mitsubishi describes the look as a fusion of "MPV lines with tough and dynamic SUV looks." Sleek, futuristic headlights flank the aforementioned grille, while large foglights emphasize the car's muscular stance. Vehicle dimensions are listed at 4,475mm x 1750mm x 1700mm (LWH). Ground clearance is a very capable 205mm. This is our first look at the interior, too. So far, it looks like occupants will be met by a light, minimalist cabin featuring a touchscreen infotainment system, physical dials, and a modern yet simple dashboard design and layout. There's some metal trim around the A/C vents, some faux wood, and plenty of storage compartments in there as well. Mitsubishi promises "class-topping" cabin space, comfortable third-row seats, and "generous luggage space." From what our sources say, this will be in the same class as the Honda Mobilio and the Suzuki Ertiga, but it will likely be the largest in this segment. No output figures yet, but the MPV/crossover will be FWD and powered by a 1.5-liter engine mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The company says we can expect low fuel consumption, and a comfortable drive thanks to a "high-strength body and optimized suspension design." More details are expected to emerge come its global debut this August. IMAGE Mitsubishi Motors ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESPlanning to buy a new family hauler sometime soon? Well, you may want to hold off for just a wee bit longer. Mitsubishi has released teaser images of its new highly-anticipated seven-seat MPV, and it looks promising. Granted, the photos you're seeing aren't much to go by. But this silhouette is our best look at the all-new vehicle yet. The release of the images come with the announcement that the model will finally make its global debut at the 25th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) this coming August. The company says that the car—described as a "small crossover MPV"—will bring "class-topping" space which can seat seven comfortably and adapt "to a wide array of cargo." "The class-leading model will combine the outstanding comfort and versatility of an MPV with the performance, strength and toughness of a Mitsubishi SUV," the carmaker said in its statement. According to sources, the vehicle will be pegged somewhere between the Toyota Innova and Avanza in terms of size, and is expected to arrive either in the fourth quarter of 2017 or early 2018. Cross your fingers. If you can recall, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines brought in the XM crossover concept for the 2016 Philippine International Motor Show. The images shown below show similar proportions and design elements, such as Mitsubishi's signature Dynamic Shield up front, muscular fenders, and aggressive fascia. By the looks of it, it has the ride height of a crossover/SUV, too. Mitsubishi says we can expect "serious SUV performance and toughness rightly expected" from the company. We hope to see this rugged new seven-seater in the Philippines sooner rather than later. ARTICLE BY : TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES
What is it? The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is more crossover than Eclipse. There’s no relevance in its taking its middle name from the Eclipse sports coupe of distant memory. Instead it’s a fairly mainstream crossover. The styling is robust in the lower half, reflecting Mitsubishi’s 4x4 heritage, but it has a more dart-like upper profile than its boxy rivals. It’s the first complete work of Tsunehiro Kunimoto since he arrived as Mitsubishi’s chief of design. He joined from Nissan three years ago. Ironically, Nissan later took a lifeline shareholding in the troubled Mitsubishi Motors, so you could call this the last pure Mitsubishi. In the future, Mitsubishi will donate PHEV and 4x4 expertise to Nissan-Renault. Traveling in the other direction will be Nissan platforms, and presumably, Nissan’s ability to operate at a profit. If you’re a student of the Mitsubishi range, the Eclipse Cross fits in size between the ASX and the Outlander. If that doesn’t seem a huge gap, be aware the next-gen ASX will shrink and the next Outlander will grow. That’ll open up more elbow room for the Eclipse Cross. The first engine is a new lightweight 1.5 turbo gasoline. Mitsubishi’s existing (if modified) 2.2 diesel will follow. We tried the 4x4 version of the turbo gasoline, which comes with a mandatory CVT auto transmission, albeit one with fake stepped modes for when you take over-ride control. The front-driver gets a manual, and the 2.2 diesel has a proper eight-speed automatic gearbox. It’s bigger inside than rivals because the wheelbase is long, taken directly from the Outlander, as is most of the suspension. It’s also versatile, helped by sliding reclining rear seats. But the bobtail does reduce trunk space. The cabin style and finish is a whole lot better than previous Mitsubishis. That of course isn’t saying much, so let’s add that it’s into the upper-middle