Mitsubishi Releases UK Pricing for New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, Matches Diesel Model OTRs

Just ahead of its UK launch in showrooms this May, Mitsubishi has placed a price tag on thenew Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) that starts from £28,249 for the base GX3h trim, including a £5,000 government subsidy.

Mitsubishi is keen to point out that the entry price is the same as the Outlander diesel GX3 auto adding that, with CO2 emissions of 44g/km, the PHEV is exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

The Japanese firm offers two more trim grades for the Outlander PHEV, the GX4h priced at £32,899 and GX4hs which is £34,999 (after the grant). Mitsubishi says that both models demand a £1,000 premium over than their diesel equivalents, not because of their hybrid powertrain, but due to added specification.

Power for the Outlander PHEV comes from a hybrid system that includes a 2.0-liter petrol engine up front along with a pair of 80hp electric motors (one for each axle) and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. The combined output is around 220-horses with the system offering three drive modes, dubbed EV (pure electric drive), Series Hybrid (the petrol unit powers the electric motors) and Parallel Hybrid (the petrol engine provides most of the motive power).

Mitsubishi says that in pure electric mode, the Outlander PHEV can travel up to 32.5 miles (52 km) at speeds of up to 75mph (121 km/h). With the combined use of the internal combustion engine and the electric motors, the PHEV returns up to 148mpg UK (123.2 mpg US or 1.9l/100km).

However, Mitsubishi states: "Unlike non-hybrid vehicles, it is hard to predict what MPG the vehicle will return in real life. A lot depends on journey length and speed – for instance, for the average daily commute of 25 miles most people will achieve much higher than 148mpg. For longer journeys at higher speeds it may achieve less than 148mpg."

In base GX3h trim, the Outlander comes equipped with 7 airbags, 18-inch wheels, cruise control, dual-zone a/c, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth, and electric folding and heater mirrors.

The GX4h adds a sat-nav with a 7-inch display, heated front seats, leather upholstery, parking camera, DAB radio, power tailgate and electric sunroof, while the top GX4hs gains Adaptive cruise control, Forward collision mitigation system and Lane departure warning.

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Mitsubishi's New 2014 Mirage Small Hatch Priced from $12,995

Ailing Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi is giving the small car segment in the U.S. another go after the all-electric i-MiEV, this time, with the more conventional Mirage.

The five-door hatchback will have a starting MSRP of $12,995 for the base, manual-gearbox DE model, rising to $16.095 for the CVT-equipped ES version with navigation. All prices exclude a destination and handling fee of $725 for 48 U.S. states, and $920 for Alaska and Hawaii.

That's $2,400 less than the Ford Fiesta S Hatch (and $1,800 less than the Fiesta S Sedan, which has a lower starting price), but the Blue Oval hatchback is notably bigger at 159.7 inches long, 67.8 inches wide and 58.1 inches tall, compared to the Mirage at 148.8 inches (3,779mm) long, 65.6 inches (1,666mm) wide and 59.1 inches (1,501mm) tall.

The Ford also comes with a bigger and more powerful engine (120hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder) than the Mitsubishi model that makes do with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit delivering 74hp and 74 lb.-ft. of torque, with gearbox options including a 5-speed manual and a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), both turning the front wheels.

On the positive side, Mitsubishi says the Mirage is "the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid gasoline-powered vehicle available in America with an EPA rated fuel economy of 44 mpg highway" for CVT-equipped models that also return 37 mpg city and 40 mpg combined. The manual versions deliver an EPA fuel economy rating of 34 mpg city/42 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.

Standard safety features on all trim levels include seven airbags and Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL), while the base DE variant comes with automatic climate control, keyless entry with panic alarm, auto-off halogen headlights and rear heater floor ducts.

For $1,200 more, the ES model adds Mitsubishi's FAST (Free-hand Advanced Security Transmitter)-key passive entry, One-Touch Start/Stop (OSS) engine button, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, 14-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, fog lamps and silver interior accent trim.

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New Mitsubishi Outlander and Lancer EVO X Assume Safety Car Role at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Mitsubishi is showing that it still has a few drops of racing fuel in its tank –or so to speak, as it will supply the official safety vehicles, in addition to participating in this year’s 91st running of the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), which will be held on June 30.

An appropriately dressed and equipped version of the all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander crossover will be the “Official Safety Vehicle” and it doesn't look half bad, to be honest, in this suit. The SUV will be accompanied by the brand's staple sports car Lancer Evolution X as a supplemental safety vehicle (you know, if Outlander fails for any reason…).

According to Mitsubishi, both safety cars were built specifically for the race in collaboration with several partners such as AEM, BBS USA, Cobb Tuning, DC Sports, Kenwood USA Corporation, and Muellerized Suspension Tuning.

Mitsubishi will also be present in the climb with the electric-powered prototype racing car MiEV Evolution II, which will be driven by two-time Dakar Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and six-time Pikes Peak overall motorcycle champion and 2002 SCORE International off-road series champion, Greg Tracy.

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Mitsubishi Releases New eK Wagon and eK Custom Minis in Japan

Small or so-called "Kei" cars remain popular in Japan and one of the most successful brands in the category is Mitsubishi that has launched the third generation of its eK series, the name of which stands for "excellent Keijidōsha", or "excellent minicar". According to Mitsubishi, the previous version of the eK sold more than 750,000 units in Japan from 2006 through 2012.

The new eK is offered in two flavors, the morefeminine Wagon and the sportier and more masculine (if you can use that term for a kei car) Custom, with the main visual differences being the front end designs plus the body and interior trims.

The boxy-shaped minicar from Mitsubishi is 3,395mm (133.7 inches) long, 1,475mm (58.1 inches) wide and 1,620mm (63.4 inches) tall, riding on a 2,430mm (95.7 inches) wheelbase.

For its motivation, the eK series utilizes a 657cc (0.7-liter) three-cylinder gasoline engine available in (49hp / 50PS) naturally-aspirated and (59hp / 60PS) turbocharged forms paired to a CVT, driving either the front or all-four wheels. The eK employs Mitsubishi's Auto Stop & Go idle-stop system and other fuel economy technologies to return a fuel consumption as low as 29.2km/l, equal to 3.4l/100km, 68.7mpg US and 82/5mpg UK.

The eK Wagon and eK Custom's suggested retail prices range from ¥1,050,000 to ¥1,335,000 (US$10,600-US$13,500) and from ¥1,269,000 to ¥1,546,000 (US$12,800-US$15,600) respectively.

Nissan will also sell re-badged version of the Mitsubishi eK as part of a wider agreement between the two companies.

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Nissan and Mitsubishi Reveal a Quadruple of Jointly Developed Minicars for Japan

Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi have unveiled their jointly developed minicar quadruplets, which were created exclusively for the local market. The tall, five-door hatchbacks will go on sale in Japan in June this year under the following names: Nissan DAYZ and DAYZ Highway STAR, and Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Custom.

The names of the cars along with the sales date and the first photos are the only pieces of the puzzle released by the two companies, with further details to be announced later in the year.

"The product planning and development of the new models was conducted by NMKV Co., Ltd., a joint venture formed by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors to develop minicars for the Japanese market," said the two automakers in a joint statement.

After the presentation of the four minicar models, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors will finish the development of a second new minicar series, described as a "super height" (tall) wagon, which is slated for launch early next year.

The two minicar projects are part of a wider framework between Nissan and Mitsubishi signed back in 2010 and which has already produced cars like the Mitsubishi Proudia and Dignity, which are based on the Infiniti M and the China-market Infiniti M35hL LWB (known as the new Nissan Cima in Japan) respectively.

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