Mitsubishi wants Toyota Camry and 86 rivals

When global economic conditions improve, Mitsubishi says it will consider producing a rival for the Toyota 86 and a mid-size model to compete with the Toyota Camry.

Echoing comments made by global Mitsubishi chief Osamu Masuko during the Sydney motor show in October, Mitsubishi's C/D-segment project manager, Mitsuyoshi Hattori, said he'd like to start working on an affordable global sports coupe akin to the 86/BRZ.

“I'd like to develop a kind of sporty vehicle,” said Hattori-san when asked about the popularity of the 86, but cited a tough financial climate as the biggest hurdle.

“We are all interested in developing these speciality vehicles, (but) the issue is the global economy,” he said, adding that the company’s mid-term plan is to “focus on money-making cars and wait for situation to improve”.

“Now in the condition of the economy, the sales condition, we couldn't have that kind of car or a more wide range of vehicles. So we are concentrating on SUVs and small cars.”

Mr Hattori indicated that an all-wheel drive layout would be more likely than the rear-drive configuration of the 86 or the front-drive layout of the company's last compact sportscar, the 2.0-litre FTO coupe.

“Maybe 4WD it will be,” said Mr Hattori. “I like that sort of sporty vehicle.”

Fresh from launching its new Outlander mid-size SUV in October, Mitsubishi this month released its all-new Mirage light-car and is expected to unveil a new Lancer hatch and sedan with the option of hybrid power for the first time in early 2014.

The same year will see the Japanese brand release its next-generation Triton one-tonner, before a new-generation Pajero SUV, with the option of a plug-in hybrid drive system similar to that of next year’s Outlander PHEV, is also expected by 2015.

Mitsubishi has previously said its smaller new Lancer will remain its largest passenger model and has denied any current plan to develop a belated successor for either its local arm’s 380, which succeeded the long-running Magna between 2005 and 2008, or North America’s mid-size Galant sedan, which provided the basis for Australia’s 380 and ceased production in August this year.

However, Mr Hattori said Mitsubishi might not always be without a D-segment (mid-size) passenger vehicle to rival the Camry, Mazda6, Subaru Liberty, Honda Accord Euro, Ford Mondeo and upcoming Holden Malibu.

“No, we don't have this kind of vehicle, but in the future we would like to introduce this kind of new car.

“That kind of vehicle that has the market in the US, Australia and in the Chinese market, but now we don't have this kind of car. If we are selling more and more automobiles, then we can consider this sized car,” he said.

The Adelaide-made Magna was once Mitsubishi's best-selling vehicle in Australia, but today the Triton is its money-spinner with 17,307 vehicles registered here to the end of November, followed by the Lancer with 14,287 sales.

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