New metal for Mitsubishi

The sixth-generation Mirage is not the only newcomer on Mitsubishi’s horizon, though it is one of only a few models to be sourced from the company’s three Thai-based manufacturing plants.

It is also one of eight models that will lead the charge as Mitsubishi rationalises its global fleet from 30 models to eight.

Following its March release in Thailand, the budget-busting Mirage light hatch will go on sale in other ASEAN countries, before it expands to other global markets, including Australia.

Slated to go on sale here in either late Q4 (2012) or early Q1 (2013), Mirage will arrive shortly after the facelifted ASX (due Q3, 2012) and within weeks of the three-diamond brand’s new Outlander SUV.

A strong Yen and new production capacity in Thailand will see Mitsubishi offer competitive pricing on its all-new Mirage, one of three model built at the company’s trio of plants at Laemchabang. It joins the Thai-built Triton and Challenger, both of which are due for a significant redesign.

The utility-based models, initially slated for a 2013 arrival, were postponed due to the global financial crisis and now, alongside all-new Lancer, will arrive in local showrooms sometime in early 2014.

At this stage little is known about the light commercial newcomers, though MMAL’s Anthony Casey told motoring.com.au the Lancer is set to take on the likes of Ford’s Focus and the Mazda3 by being one of a suite of small-car offerings to be fitted with a turbo-diesel engine.

Likely to be the same (110kW/300Nm) 1.8-litre unit that powers the current Mitsubishi ASX, the diesel Lancer will similarly arrive with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions, and a la Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models -- and indeed Subaru’s Impreza -- could even arrive with the option of all-wheel drive.

It’s not the only shake-up in the Lancer line-up, either. Mitsubishi earlier suggested the next-generation Lancer Evolution (11) could be offered with an all-electric powerplant, a trend likely to grace a handful of Mitsubishi’s smaller models.

Mr Casey told motoring.com.au that plans for an all-electric Mirage were “well underway” and that electrification is a good fit for smaller models like the Mirage and Lancer, for which range issues were less of a concern.

On the topic of the fleet rationalisation raised by Mr Casey, facts were short but the conversation pointed to several key stalwart models that, in various iterations, would carry the Japanese brand toward a more successful, albeit simplified future.

The likely line-up will include the Mirage, Lancer, Galant (or similar), ASX, Outlander, Triton, Challenger and Pajero. Mitsubishi ruled out a sports coupe (a la Toyota’s 86 and Subaru’s BRZ), insisting that it must stick to core models to secure its future.

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