of the rivals. Driving: What is it like on the road? The turbo gasoline engine smears its torque over a wide range, so it responds well from low down. It also sings sweetly and quietly at the top end. But annoyingly, at 4,000rpm, which is what you use a lot when pressing on, it drones annoyingly. Just driving around towns, or in gentle traffic, the CVT is smooth and sane, choosing a ratio that plays to the engine’s low-rev strengths. And yeah, we know CVTs are efficient and light. But floor it and, as they all do, it causes the engine to moan like a dying cow, abandoning correlation between speed and revs, and the response to throttle inputs is fuzzy. That makes it irksome and disconcerting to use. For driving down twisty roads, where you want predictable response through a corner, it’s entirely critical to fix it in one of the eight virtual ratios via the paddles. The steering is oddly weighted around the straight ahead, so it’s easy to drift out of your highway lane. It’s like driving in slush. Then you get to a corner or roundabout, probably too fast if you’ve not taken control of the CVT because there’s then no engine braking. So you yank the wheel and the car rolls onto the outside-front wheel, and then you get back on the throttle and there’s more CVT delay before you finally lurch your way out. But guess what. Get the entry right, hold a ratio on the paddles, turn in smoothly and matters are very different. You can feel the AWD system shuffling effort to the tires that can use it, and the chassis and steering feed some info, and the balance is fine. It’s really strange. Such a dissonance between initial impression and dynamics under stress. I can’t imagine many family-crossover buyers will ever get beyond the soggy outside to find, let alone enjoy, the resolved core. Still, anyone can appreciate a pliant ride. It’s got one, and doesn’t clang or thump over lateral ridges. It cruises through the air quietly, too. On the inside: Layout, finish, and space The Eclipse Cross carves a lot of people space from its compact footprint. You sit in the usual throne-like crossover attitude up front. Out back, there’s top-class leg room, and foot space under the front seats. Enough headroom too (just), but then you couldn’t expect more when you see the roof-line. Open up the tailgate and the reason becomes clear. The trunk isn’t very big. Not fore-to-aft because the rear seats are set well back, nor indeed top-to-bottom because the luggage blind is set low down so you can see out of the spilt rear window. There’s an answer. You can slide the back seat bench forward, either one-third, two-thirds or all of it. This adds trunk space, although this leaves endless possibilities for small clutter to disappear into the seat sliding mechanism, never to be seen again. The rolled up blind stores under the floor, handily. The strongly three-dimensional dashboard emerges at you in a series of tiers, like the architecture of a sports stadium. It looks good, though does force some compromises, like hiding the climate controls in a deep dark recess. Still, at least they are proper controls, not virtual ones lost behind layers of screen menus. Some of the other switchgear is scattered around with little apparent clarity or logic. By the time you’ve fumbled around and found the lane departure or collision warning system switches, you might have already had the collision. The dials and screens are clear enough, and top versions have a head-up display. Infotainment is controlled by a touchscreen or well-designed trackpad controller down in the center console. Mirroring of Apple or Android phones is standard, just to add to the user-friendliness. Owning: Running costs and reliability The gasoline FWD manual is officially rated at 15km/L. The 4x4 auto is barely worse, at 14.3km/L. There’s usually a bigger gap between FWD and 4WD, so that’s a demonstration of the efficiency of the loathsome CVT. Sorry. Prices haven’t been fixed as we write. But it won’t be bargain-basement. It’s built in yen, so currency isn’t favorable. Neither, as we write this, have insurance, or NCAP ratings been fixed. Check back later. Standard or optional are most of the safety and driver-assist features you’d expect: collision warning, active cruise including stop-and-go, blind-sport warning with cross-traffic assist, and all-round parking cameras. It’s only lane-departure warning, though, not lane-keeping assistance. The verdict It's a comfy, versatile crossover that looks distinctive enough to be recognizable in this crazily crowded market. Better to drive than the first impression suggests, but in the 4x4 you’ve got to fight your way past an obstructive CVT. Article by TopGear Philippines
Last year, Mitsubishi revealed their XM crossover-MPV concept at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. The automaker also said that they are set to put it into production by October 2017. In a recent development, it appears that Mitsubishi has chosen a name for their newest car.
