Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X SE shows its stuff in this promo vid
Mitsubishi increases Triton towing capacity to three tonnes
July 22nd, 2010 by Car and SUV
Mitsubishi’s 4WD Triton truck has just been upgraded to a three tonne braked towing capacity across the range.
Improvements to the Triton range include a strengthened chassis to facilitate the new tow weight and a new high-efficiency air filter with pre-filter to improve cabin air quality on dusty roads.
“Triton’s new braked tow rating beats the segment leader by 20%,” said MMNZ head of sales and marketing strategy Daniel Cook. “That is a significant margin and, stacked with safety features that gain a four-star ANCAP rating, Triton is fast becoming the best spec’ed, best value 4WD ute in the NZ market.”
To improve ride, the mid-range 4WD GLX double cab gains the premium GLS Sport suspension package and a wider alloy wheel set with 245/70 R16 tyres. To showcase the new wheels, body colour guards give the GLX a high-end appearance.
“4WD GLX has been a very popular model for us,” said Mr Cook. “It has received a lot of interest and success in the fleet market where customers are looking for a value-priced ute with full safety specifications. Large organisations that work in rural areas such as PGG Wrightson and the NZ Fire Service have rigorously tested 4WD utes for their fleets and all have agreed Triton is the best of the bunch.” Read the rest of this entry »
More refined 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer arriving in NZ next month
July 20th, 2010 by Car and SUV
The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer is due in New Zealand next month and will be 20% quieter than its predecessor.
“Significant upgrades to insulation have made a very noticeable difference to sound intrusion,” said MMNZ head of sales and marketing strategy Daniel Cook. “The improvements are in response to feedback from our customers and will have a direct improvement on occupant comfort.”
Together with the sound reduction, the four-strong Lancer model range gains mechanical brake assist, which aids the driver in heavy braking situations, and automatic driver’s window function. A further useful introduction is the programmable welcome home exterior lighting, which allows the driving lights to remain on for 30 seconds while exiting the vehicle.
All but the sports orientated VRX have received further refinements to suspension springs and dampers for a more comfortable ride. VR and VRX have a revised one-touch keyless entry system and larger side air dams give both variants a sportier look. VRX also receives a stereo USB port for external music players.
“Lancer is a cornerstone model for us and has many loyal customers,” said Mr Cook. “These improvements will certainly make their decision to purchase easier and combined with our industry-leading 10/5 Diamond Advantage New Car Warranty with five years roadside assist, it’s a very persuasive package.”
The 10/5 Diamond Advantage New Car Warranty provides ten years or 160,000km — which ever comes first – cover on the drive train and five years or 130,000km cover on the whole vehicle.
Pricing for the 2011 Lancer range remains the same.
Lancer Pricing
2.0 ES Manual $27,990
2.0 ES CVT Auto $29,990
2.0 SX CVT Auto $32,500
2.0 VR CVT Auto $35,500
2.4 VRX Manual $38,500
2.4 VRX CVT Auto $39,990
- Lancer sedan and hatch hold the same RRP for each respective variant
Click here to read a Car and SUV review of the Mitsubishi Lancer ES
Click here to read a Car and SUV review of the Mitsubishi Lancer VRX
Mitsubishi Lancer ES (2010) – Road Test
May 14th, 2010 by Car and SUV
There’s more than one way to create temptation among potential car customers. You can offer more features for the same price or you can tempt by offering less for a discounted price. At Car and SUV we often review high-spec, bells and whistles cars but for this road test that’s all changed and we got some seat time in the cut-price cruiser Mitsubishi Lancer ES. The ES is Mitsubishi’s base-model Lancer that has achieved an attractive price point that will give it strong appeal to fleet customers and budget conscious consumers alike. But creating true temptation is about more than saving money, especially in the hard-fought compact 
sedan segment. We spent a week with the Lancer ES to uncover its allure.
In terms of price the Lancer ES is scalpel sharp at undercutting its direct Japanese competition. Costing $27,990 for the manual and $29,990 for the CVT auto, the base spec Lancer is $3-5k cheaper than its rivals. The lowest model Honda Civic ($33,800) and Subaru Impreza ($32,990) can’t match the Lancer ES, while the Mazda3 ($30,895) comes closest but only in hatch form. You would have to go Korean and consider the Kia Cerato LX with its $28,990 price as the specification is higher and the Cerato is arguably as good looking.
Mitsubishi giving Peugeot/Citroen ASX platform
April 30th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroën have announced today that the parties have come to an agreement to start a new collaborative project regarding a compact SUV.
This agreement provides for the development and adaptation for both the Peugeot and Citroën marques of a compact SUV, based on an existing Mitsubishi platform.
