Mitsubishi Mirage 2004 News

The Mitsubishi Mirage has claimed the 2013 crown for the lowest running costs of any new car on the Australian market

The Mitsubishi Attrage – the name is a blend of attractive and Mirage – will be built in Thailand as a global light sedan, and could arrive here late this year or early next year. Mitsubishi Australia has not confirmed its arrival, but says it would slot in here with the Mirage. “It’s a compact sedan and will have its own little space in the market; it will sit just above the Mirage or within the mirage range,” Mitsubishi Australia spokeswoman Caitlin Beale says.  “It will be offered on a global scale, so will be sent to any countries that decide to pick it up.” “Whether it will keep the Attrage name in Australia is yet to be been confirmed. However, it’s likely since it’s part of a global line.” The Attrage adds a light sedan to the Mitsubishi range in Australia, which currently offers only the Lancer with a boot. The Attrage gets the Mirage’s 1.2-litre 3-cylinder MIVEC engine mated to a five-speed manual or CVT gearbox and a fuel efficiency of 4.6L/100km. Beale says there’s no indication of price yet, but that the sedan would compete against the booted versions of the Toyota Yaris and Holden Barina. With those main rivals starting well under $20,000 – the Yaris from $18,190 and Barina from $16,490 – Mitsubishi will need to be strategic on the pricing, so it’s likely to be not too far north of the Mirage hatch’s $12,990 entry price. Beale says there are no confirmed local arrival dates as yet. However, don’t be surprised to see it roll into Australian dealerships either late this year or early next year. The Attrage follows the fashion of adding a small sedan into ranges near a hatch: Nissan did it with its Micra hatch and Almera sedan and Honda with its Jazz hatch and City sedan.  

The "global compact car" will first be sold in Thailand, followed by ASEAN countries, Japan, Europe, then expand to other markets successively. The Mirage was developed under a concept that fulfils the needs of both fast-growing emerging markets as an entry-level car and the eco-conscious advanced markets with its environmental performance. The Mirage will be made at a brand-new third factory at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's (MMTh) Laem Chabang Plant; the largest MMC plant outside of Japan. The Mirage is focused on premium fuel efficiency and low CO2 emission. The new tiddler delivers fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions that are among the best in its class thanks to the all-new MIVEC1 engine and reduced aerodynamic resistance and rolling resistance. It provides nimble handling inherent to a compact car while utilising high-efficiency packaging to maintain interior space for five adults. Optimisation of the body structure and more extensive use of high-tensile strength panel make the vehicle seven per cent lighter than is normal for its class, contributing to better fuel economy.  The Mirage uses Mitsubishi's impact-resistant RISE 3 body, which absorbs and distributes impact force to deliver high levels of occupant safety. A high level of quality achieved through MMDS (Mitsubishi Motors Development System), a comprehensive quality management system that sets and assesses/evaluates the achievement of specific performance benchmarks within each stage of operations from vehicle planning, sales and after-sales services. In addition, before production, Mitsubishi stationed experienced inspectors from its Japanese factories in Thailand to inspect manufactured units at the new third factory in order to make sure that the same quality standards from its Japanese factories are reached. The Thai-market Mirage will be equipped with a 1.2L MIVEC engine and achieve around  5.0 litres/100KM  with a EURO 4 rating

