Mitsubishi Not Dead Yet: Nissan Takes Control

[05XR8]

Mitsubishi Van coming The best platform to use, as Trafic been hot for a while.

New Triton too. Much better.

 

[RocZX]

Mitsubishi Van coming The best platform to use, as Trafic been hot for a while

Why did they go to Renault for a van? They have Fuso, which has a van (rebadged Nissan NV350) or make one based on their light or medium duty trucks .

 

[mustafur]

Why did they go to Renault for a van? They have Fuso, which has a van (rebadged Nissan NV350) or make one based on their light or medium duty trucks .

The Rosa is on a Mitsubishi Canter chassis it's pure Mitsubishi, but the Rosa even in it's smallest form would be beyond the weight of a car license.

This makes sense as Mitsubishi doesn't have any light van and this is the cheapest option.

 

[05XR8]

Why did they go to Renault for a van? They have Fuso, which has a van (rebadged Nissan NV350) or make one based on their light or medium duty trucks .

Also, in the piece i posted:

Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn, in France to announce the expansion of the brand’s van production, also confirmed that Nissan’s new NV250 will share the same underpinnings as the French marque’s Kangoo.

“Groupe Renault’s global van expertise is driving synergies across the Alliance to benefit all our customers,” he said.

“The Maubeuge (where Kangoo is built) and Sandouville plants provided the most attractive solution thanks to the competitiveness and ability to leverage Alliance common platforms.

It's due for a new design. Plus, with the VW Caddy getting a camper option, Nissan would do good to get a piece of that light commercial van pie.

 

[homeforsummer]

Why did they go to Renault for a van?

Economies of scale, I expect. The Renault Trafic is also sold as an Opel/Vauxhall (Vivaro) and a Nissan (NV300) already. Selling the exact same van from yet another manufacturer increases those economies further.

That, and Nissan's naming strategy neatly illustrates where the van will sit in relation to others. An NV350-based van is larger, the upcoming NV250 smaller - the NV300/Renault Trafic competes directly in one of the biggest market segments, against the Ford Transit, Volkswagen Transporter etc. It makes sense for Mitsubishi to have an offering in that segment.

 

[FT-1]

The Mitsubishi ASX (or RVR, or Outlander Sport) has been refreshed (yet again)

Mitsubishi sure like to get their money's worth from a platform, the ASX is reaching its 10th birthday next year! To be fair, it actually looks pretty good from the outside, but the interior is really showing its age.

 

[05XR8]

Finally got rid of the Lancer grille. Lines up nicely with the other family members.

 

[FT-1]

Finally got rid of the Lancer grille. Lines up nicely with the other family members.

Now the Mirage is the only model which sticks out like a sore thumb. I expect its replacement to look similar to a K14 Micra with a Mitsubishi grille.

 

[homeforsummer]

It can't only be me that thought the Eclipse Cross was replacing the Outlander Sport/ASX, can it?

Ours still looks like this, incidentally. I didn't even realise it had been facelifted. Think I preferred it with the old Lancer-style grille, though I can understand why they've changed it, given the Lancer hasn't been around for ages now.

I've never minded the ASX. When it was new it was among the better cars of its type, but like a lot of Mitsubishi's stuff they let it drag on, and on... and I can't imagine many people buy them now. Or maybe they do, if Mitsubishi has seen fit to facelift it again.

 

[SVX]

It can't only be me that thought the Eclipse Cross was replacing the Outlander Sport/ASX, can it?

Rather funnily enough I was just talking about this with someone on the weekend. Even together they look quite similar. We have quite a few Mitsubishis come into this country, and it had only just occurred to me that both the Eclipse and ASX are coming in together. I had never really realised because they were in the same imports, drive the exact same with pretty much the same interior. Do have to wonder what the point of it at all?

 

[Grandea GTR]

Rather funnily enough I was just talking about this with someone on the weekend. Even together they look quite similar. We have quite a few Mitsubishis come into this country, and it had only just occurred to me that both the Eclipse and ASX are coming in together. I had never really realised because they were in the same imports, drive the exact same with pretty much the same interior. Do have to wonder what the point of it at all?

