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It looks like a boiled egg on roller skates but that hasn't stopped the Mitsubishi “i” selling up a storm wherever it has gone on sale.
Now Mitsubishi Australia has added its name to the list of countries hoping to sell the funky five-door micro-hatch.
The Mitsubishi “i” has been on sale in Japan for more than a year, where more than 35,000 cars sold last year and it won a Japanese car of the year award.
It has just gone on sale in Britain and Mitsubishi Australia president and chief executive Robert McEniry has made no secret of his desire to get it into Mitsubishi showrooms here.
It previewed the “i” at last year's Melbourne Motor Show and received positive feedback.
Given the surge in light-car sales Mitsubishi reckons it could position the “i” below the $15,990 Colt.
McEniry says the company is still waiting for a 'wide body' version with side-impact beams so it can pass Australia Design Rules.
The wide-bodied “i” is expected to be launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.
Despite the absence of side-impact beams in Japan, the “i” still achieved a five-star crash rating under the Japanese New Car Assessment Program, similar to the Australian crash-test protocol.
It is powered by a rear-mounted mid-engine turbocharged 660cc three-cylinder Mivec engine, driving the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic.
Japanese buyers have the option of an all-wheel-drive “i”.
If the engine sounds familiar it is. The motor is shared with the Smart ForTwo. Performance is modest with a top speed of 144km/h. The “i” develops 47kW at 6000 revs and 94Nm at 3000 revs.
At 3395mm long, 1475mm wide and 1600mm tall, the Mitsubishi is 355mm shorter and 220mm narrower than a Toyota Yaris hatch, but 70mm taller. It tips the scales at a featherweight 900kg.
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