Mitsubishi Mirage 2013 News

The new family of engines will give 15 Toyota and Daihatsu models an efficiency gain of up to 30%, including Toyota's new Yaris due in 2015.The Yaris will be battling for top spot in light car sales with the upcoming Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta, which will have similar efficiency gains from its skyactiv and EcoBoost technology respectively. The new engines could also help the rumoured upcoming Toyota Rush become the one of the most efficient SUVs in Australia.The 1.3-litre and 1.0-litre power plants have been co-developed with Toyota's small car brand, Daihatsu. Both units take advantage of an Atkinson cycle, which increases the compression ratio and reduces waste heat to operate more efficiently. However, the Atkinson cycle produces less power than ordinary engines, which has limited its use mainly to Hybrid cars until now.But Toyota has packed both engines with technology to help retain maximum power while optimising economy. A range of new developments will help the engines breathe better, achieving optimal efficiency. For example, the 1.3-litre will have a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a redesigned intake port and electronically controlled variable valve timing (VVT-iE).Both engines are designed to be compatible with stop-start technology, which cuts out the engine in traffic to save fuel. This system is currently limited in small cars to premium offerings, such as the Mini Cooper or the Volvo C30. However, Toyota and Daihatsu could be utilising this feature in the most basic entry level cars.Both engines will commence production in coming weeks, but we may only get the larger 1.3-litre engine in Australia initially. However the efficiency gains in the 1.0-litre engine could increase the incentive for Toyota to offer a cheap entry level car sourced from Daihatsu, to rival the Suzuki Alto, Nissan Micra and Mitsubishi Mirage. 

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. 

Mitsubishi has issued a recall of the 2013 Mirage hatch , just four months after the model’s arrival in Australia.The recall affects all models sold between January and the end of March – 3377 vehicles in all -- and relates to a potentially faulty wheel speed sensor, a key element of the anti-lock braking system.The potential fault can be evident when exposed to moisture, and Mitsubishi has identified a lack of weatherproofing to a related foglamp casing as the root cause of the issue. This could result in false dashboard warnings, brake shudder, reduced braking performance, or compromised steering control – all of which could pose a crash hazard.The recall is being executed globally as directed by Mitsubishi in Japan, and Mitsubishi Australia sold 2385 Mirages during that time. The remaining vehicles in the recall may not yet have been sold.Speaking with Carsguide today, Mitsubishi Australia’s Caitlin Beale confirmed that “just one or two Australian owners have reported brake shudder as a result of the issue,” and no accidents have been reported.Beale understands that dealers have completed most, if not all repairs already, with the replacement part being fitted in 30 minutes.She says Mitsubishi has already alerted all Mirage owners by mail.  Any owners yet to be alerted are advised to contact their authorised Mitsubishi dealership for inspection and rectification. 

The new Mirage is claimed to offer outstanding fuel efficiency, a spacious interior for five people and easy-to-drive manoeuvrability, with nimble performance wrapped up in a stylish and affordable package. Powered by a 57kW 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine the all-new Smart MIVEC engine delivers best in class fuel efficiency returning 4.6 litres/100km. Sounds like something from 25 years ago. But the safety system is a different story, with six airbags, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with Brakeforce Distribution. The entry level ES model comes standard with CD player, two speakers, USB and AUX input and Bluetooth 2.0 with audio streaming. The three-spoke leather steering wheel features phone and audio controls, making it easy to listen to music and safer to take phone calls on the road. A CVT style automatic brings the price to $15,240, plus on road costs. Climbing the ladder the Sport is $14,190 and the LS is $15,490.  

Starting mid-January, the base model Mirage ES will battle it out with the cheaper Chery J1 (from $10,990), Suzuki Alto (from $11,790) and Holden Barina Spark (from $12,490). The other notable players in the sub $14K light car market are the Nissan Micra (from $13,490), and the Proton S16 and Volkswagen Up (from $13,990). The ES comes with a two speaker audio system with AUX and USB inputs, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, and a leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls. The ES also features 14-inch steel wheels and manual air conditioning. The next model up is the Mirage Sport and it comes with 14-inch alloys, two extra speakers and a rear spoiler. The LS is the top of the range gets larger 15 inch alloys, foglights, climate control, keyless entry with push button start, auto headlights and rain sensing wipers. There is only one engine on offer: a 1.2 litre three-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 57kW and 100Nm. The best fuel consumption is achieved in the ES model (4.6L/100km). The rest of the rage still manages to return impressive fuel consumption figures below 5L/100km. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission. The diminutive Mirage measures 3710mm in length, 1665mm width and 1500mm in height. Mitsubishi claims to have the best turning circle in class with a turning radius of just 4.4 metres for the ES and a respectable 4.6 metres for the LS. This means it would be even easier to park and manoeuvre around the city than the tiny size might suggest. Mitsubishi expects the maximum five-star result in safety crash testing thanks to standard six airbags and electronic stability control across the range. Warranty is five-year/130,000km and it comes with four year/60,000 capped-price servicing program. The 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage manufacturer list prices are as follows:        

Despite tasty hero cars led by the F-Type Jaguar and Aston Martin One-77, it's the real world cars that are of most interest.The return of the Nissan Pulsar, the unveiling of the Toyota Corolla and the first Sydney appearance of the Mazda6 and Mitsubishi Mirage are all proof that ordinary customers now rule the roost. As car sales track strongly towards an all-time record, it's real people spending their own money who are the real target for carmakers."If you get the product right, everything else follows," the top Aussie at Toyota Australia, Dave Buttner, tells Carsguide. "All the growth in sales this year is with private buyers, as government departments have been winding back and fleet sales are also down. Private buyers are confident and they are spending on the second-biggest purchase after their house."Nissan confirmed its commitment to the new-age PUlsar with a $19,990 starting price and a SSS under lights. "Pulsar is back and we have big plans," Bill Peffer, managing director of Nissan Australia, tells Carsguide.For Mazda, the new 6 is its first all-new arrival since the GFC and a pointer to the replacement for the top selling Mazda3. "You can see now where we're going," Doug Dickson, MD of Mazda Australia, says. And the baby Mirage? "It's something new for us, and it's going to bring a lot of people to the brand. I reckon we'll sell heaps," Mitsubishi marketing chief Paul Unerkov laughs. 

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 all-new Mirage is unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show with the promise of a pricetag to rival its closest Japanese rival, the Nissan Micra from $12,990. It's still a year away from local roads but the car looks good and will be built in Thailand to control costs. "It's pretty important for us. It's a fairly large segment, and we're not really competitive at the moment," the vice-president of brand and marketing at Mitsubishi Australia, Paul Unerkov, tells Carsguide. "We don't want it at the Lancer price, so we're going to have to be down under $15,000 to be competirive in that area. It's the segment of the market that's growing." The Mirage will replace the existing underdone Colt, which needed a major price cut to get it moving in Australia. Unerkov believes reintroducing the Mirage name will work well, although the new car is a four-door hatch and not like the compact coupe that previously wore the badge."The last time we have the Mirage was back with the coupe. They stopped at the same time, in 2006," he says. "It is a global name. It will be Mitsubishi Mirage, just that. We're really happy about that because it has a good name and there are a lot of happy owners." Unerkov says the car at the Tokyo show has a 1.0-litre engine but he is not sure how the car will be powered in Australia. We're just looking at the different variants, it hasn'been decided. "We'll keep that in our hat.You just about know everything else today. They're only launching the one-litre here in Tokyo." But he is bullish about the car's chances. "It will be about this time next year, 12 months or so. It's on schedule. "It's a four-door at this stage. There may be other variants, but it's that initially."