That got me thinking, doesn't Jeep do the exact same thing Mitsubishi is doing with this regarding their Cherokee and Compass models?

 

[VXR]

It's a good face-lift. The new rear light design brightens up that end quite well for a minimal change.

 

[05XR8]

Interesting sales figures
https://www.goauto.com.au/news/vfac...shi-pips-mazda-in-march/2019-04-03/78251.html

 

[mustafur]

Mitusbishi sells well purely because of the Triton, the Outlander still sells good too but not like the CX-5 The BT-50 doesn't sell anywhere near as close to the Triton(because who wants a rebadged Ranger when you can just have a Ranger).

It makes sense though as the Triton is easily the best value Pickup in Australia.


Mazda need to make their own Pickup(maybe have an SUV as well based on it to reduce costs) all it's competitors have their own version while they are stuck with a rebadge that looks honestly ugly as sin.

 

[05XR8]

Maybe two years ago, I posted about the Ranger/BT-50 parts sharing supposedly ended(might be the BT-50 thread). I believe Mazda have one on paper.

As for the Triton, it is much better than it looked. I was very surprised by engine performance, handling and ride comfort. The new one definitely has the looks now.

I think Hyundai could rise much higher with a ute. Their iLoad is pretty good. So, I'd gather a ute from them would make a killing.

 

[GTV0819]

It's sad that there's no news yet about the Lancer's revival, as well as its iconic rendition; the Evo.

 

[Silver Arrows]

It's sad that there's no news yet about the Lancer's revival, as well as its iconic rendition; the Evo.

Well, actually....

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/06/27/mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-rumor/

AutoCarUK reportedly received word that Mitsubishi could be bringing back the Lancer Evolution. There's no official word with the outlet citing anonymous sources, and there's still a cloud of doubt hovering, given Mitsubishi made its near-future trajectory fairly clear. But there could be a smidgen of hope that all is not lost with the tiny Japanese automaker.

Should the word be accurate, the new Lancer Evolution XI — as it would likely be called since it would be the 11th-generation model — could get a potent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant lifted straight from the hot-hatch version of the Renault Megane known as the Megane RS. The same dual-clutch automatic would also find its way into the Evo, though Mitsubishi would supposedly be left to its own vices to develop an all-new S-AWC all-wheel drive system.

 

[CodeRedR51]

So Mitsubishi comes into the fray and immediately has access to Renault's hot engines but Nissan hasn't taken the same opportunity why?

 

[Tornado]

Because Nissan already has their own engines certified for the American market and that's where the majority of their sales are.

Because Nissan doesn't want to have to support orphan engines in a market that has no experience with them (ask a Dodge dealer that doesn't sell FIATs how much they love screwing with Jeep Renegades or Dodge Dart turbos).

Because Nissan aren't particularly good time buddies with Renault, what with the arresting and attempting to imprison indefinitely the person trying to speed along a merger between the two companies; and anything that whittles down their autonomy in the markets they actually compete in probably is a non-starter by default regardless of the above two.

Because Mitsubishi is only just coming out of their death spiral that started when DaimlerChrysler told them to go pound sand, and don't have much in the way of competitive drivetrains at all.

 

[GTV0819]

Well, actually....

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/06/27/mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-rumor/

It doesn't ring a bell that much though.

Let's all hope that it doesn't utilize a dynamic shield design in its front fascia that much of its siblings used to sport nowadays.

 

[CodeRedR51]

what with the arresting and attempting to imprison indefinitely the person trying to speed along a merger between the two companies;

That would be the Japanese government's doing actually. Who is currently fining Nissan $37 million.

 

[mustafur]

Mitsubishi have no performance options at all currently, Nissan do.

It would make sense to put those engines in a performance Outlander as well imo.

 

[05XR8]

That Vision GT should have gotten the green light. I can't see an Evo sedan selling much. The Impreza/WRX just pole vaulted over it. Similar to how R.Kelly took Aaron Hall's(from the group "Guy") look & sound and became way more successful.

 

[GTV0819]

Mitsubishi have no performance options at all currently, Nissan do.

They now have mainly focused on selling civilian vehicles these days.

How I miss the good old times before when there used to be an Evo VII-IX, the old Pajero/Montero, the original Eclipse, the Galant, the GTO and so on.

