Mazda's, Mitsubishi's, and Subaru's Plans in the Future

[Grandea GTR]

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140825/OEM04/308259975/mazda-making-big-changes-fast

This article, while it is focused on Mazda's plans for the years ahead (2nd half of 2014 to 2018), displayed a PDF that shows the future plans of Mitsubishi and Subaru as well.



It says sometime for 2015 (2016 MY), for Mazda, they will re-engineer the Mazda6 (it will have the same centre console style as the Mazda3, imo bummer >.<), debut the MX-5, refresh the CX-5, and introduce a new model called the CX-3 (probably a CUV).

For Mitsubishi in 2015, there will be the possible debut of a new midsize sedan (New Galant?), as well as a bunch of other re-engineers and refreshes.

For Subaru in 2015, a refresh for the XV and the BRZ.


For the details, click the link below.

http://www.autonews.com/Assets/pdf/future/japan2_2014.pdf

 

[Badasp5.0]

I figured Mitsu was just going to roll over and die since they haven't put any effort in the last decade.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I figured Mitsu was just going to roll over and die since they haven't put any effort in the last decade.

Which was what I was kind of thinking too.
But they have so far made some new cars, such as the Mirage and the i-MiEV. Sure they aren't really appealing cars, but hey, it's kind of a start.

 

[Legro]

I figured Mitsu was just going to roll over and die since they haven't put any effort in the last decade.

I think that they are focusing to electric cars now, so it doesn't look like there are much left, but there are much more under development.

 

[Tornado]

Mitsubishi's plans for the next half decade will probably be focused on paying the electric bill.

 

[VXR]

The Mirage has got a relatively decent foothold in the UK. Certainly more of them than I see the new MG3 or Proton's Savvy.

 

[Grandea GTR]

The Mirage, if it had a turbo option with some additional sport tuning, it would be something that I could consider buying.

 

[YSSMAN]

Mitsubishi's plans for the next half decade will probably be focused on paying the electric bill.

Drove by a Mitsubishi dealer yesterday that I had somehow entirely forgot of its existence. Not only was I super-sad about forgetting that it was there, it was compounded with the sadness of looking at what was on the lot. Outlanders, Sport or otherwise, and Mirages. And the saddest used car lot I've seen. How the hell are they staying in business? I asked myself... Turns out they also sell powersports equipment.

If that's what's keeping your lights on... God help them.

 

[Badasp5.0]

The Mirage has got a relatively decent foothold in the UK. Certainly more of them than I see the new MG3 or Proton's Savvy.

I have only seen two Mirages off the dealer lots here in Albuquerque. I would love to see the sales numbers in the US on them.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I have only seen two Mirages off the dealer lots here in Albuquerque. I would love to see the sales numbers in the US on them.

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2013/10/mitsubishi-mirage-sales-figures-usa-canada.html

 

[Omnis]

I saw someone park a mirage at hhgregg the other day. It was a young girl that looked like she didn't own a mirror at home. Maybe college kid. I gave her a smh look

 

[niky]

Mitsubishi is big in Asia, and given the amount of money the parent company has, I don't see them going completely under.

It would probably help for them to simply drop the American market and focus on their strengths: Producing commercial vehicles and light trucks (and pick-ups) for the global market, and producing small cars for emerging markets.

As crappy as the Mirage is (in the Western context), it's a million times better than many cars in the same size and price range in Asia, and it sells well (as it should). The dull steering, a wonky cable-shifter and a soft suspension can be sorted. The rest doesn't need to be.

-

As with American carmakers in Japan... why struggle for a piece of a pie with high barriers of entry and little chance for growth, when you can chase market share in a growing market that's got at least another ten to twenty years before it plateaus?

 

[Grandea GTR]

I saw someone park a mirage at hhgregg the other day. It was a young girl that looked like she didn't own a mirror at home. Maybe college kid. I gave her a smh look

hhgregg?

 

[Omnis]

hhgregg?

Here's a neat explanation.

 

[Grandea GTR]

Here's a neat explanation.

Oh. Thought it was an abbreviation for some sort of place lol.

