GO on the ROAD, in a Mitsubishi Mini
BEIJING — Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is developing a low-cost world car that will go on sale in 2010 and be based on a platform for the so-called mini cars popular in Japan.
President Osamu Masuko outlined the new car Sunday at the Beijing motor show, saying it would be initially geared toward Europe, China or Southeast Asia.
The idea is to offer a car that can serve as a mini in Japan and a subcompact overseas.
Japanese mini cars are limited by law to having engines no bigger than 660cc and dimensions no more than 11.2 feet long and 5 feet wide. The planned car would ride on an all-new mini platform, but swap in a larger, likely 1-liter, engine for overseas markets.
Mini cars are wildly popular in Japan, thanks to government tax breaks, low price tags and excellent fuel efficiency. They account for about a third of all new cars sold there.
But Masuko wants to build more flexibility into the design so they can be sold outside Japan.
” Mini cars are a weakness in one way, because unique area strategy cars are no longer valid,” Masuko said. ” We can make that a strength if we can use it as a base for a worldwide model.”
Details on production volume are still under consideration, Masuko said.
Mitsubishi’s leading subcompact is the Colt. But the new model will be grade smaller, and compare with the company’s i mini car. Like the i, it is envisioned as rear-wheel drive.
Masuko said it will likely be built near the markets where it is sold.
Via Auto News (subscription required)