In a report by Indonesian publication KompasOtomotif, the road going XM may be called Expander. The publication also said that there will be nine variants to choose from once it debuts. As to what variants it will be, KompasOtomotif did not mention these. Aside from the variants, the report also stated that the Expander will be exported to Europe but did not say if ASEAN countries will also get the crossover-MPV. According to Paul Tan, Mitsubishi has declined to make a comment regarding the name, as well as the variants. The publication also interviewed Osamu Iwaba, sales and marketing director of Mitsubishi Indonesia. In their story, Iwaba said that their crossover-MPV is set to compete in the “Low MPV” class, better known as the B-segment MPV. Examples of cars in this segment are the Toyota Avanza, Honda Mobilio and the Suzuki Ertiga so one can expect seven seats from the Mitsubishi. In the past, the automaker did confirm that the the production version of their concept will retain a tall ride height. With that, it might just be aimed squarely at the Honda BR-V as well. When the tentatively-named Expander debuts later this year, it is possible to expect design cues lifted from the XM concept. That concept featured box-flared arches, slim headlights, L-shaped tail lights and the marque's signature 'Dynamic Shield' front fascia. Source: KompasOtomotif via Paul Tan The Manila International Auto Show might be over for the year, but the new cars just keep on coming. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) has just revealed the face-lifted ASX for 2017.
The sporty crossover now looks even more athletic, thanks to a redesigned front fascia based on the Japanese carmaker's signature Dynamic Shield Concept. Also new are the two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, an inch bigger from before, paired to new wheel arc mouldings. Up top is a new fin-type antenna. The top-of-the-line GSR variant gets a panoramic glass roof with LED illumination and HID headlamps. Mounted on the all-black dashboard is a touchscreen display that's slightly bigger at 6.75in. Both variants come with magnesium alloy paddle shifters. The GLS has black high-grade fabric seats while the GSR gets black leather, and both come with red stitching. The GSR variant also gets flashy aluminum pedals for that street-racer vibe. Under the hood is the same zippy 2.0-liter MIVEC engine (148hp and 197 Nm) from the pre-facelift version, mated to a six-speed CVT. The color options are: Sapporo Silver, Sonic Blue, Amazon Red, Virgil Gray, Biscuit White, and Carbon Black. Prices for the new ASX stand at P1.195 million for the GLS variant and P1.295 million for the GSR. Judging by the official photo from MMPC, the new version of its underrated crossover is quite the looker. Anyone reserving a unit? Filipinos love the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Whenever any news breaks about this much-praised midsize SUV, we're all ears. So it was only natural that we got curious when a Montero Sport (sold in Thailand as the Pajero Sport) was onstage at the Mitsubishi display during the 2017 Bangkok International Motor Show. The variant on display is billed as the 'New Pajero Sport 2WD' and it's got an eight-speed automatic transmission.
You might be asking yourself, so what? Our market already has 2WD variants with eight-speed gearboxes. What's the point? Well, this one's got safety features that ours doesn't. Aside from forward collision mitigation system and blind spot warning (which are available here on higher-spec models but not the 2WD variants), the new Thai-spec Montero Sport has adaptive cruise control, which uses a radar to adjust your cruising speed according to your surroundings. A surround multi-view monitor, meanwhile, gives you a bird's eye view of your vehicle as you park. The most interesting safety tech on this new variant is something called the Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System. This feature detects barriers in front or behind the vehicle. In case there's something in your way and the accelerator is pressed "quickly and aggressively," the system immediately cuts power from the engine to prevent an accident. Hmm, we could think of a few uses for that... Do you guys want to see this 'safer' Montero Sport in the Philippines? It's beginning to look like crossovers are the in thing at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. First, it was Subaru teasing us with the all-new XV. Now, Mitsubishi has announced it will be fielding its own challenger at the event: a completely new compact SUV model.