 

[Badasp5.0]

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2013/10/mitsubishi-mirage-sales-figures-usa-canada.html

Wow those are horrid sales numbers.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I originally concluded that Mitsubishi would turn out like Isuzu and just withdraw from the passenger car market in the US and go on with Mitsubishi Fuso, but I kinda would think they might just go on like Venturi is in France; Going from making powerful sports cars, to just dying out, then to making electric cars... Except Mitsubishi doesn't have an electric sports car like Venturi does, and make electric cars for those who have a tight budget, which I guess is not that bad of an idea.

 

[Dennisch]

I see a lot of these on our roads.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I see a lot of these on our roads.

Really? I would be expecting the ASX / Outlander Sport would be more common:

 

[Dennisch]

Pretty much every single one I encounter is a PHEV.

Our government has been tricked by the car companies about how fuel efficient these cars actually are, resulting in low taxes for such a big car. And so they are quite economical in our expensive car climate.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Really? I would be expecting the ASX / Outlander Sport would be more common:

I see a lot of these around here, and they are really not all that bad to look at.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I see a lot of these around here, and they are really not all that bad to look at.

Yeah, I feel that the Outlander Sport has the potential to be an Outlander Sport Evolution, seeing how it shares the same platform as the Lancer and all, but I doubt that would happen anytime soon.

 

[Grandea GTR]

Pretty much every single one I encounter is a PHEV.

Our government has been tricked by the car companies about how fuel efficient these cars actually are, resulting in low taxes for such a big car. And so they are quite economical in our expensive car climate.

So is it the opposite for smaller cars?

 

[Legro]

Yeah, I feel that the Outlander Sport has the potential to be an Outlander Sport Evolution, seeing how it shares the same platform as the Lancer and all, but I doubt that would happen anytime soon.

Well Mitsubishi said that Evolution name will continue as a sport SUV, so it wouldn't be so unbelievable if they did it.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Pretty much every single one I encounter is a PHEV.

Our government has been tricked by the car companies about how fuel efficient these cars actually are, resulting in low taxes for such a big car. And so they are quite economical in our expensive car climate.

We've got one on trial at work (we have charging stations currently utilised by a lone Leaf). I'm told the tax benefits in the UK mean the car is effectively free to the business! It's a decent choice for us, we often have to carry kit long distances, and then occasionally go off road to some extent. Not sure how often it'll be used as an EV but I can't wait to have a go!

 

[Roger the Horse]

Mitsubishi build off-roaders and those funny mid engined things that a lot of teachers seem to drive. They also make VHS tapes and CRTs. They'll be fine.

 

[Tornado]

Wow those are horrid sales numbers.

The worst part is that their best selling model isn't even twice that.

I originally concluded that Mitsubishi would turn out like Isuzu and just withdraw from the passenger car market in the US and go on with Mitsubishi Fuso, but I kinda would think they might just go on like Venturi is in France; Going from making powerful sports cars, to just dying out, then to making electric cars... Except Mitsubishi doesn't have an electric sports car like Venturi does, and make electric cars for those who have a tight budget, which I guess is not that bad of an idea.

Compared to Isuzu (which after 2003 just sold GM rebadges because it didn't require much sales to make a return, presumably), the issue is more that Mitsubishi, since the Chrysler divestiture, just doesn't seem to... care. At all. They put out a bunch of brand new cars all around that time period (most of them fairly competitive, at least in the "1990s GM" sense), then... nothing. The new Outlander seems like a last desperation shot into the Western market, and it would be pretty good if the US version of the one people actually want (the heavily promoted electric one shown above selling crazy in Europe and Japan) hadn't been delayed two years after its original US launch date.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Mazda CX-3 crossover coming to LA Auto Show.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/28/mazda-cx-3-crossover-coming-to-la/

 

[YSSMAN]

Going with a Juke competitor? Why not?

I mean, the Juke is fantastic - style issues aside for some folks. But, something that sized, engineered by Mazda, with a 2.0L SkyActiv? Yup. I'm there. The trick would be them not completely penalizing me with wanting a stick with AWD.

 

[Omnis]

Why won't Mazda turbocharge? That is the question.