AIMS: Mirage, next-gen Outlander to hit Sydney

MITSUBISHI will give its vital Mirage light car its first Australian public outing at this week’s Sydney motor show alongside the next-generation Outlander SUV – although we will have to wait longer to see the hi-tech plug-in hybrid version Down Under.

Also making an appearance will be the modified but street-legal Pikes Peak i-MiEV race car that off-road racer Beccy Gordon piloted to sixth place in the EV class with a time of 15 minutes and 10.557 seconds.

Most of Mitsubishi’s 2013 model year products will also be shown, including the recently launched facelift of the ASX compact SUV, better-value Lancer small car and rally-bred Lancer Evolution sports sedan.

Updates to the Triton one-tonne ute plus the Challenger and Pajero SUVs are also promised, which like the aforementioned models are expected to become less expensive as Mitsubishi passes on the savings from ditching its 10-year powertrain warranty.

Mitsubishi has promised to tweak and upgrade the Mirage before its January arrival in Australian showrooms, using feedback from members of the local motoring media – including GoAuto – after driving the car in Thailand, where it is built.

From top: Mitsubishi Outlander i-MiEV racer.

The lightweight, fuel-efficient Colt successor is powered by a 1.2-litre three-pot petrol engine tied to either a five-speed manual gearbox or automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

It will go up against the Nissan Micra, Volkswagen Up and Holden Barina Spark in the $13,000-$15,000 city-car market and Mitsubishi expects to sell around 6000 Mirages per year in Australia.

In contrast with the simple engineering practices that enabled Mitsubishi to create such a low-cost, fuel-efficient light car with the Mirage, the Outlander SUV will be packed with technology when it hits local showrooms in December.

Safety features debuting on the Outlander include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, autonomous braking and powerful ‘wide-vision’ Xenon headlights.

Improved comfort and convenience will come in the shape of dual-zone air-conditioning, a split-fold rear seat and reach adjustment for the steering wheel.

For the first time in Australia, the new Outlander will be offered with a diesel engine from launch, which will provide the fuel-efficient option until the plug-in hybrid version arrives in the second half of 2013.

The new 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel comes with fuel-saving idle-stop technology and produces 110kW of power at 3500rpm and 360Nm of torque between 1500 and 2750rpm.

It is claimed to consume as little as 4.9 litres of fuel per 100km on two-wheel-drive variants with a six-speed manual gearbox (all-wheel-drive and six-speed automatic transmissions are also expected to be available).

The petrol engine is expected to be a 110kW/195Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit with idle-stop, Mitsubishi’s next-generation MIVEC valve control system and either a five-speed manual or CVT automatic.