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Mitsubishi Motors will have a number of new cars - including some pointers to its future product - on its Melbourne Motor Show Stand.
Undoubtedly the vehicle to attract most interest will be the recently released Magna AWD. Developed locally, the AWD range will come in a number of model variants, and will be sold alongside the existing 2WD range of Magna and Verada models.
Mitsubishi has received a strong reaction to the range as the first locally manufactured AWD full-size sedan, and provides the carmaker with a unique selling feature over its other Australian rivals.
Also on the stand will be Mitsubishi's answer to the burgeoning small 4WD wagon market - the Outlander.
The Outlander has an aggressive modern front styling, and its torquey, but economical four cylinder engine, all-time AWD and flexible interior packaging is sure to make it a favourite with young families who want the looks, image, driving pleasure, and family flexibility.
The car's interior has a modern retro feel about it, and the step-through front console area will find favour with its buyers.
Outlander will come in two specification levels and its pricing will be competitive with the other entrants in that market segment when it is released.
A pointer to Mitsubishi's new styling designs will be evident with the showing of the CZ2 concept car. Designed by Olivier Boulay, Mitsubishi's new global head of design, the car is a modern, space efficient package, and is hoped that a production version of the car might be seen in Australia in the next few years.
Apart from the featured cars Mitsubishi's stand will also display the majority of the marque's popular range, including a wild yellow version of the hot performance Ralliart Magna.
Interested showgoers and vehicle enthusiasts will be able to see Pajero, Challenger, Magna, Verada, the newly released CG Lancer ES sedan, Lancer coupe, Mirage and Triton on the stand.
Magna AWD on Display at Melbourne Motorshow
Mitsubishi Motors has won the race to be the first Australian manufacturer to release its production AWD. It will feature its Magna AWD sedan at the Melbourne Motor Show when it opens to the public on Friday, February 28.
The car was developed locally by Mitsubishi's engineers. They took a luxury Japanese AWD Diamante, added some vital elements from the famed Lancer Evolution, and mated it to the local Magna to produce a car that is suited to Australian conditions. They mated the silky Australian-made 3.5 litre V6 engine and local suspension to the Japanese AWD system, and came up with an Australian first - a locally produced large AWD sedan.
The engine, which develops 154kW of power for the Magna and Verada AWDs and 159kW for the Sports AWD, is mated to Mitsubishi's acclaimed five-speed intelligent INVECS II automatic transmission with tiptronic-style Sports Mode' manual mode.
There were many engineering challenges to overcome, but with typical Australian doggedness and ingenuity they have developed a car that will be brought to market after a quite short development time.
MMAL's President and CEO, Mr Tom Phillips, said that all Australians should be proud of what the engineers have been able to achieve in such a short time.
"Mitsubishi's Australian engineers are amongst the best in the world when it comes to a can do' attitude, and finding ingenious ways to overcome difficulties," Mr Phillips said.
"There were many challenges to overcome. They tackled each one of them head on, and finished up with a car that Australian motorists will say will set the benchmark for safety and traction in a large, locally produced sedan.
"It is this attitude that was recognised by our parent company when they agreed to establish one of only four global Mitsubishi R&D centres in Adelaide, " he said.
The AWD comes in three model specifications - the Magna AWD, the Magna Sports AWD and the Verada AWD. Pricing is $37,490 for Magna AWD, $43,290 for Sports AWD, and $46,460 for Verada AWD.
Mitsubishi Shows Off its New Off-Roader
The public will have the opportunity for a good look at Outlander, Mitsubishi's newly released entrant in the burgeoning small AWD market, when the Melbourne Motor Show opens on February 28.
The car, known in Japan as Airtrek, and the USA as Outlander, has been acclaimed as a stylish, modern off-roader that is more than capable when the mud starts to fly.
Powered by a torquey, but economical, four-cylinder engine and a full-time AWD system, the Outlander comes with Mitsubishi's acclaimed INVECS II "intelligent" four-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic-style Sports Mode' manual mode. It has a bold, aggressive front end that picks up the new Mitsubishi styling cues finding their way into the marque's future models. Inside, it is has a modern retro feel that is appealing to potential owners.
Outlander competes in the extremely competitive Small All Terrain market segment, and market research conducted in Australia so far shows that consumers have been eagerly awaiting its launch because of Mitsubishi's enviable reputation for producing high-tech, class-leading AWD and 4WD vehicles.
In this instance, Outlander is car-like to drive, easily manoeuvred in urban and country driving situations, and will appeal to young families because of its style, driving enjoyment, off road refinement, interior packaging and flexibility. It is the ideal car to take a child and their friend to sport, or school, while at the same time having the ability and credibility to go bush' on the weekend. The slightly raised driving position will find favour with female drivers, as it gives a better view of the road when driving in traffic.
Outlander will come in two specification levels, the LS and the luxury XLS. Extensively featured, the entry model LS comes with dual airbags, air conditioning, radio/single CD audio system, power windows and mirrors, and is priced at $31,990. The luxurious XLS adds alloy wheels, roof rails, electric sunroof, 6-CD stacker, white instrumentation, ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and side airbags to the already impressive standard features. It is priced at $37,490.
Outlander's newly launched television campaign continues Mitsubishi's use of catchy music, using the Violent Femmes' song "Blister in the Sun."
CZ2 Concept Car Points Way to the Future
Mitsubishi's smart CZ2 concept car that will be on display at the Melbourne Motor Show is a guide to the carmakers intended future styling.
One of the first styling exercises of Olivier Boulay, Mitsubishi's new global head of design, the car features twin nostrils at the front, with a bold,chrome Three Diamonds symbol featured on the dividing centre-piece. The general design is a long wheelbase, rakish, cab-forward design, with distinctive front light clusters.
The interior upright seating creates a comfortable, relaxing interior for four adults, while the waveform dash appears to wrap around the front occupants. The front seat is a comfortable bench type.
The roof uses a quartered switchable light control glass roof that allows the four occupants to individually adjust the light reaching them. A button on the ignition key switches on door handle lighting.
CZ2 also boasts a number of clever stowage ideas, including small-item door trim bags that can be removed for use outside the car, and a lunch box in the luggage compartment.
Other features include the gearshift, climate control and in-car entertainment control grouped together in a central control panel. The car also boasts an MP3 docking station, LCD monitor giving access to the internet and e-mail, and optic fibre head and tail lamps.
Powered by a 1.3 litre DOHC engine with variable valve timing, mated to a continuously variable transmission, CZ2 delivers the kind of feel-good performance that complements the concept of the stylish compact design. Gear shifting is undertaken by using buttons on the steering wheel.
CZ2 has an overall length of 3830mm, width of 1695mm, and height of 1475mm. Its wheelbase is 2500mm.
Hailed as a near production concept car CZ2 could find its way to Australia in the next few years.
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