The baby-car world was dominated by a single star through the 1990s. The Hyundai Excel was the benchmark for every rival – on price, style and sales – until the death of the Korean king led to a fundamental shift in the noughties. Now the lightweight division is split down the middle and there are two separate contests: one powered by price, the other by class. In the price group are people buying their first new car, usually on a tight budget with less emphasis on features, and the class group wants a compact car for city work or as a second vehicle in the family garage. The bargain-basement contenders are battling in the sub-$15,000 range, just as they did when the Excel was the pacemaker, while the starting price for seriously good babies is close to $17,000 and can run to well beyond $20,000. Toyota changed the game last year when it decided to lob its baby Echo with a sub-$15,000 bottom line including power steering and airconditioning. Although the price has crept up to $14,790, it is still the sales leader. In the first quarter of this year Echo grabbed more than 20 per cent of light-car sales, reflecting the strength of the Toyota brand...despite the design being five years old. Hyundai is still playing the price game with the boxy little Getz. It's second to the Echo in the price fight and leading the Korean contenders against a line-up which includes a broad range of imports, including the Holden-badged but Opel-designed Barina. At the top end of the business, the Japanese really are on top. The classy Mazda2 and Honda Jazz set the standard for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, even if Ford has arrived – far too late after the loss of its top-selling Korean-made Festiva – with a European Fiesta which is the light star of 2004. The $14,490 starting price for the Fiesta is going to create plenty of action in Ford showrooms, because the blue-oval baby is a good drive and well designed. But buyers will still have to add $2000 for airconditioning – a crippling extra in such a price-sensitive arena. But that's typical of the light-car class. There is always something new, always a price leader and a class champion, and they're all elbowing for space in a bargain basement that introduces many people to their first new car. This is how the Cars Guide team rates them: 1. MAZDA2 Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW and priced from $17,490. Verdict: Another direct hit by Mazda Plus: Quality and comfort Minus: Pricey for the size Rating: 18/20 The baby Mazda is one of the stars of the Japanese company's product-driven comeback. Mazda battled through the 1990s with outdated and cost-down cars that were a poor reflection of the brand's traditional strengths, but when it got serious – with Ford funding – it cranked out the classy Mazda6, RX-8 and Mazda3. The smallest of the crop is the Mazda2, but it has the condensed strengths from the same design team and gene pool. That means it looks good, drives well and is built to class-leader quality. 2. HONDA JAZZ Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.3-litre (61kW) or 1.5-litre (81kW) four-cylinder engine, priced from $15,990 Verdict: Stylish and practical but harsh ride Plus: Good looks, versatile cabin Minus: Bouncy ride Rating: 17/20 The Jazz outsold the Mazda2 by 1280 in the first four months of 2004, and that comes down to price and funky looks. It's really a 21st-century Civic, as compact as the original and just as trendy for young buyers. Honda was smart to start with a 1.3-litre motor below $16,000, but doesn't scrimp on the cabin. It's comfortable for four and the seats fold to carry almost any load. People who want the best go straight to the punchy VTi-S with all the fruit for $22,490. 3. FORD FIESTA Lowdown: Three-door and five-door hatch powered by a 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, from $14,490 Verdict: Perky and enjoyable Plus: Goes well, roomy inside Minus: Cheap-ish plastics, finish Rating: 16/20 Ford went backwards with the Ka, which didn't have the space or automatic to compete, but it now has the right sales ingredients. The Fiesta is a star in Europe and way better than the long-dead Festiva, a Korean version of the previous Mazda 121. It drives well, has plenty of space and is good value, thanks partly to the strength of the Australian dollar. The Fiesta just edges the Toyota Echo and the Hyundai Getz out of the final medal spot in the light-car class. HYUNDAI GETZ 16/20 Price: From $13,490 Engines: 1.3-litre (60kW) and 1.5-litre (74kW) Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door hatch Not an Excel, but still packed with Hyundai strengths. TOYOTA ECHO 16/20 Price: From $14,740 Engines: 1.3-litre (63kW) and 1.5-litre (80kW) Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door sedan. Shows age inside, but Toyota has done well to keep the price sharp. HOLDEN BARINA 16/20 Price: From $15,990 Engines: 1.4-litre (66kW) and 1.8-litre (92kW) Body styles: Three-door and five-door Looks good and drives well, with bonus deal adding appeal.   CITROEN C3 14/20 Price: From $19,990 Engines: 1.4-litre (57kW) and 1.6-litre (83kW) Body styles: Five-door hatch One of the funkiest babies on sale in Australia. The engine is dozy and there are some quality niggles. RENAULT CLIO 14/20 Price: From $19,990 Engines: 1.4-litre (72kW), 1.6-litre (79kW) and 2.0-litre (124kW) Body styles: sedan and hatch Not as trendy as the bigger Megane with the J.Lo rump, but still a solid effort from the French brand. VOLKSWAGEN POLO 14/20 Price: From $19,990 Engines: 1.4-litre (55kW) Body styles: hatch Too costly by far. The Polo is a nice car but smaller than many rivals, and Volkswagen doesn't do enough in Australia to compensate. PEUGEOT 206 13/20 Price: From $19,990 Engines: 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre (80kW) and 1.8-litre (100kW and 130kW) Body styles: hatch LIKE the C3, the Peugeot is too much and too little. The price is too high and the cabin too cramped. SMART FORTWO 13/20 Price: From $21,900 Engines: 0.7-litre (45kW) Body styles: Two-door coupe The smallest and trendiest of the light cars is a phonebox-on-wheels that will only be bought by the trendiest shoppers. DAEWOO KALOS 12/20 Price: From $14,990 Engines: 1.5-litre (62kW) Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door sedan A good Korean effort – compact and good-looking but trails in refinement and design. MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 12/20 Price: From $15,990 Engines: 1.5-litre (69kW) Body styles: Three-door hatch Mitsubishi has kept the price competitive, the body is still stylish, and there is potential to add some Evo-style body bits. DAIHATSU SIRION 10/20 Price: From $13,250 Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW) Body styles: Five-door hatchback The Sirion is the best of the Daihatsu contenders, with a roomy cabin and passable power, but it is let down by the driving experience. DAIHATSU YRV 10/20 Price: From $15,990 Engines: 1.5-litre (40kW) Body styles: Five-door hatch The funk leader in the D-brand line-up shows what's missing from the mix, with clunky controls and sub-standard driving dynamics. KIA RIO 9/20 Price: From $14,990 Engines: 1.5-litre (71kW) Body styles: Four-door sedan or five-door wagon The wagon option gives it a unique selling point, but the sedan was one of the worst cars we drove last year. PROTON SATRIA 9/20 Price: From $14,990 Engines: 1.5-litre (64kW) and 1.8-litre (99kW) Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door hatch Another oldie that struggles to do anything but fill showroom space. SUZUKI IGNIS 9/20 Price: From $14,990 Engines: 1.3-litre (61kW) and 1.5-litre (83kW) Body styles: Hatch The baby box doesn't have enough of anything. Suzuki hasn't had enough cash to continue. DAIHATSU CHARADE 8/20 Price: From $11,950 Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW) Body styles: Five-door hatch The great name is all that remains from one of the earliest bargain-basement stars. Today's Charade is cheap and unimpressive.