Mitsu ZT still alive

MITSUBISHI Motors Europe president and CEO Tim Tozer told GoAuto at the Paris motor show last week that the forthcoming mid-sized sedan based on the ZT concept is not dead, despite reports that it had been canned.

“It’s still very much under review,” he said. “What we do with a concept is see the reaction, and some markets … like North America and Australia … may well want a car like that. (But) in Europe we would not need a four-door, Audi A6-sized passenger car – we just wouldn’t want it or need it.

“So, while there are no immediate plans for a global successor (to the US Galant), that car we showed at Tokyo is being reviewed, is being considered, and, if the business case works, I am sure we will do it.”

Still on Mitsubishi Motors Europe, Mr Tozer revealed that the Concept-cX, which is progressing well for a 2010 launch, is aimed straight at the Nissan Qashqai (Dualis in Australia) heartland.

Left: Mitsubishi Concept-cX.

The CJ Lancer-based compact SUV is being developed expressly for European buyers, and will replace the long-lived Pinin SUV (sold in Australia from 1999 to 2003 as the Pajero iO).

“This vehicle is a crossover that is a bridge in our line-up,” Mr Tozer explained.

“The crossover is a very quick-growing segment in the European market and the car that fits in that segment at the moment is the Nissan Qashqai, which is doing extremely well.

“In fact, around 70 per cent of Qashqai sales are 2WDs, so it’s for people who like a 4x4 look.

“And that is a segment which is growing, and we will have (the Concept-cX) in there from 2010.”

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