Launched early 2012 in Europe, these new compact SUVs will have specific designs for Peugeot and Citroën while sharing many components with the Mitsubishi vehicle, named RVR in Japan and ASX here in NZ.
These vehicles will be available in both four- and two-wheel drive. The projected volume for Peugeot and Citroën will reach 50,000 units per year for both brands.
Under the agreement, PSA Peugeot Citroën will use its 1.6 HDi diesel engine snatched from the parts bin for its own models. CO2 emissions with this engine will be particularly low for this type of vehicle, targeting, for the two-wheel drive version, 123g CO2 / km and less than 4.7 litres per 100km fuel economy.
For PSA Peugeot Citroën, the new vehicles will expand the ranges of both Peugeot and Citroën and attract new customers in a market segment they believe will grow worldwide by almost 60% by 2015.
For Mitsubishi Motors, the additional volume will enable it to bolster production of this platform.
This is the 4th cooperative project between the two partners, after the SUV Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 4007 and Citroën C-Crosser agreement in 2005, the construction of a joint plant in Russia that has just been inaugurated, and the European launch in late 2010 of the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-zero electric vehicles, based on MMC’s Japanese i-MiEV model.
To read a Car and SUV road test of the Mitsubishi Outlander, click here.
To read a Car and SUV road test of the Peugeot 4007, click here.
Gallery
Mitsubishi Triton GLS (2010) – Road Test
March 26th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Talkback radio is usually the domain of the lonely and sometimes angry, but it is still a system with its own merits. While a radio audience is generally passive, talkback gives listeners the chance to not just stress an opinion but also actively change the landscape of the show. Radio may seem a far cry from the NZ utility vehicle market but it’s the talkback dialogue between Mitsubishi and its customers that has resulted in some vital changes to the facelifted Triton ute. To check the results of this mid-cycle refresh, long time listeners but first time drivers Car and SUV dialled up a new 2010 Triton GLS and took a long drive.
The biggest news for the updated Triton is lying under the bonnet where the previous 3.2-litre diesel engine has been replaced with a 
2.5-litre unit for all the 4WD models. This may at first seem an odd response to customers wanting more grunt but the smaller diesel engine increases power 11% to 131kW and torque is up 17% to 400Nm in manual form. With the automatic transmission torque is rated at 356Nm. This increase is made possible by a fresh design to the engine’s internals and a hard-boosting variable geometry turbocharger.
Mitsubishi Outlander VR (2010) – Road Test
March 17th, 2010 by Car and SUV
For its first generation Mitsubishi’s compact/medium crossover was known as the Airtek, but that name didn’t stick and by its second generation was dropped. Its replacement was equally unique, part highlander, part outlaw, the ‘Outlander’ nameplate was introduced. Like the adventurous moniker would suggest the Outlander was capable of reaching higher ground regular cars couldn’t while still having enough pace to easily enable law-breaking speeds. Late last year the Outlander had a mid-cycle facelift and swaggered back into town with new styling, engine tweaks and a few new tricks. Car and SUV saddled up with the reworked Outlander to see what’s new and check it still had the goods to be NZ’s best selling medium SUVs.
While the upgrades are deeper than a new front end, that’s where the most noticeable change exists. The new ‘jet fighter’ front grille is robbed off the Lancer and although you couldn’t call it pretty, it gives the Outlander a purposeful, staunch presence. Other exterior updates include a new bonnet with character lines that lead into the grille, colour-coded door mirrors, side-sills and a new rear bumper. Our VR model test vehicle was finished off with silver integrated roof rails, front fog lamps and smart 18-inch alloys. Overall, the Outlander is a handsome SUV, it makes use a fairly standard boxy shape but the upgrades have helped release individuality from those confines.
Mitsubishi to shut down Ralliart
March 12th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Ralliart the in-house tuning company responsible for handling both rally and off-road tuning for Mitsubishi has announced it will be shutting up shop. On April 1, 2010 Ralliart will close down after 27 years in business.
In an open letter to his customers, Ralliart president Masao Taguchi stated that his firm was just another victim of the economic downturn.
The company will no longer offer their technical support plan to motorsport customers and its catalogue of aftermarket tuning parts has been axed. Only production of FIA VO Ralliart items will remain, but that will now be taken care of directly by Mitsubishi. Availability of models like the Lancer Ralliart (pictured) here in NZ should remain unchanged.
“We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers,” Taguchi said in an interview.
Ralliart was established in April, 1984, and since than it has become well known in the world of motorsport. Ralliart played a big part in the development of the Mitsubishi Evo over the years.