Tale of the tape

MITSUBISHI Australia president and chief executive, Tom Phillips, has hit back at claims made by Ford and Holden that measurements of its forthcoming 380 sedan are misleading.

"We use the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation universal (measuring) standard, that we have to do, and that’s how it turned out," he told GoAuto.

"The numbers are real. We can measure the Falcon. We can measure the Commodore. (And) they can’t measure our car (yet). We’re not dudding anything here.

"I think it’s good that they recognise that we’re in the market.

"We put the journalists in Adelaide in the car (last month) and showed them what was there, so there are no issues."Mitsubishi Australia revealed in June that the $600 million 380, production of which begins in September, was bigger in all critical dimensions than the current Magna – and roomier in some key measurements, including legroom, than either the Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore.

Ford and Holden disputed the measurements, which indicated that the 380 had more rear legroom than the its two big large-car rivals and more front and rear headroom than Falcon. Front legroom was also claimed to be greater in the 380 than Falcon.

The 380 rests on a 4835mm wheelbase, has an overall length of 1479mm, width of 1840mm and height of 1479mm.

Mr Phillips has also claimed the 380 will offer "the highest quality ever seen in an Australian-built car", an assertion stemming from Mitsubishi’s $250 million manufacturing plant refurbishment (which includes a $30 million one-piece side-panel press) in Adelaide.

Other claims about the "class-leading" nature of the 380 include it being the first Australian-built car to meet Euro III emissions requirements and upcoming drive-by noise regulations. It will use a new Japanese-sourced 3.8-litre V6.

Space efficiency and the base model’s level of standard equipment are also claimed to be better than others in class.

Sales? Exports? Mitsubishi Australia is shooting for 2000 sales of the new vehicle per month, however its export opportunities are limited beyond obvious right-hand drive markets such as New Zealand.

"We don’t have any (overseas) orders but hopefully after its launch people will see how good it is," Mr Phillips said.

Production of a long-wheelbase derivative intended for export to North America was aborted in May last year when Mitsubishi Australia’s debt-ridden parent company announced its revival plan and the closure of Adelaide’s Lonsdale engine plant.