Mitsubishi Australia will discontinue the TMR version of the 380 and focus on other products such as the Evolution series.
Mitsubishi has axed plans to put the hot supercharged TMR version of its 380 into production. The performance version of the 380, the concept of which made its debut at the Sydney motor show last year, will not be produced because Mitsubishi says it could not justify the big price tag.
Mitsubishi Australia president and CEO Robert McEniry says while the project was close to his heart, realistically, once put through Australian Design Requirements, it would have to carry a price tag "north of $55,000, close to $60,000."
McEniry also says if the TMR 380 went ahead, its launch would clash with the new Evolution X, to be revealed overseas later this year, but not arriving here until early next year.
But if a customer wants one the company could put them in touch with Team Mitsubishi Ralliart's Alan Heaphy and get one built, McEniry says. He also announced that the next 380 replacement model — to be introduced in 2011 — will come under the Japanese parent company and will not be funded by Mitsubishi Australia.
“It won't be unique in the sense it's fully engineered and developed in Australia,” he says. Fine-tuning aspects such as suspension are likely to take place here, he adds.
Mitsubishi spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says the development of the 380 is in the formative stages. It's too early to determine if the new model will continue to be built at the Adelaide plant, as talks with Mitsubishi Motors Corp have yet to take place.
Sales figures of the 380 are down, with 5518 sold for the year to date, compared with the 6745 sales for the same period last year. Just 877 of the 380s sold last month. McEniry says Mitsubishi anticipated the drop following the launch of the Holden Commodore and Toyota Aurion.
Mitsubishi is still running at the same production rate as last year, about 10,000 a year.
A new Series III 380 will be revealed later this month. And while sales may be down, other products in the Mitsubishi line-up are on the rise.
“We're no longer just the Magna or 380 car company, we have a full range of products starting to build the brand,” McEniry says. Overall sales this year have improved by 17 per cent through the first five months, with the Lancer and Outlander doing the best job. Colt sales in June were up 70 per cent over last June, with 438 sold.
“The Colt has been a focus for us over the past 12 months. The Colt is the fastest-growing car in the light segment,” McEniry says.
The Lancer, which is in run-out mode and is due to be updated in October, has also increased steadily from last year with 9401 sales this year compared to the 7051 sales in 2006.
McEniry says the Ralliart brand is also something to keep an eye on. There will be two versions of the next Evolution, a boy racer and one more luxurious, arriving here next year. It will be followed by a Ralliart version of the new Lancer.