The Japanese carmaker has yet to reveal the vehicle's name. But if you've been following the online automotive rumor mill, chances are you're very excited. Buzz surrounding the upcoming car indicate it will carry the Eclipse nameplate. Yes, the Eclipse will become a crossover—well, at least if rumors hold true. Exciting stuff, but for now let's stick to what we know for sure. Mitsubishi says the compact SUV will be added to the company's crossover lineup along with the ASX, the Outlander and the Outlander PHEV. The lone image released with the announcement show the vehicle in red, draped in shadows. Here we see sleek, swept-back headlights, long taillights which push up toward the overhanging roof out back, and a very sporty silhouette. It's a sharp first impression, one which the company likens to a "coupe SUV" shape which conveys the image of a "stocky track athlete". Frankly, we like it. But the question remains: is this, or is this not the new Eclipse? Reactions to a potential Eclipse crossover have ranged from ecstatic to downright pissed, with some saying the move is akin to sacrilege. While all this hoopla is still premature, we do sort of get the sentiment. The last Eclipse to come out of a factory was way back in 2011, capping off a more than 20-year run which saw over 900,000 of them produced. Does the moniker's return in the form of a crossover sound good to you? Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) is turning its game up a notch with the introduction of a new Strada variant. Interested pickup buyers can now get their hands on a new Strada GLS 2WD.
The new variant comes with a 2.4-liter 4N15 Clean Diesel MIVEC engine that produces 178hp and 430Nm. It's paired to either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic transmission with sport mode. The exterior features a new dark chrome grille and side step plate. Also in chrome are the power side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals. Up front are foglamp-integrated daytime running lights, complemented by a set of foglamps in the rear. Completing the package are 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the new Strada's seats are lined in high-grade black fabric. Its four-spoke steering wheel comes wrapped in leather and is mounted with audio and cruise control buttons. The AT variant's tiller also comes with magnesium paddle shifters. Safety features include ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body construction. The new Strada GLS 2WD variant is now available at all authorized Mitsubishi dealerships. The manual variant costs P1,215,000, while the automatic version will set you back P1,295,000. Price-wise, that places it above all the GL and GLX options, and below the 4WD GLS and GT-V variants. Who's reserving a unit? A third party investigating body tapped by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has released the results of its investigation on the alleged sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) of Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2010-2015 models. HORIBA MIRA Ltd, an automotive engineering company based in the United Kingdom, has found no technical cause that explains SUA incidents involving sudden unintended acceleration together with perceived inability to stop the vehicle.
MMC, on its own, took the initiative to contract HORIBA MIRA to remove doubts on the road worthiness of Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2010-2015 models. HORIBA MIRA started its investigation in June 2016 and released its formal findings in September 2016, which states: “The investigation has found only one plausible root cause for sudden unintended acceleration, and inability to stop the Mitsubishi Montero Sport vehicle. Our hypothesis is that these incidents were caused by the driver mistakenly applying the accelerator, believing that they were pressing the brake pedal. “Other root cause hypotheses have been excluded because they would require simultaneous, but temporary, malfunction of both the engine control and the vehicle braking system without fault conditions being logged by any vehicle systems and DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Code) being recorded. Since these are independent systems, the possibility of simultaneous failure is extremely low. “There are other potential causes for undemanded acceleration that have not been ruled out by the investigation, but none of these would affect the braking system. If such a failure occurred, the driver would still have the opportunity to control the vehicle using the brakes or by disengaging the transmission. A suite of EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) screening tests were performed on a vehicle that had previously been involved in a SUA claim. The results showed that the vehicle is extremely resilient at very high test levels of EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). … No adverse behaviour was observed during testing with levels corresponding to EU regulations and ISO standards.” With the third party investigation now complete, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) once again assures the public that the previous generation Montero Sport model (2010-2015) is neither defective nor unsafe to use. MMPC President and CEO Mr. Yoshiaki Kato commented: “We are very much pleased on the outcome of the results of HORIBA MIRA investigation. The methodical evaluation conducted by HORIBA MIRA, which found no irregularities in the function and design of vehicle, is an affirmation of our earlier statement that there is nothing wrong with the Montero Sport causing SUA. We hope that the results of the investigation, will finally put an end to the SUA issue on the Montero Sport.’’ MMPC turned over the complete results of HORIBA MIRA evaluation report to DTI for study and reference. The public may also access the full report of HORIBA MIRA here http://mmpc.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/horiba-mira-report-montero-sua-concern-investigation.pdf |
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