Now, they only have the Pajero Sport, Triton, the crappy Colt/Mirage, the outgoing Lancer and the Outlander. What more that I missed? I think that's pretty much it. Nothing that excites us anymore.

 

[mustafur]

They still sell the Orignal Pajero here in Australia Brand New.

The Triton, Outlander and ASX sell very well here despite the obvious Pig with Makeup look of their range which are last decade machinery with a Face lift.

They really need some New Platforms first, the problem lies in that it will probably be Nissan/Renault Garbage which could hurt their Reliable image that they have built up in the last 10 or so years when all they have been doing is Cosmetic changes on their cars.

 

[GTV0819]

They should at least really try to give the Pajero and Lancer all-new platforms which must be desirable a lot.

Those two have been in the market for more than a decade already and I don't see anything about them that still makes them standout from the rest of the crop of their competitors, especially the fact that they are much advanced and fresher than the two of them. It just sucks to see that they have been stuck like that ever since.

Btw, even the current Delica D5 also has a decade old platform already but just received a facelift recently which made it look more similar to its trying hard wannabe futuristic siblings.

Also, they must go back in rally motorsport too, because that's what all about the brand has been during the 2000s; the two siblings in Pajero and Lancer Evolution competing in the Dakar rally and World Rally Championship, respectively. If they just didn't back out from rallying but unfortunately, financial crisis probably struck them, even if given their success.

Now, they're just into electric vehicles or hybrid category which makes them seem like a joke than ever in the automotive industry rofl. Definitely a far cry from the past decade which has really been the greatest in the brand's history, I suppose. I would definitely cherish that one.

Now, it would seem it's all over and there's no way for them to revive those perfect moments anymore. Poor Mitsubishi. Now, Nissan has bought you and will try their best luck in bringing you back from shambles.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Also, they must go back in rally motorsport too, because that's what all about the brand has been during the 2000s; the two siblings in Pajero and Lancer Evolution competing in the Dakar rally and World Rally Championship, respectively. If they just didn't back out from rallying but unfortunately, financial crisis probably struck them, even if given their success.

That's not going to happen ever considering WRC regs have all but outlawed sedans like the Impreza and a future Lancer, and forced them to go into compacts, even down into the more lax R5 regulations (Which admittedly, Mitsubishi is already there with the Mirage) down to R2.

So what are you left with? Doing like what Subaru did and getting diminishing motorsport returns with defacto factory efforts in Rally America with the WRX STi prepped by Vermont Sportscar, or within the Canadian Rally Championship with just a stock WRX STi? There's no point in trying to shoot for some sort of motorsports return with a Evo XI considering how the top flight rally landscape has changed.

 

[GTV0819]

That's not going to happen ever considering WRC regs have all but outlawed sedans like the Impreza and a future Lancer, and forced them to go into compacts, even down into the more lax R5 regulations (Which admittedly, Mitsubishi is already there with the Mirage) down to R2.

So what are you left with? Doing like what Subaru did and getting diminishing motorsport returns with defacto factory efforts in Rally America with the WRX STi prepped by Vermont Sportscar, or within the Canadian Rally Championship with just a stock WRX STi? There's no point in trying to shoot for some sort of motorsports return with a Evo XI considering how the top flight rally landscape has changed.

Then the hell, cross that out then. If they have the will, they can still compete in the Dakar rally anyway, whether with the Outlander or a new generation Pajero. Remember? The brand is not only about the Lancer Evolution anyway.

 

[Tornado]

That would be the Japanese government's doing actually.

Once again your insider Nissan knowledge has proven invaluable to the community.

Who is currently fining Nissan $37 million.

That's a good start, but if the

Japanese government

really wants to improve the optics of the situation, they can focus more on making their current charges stick more than on things like making sure he isn't allowed to speak to his wife; now that they are no longer able to just throw him back in solitary confinement to interrogate him for days on end every time he posts bail for the previous thing he is charged with.
Then it wouldn't look so bad that even business journals start floating the idea that the

Japanese government

acted in collusion with one of their biggest industrial corporations mostly to prevent a merger with a company owned by a foreign power.

 

[mustafur]

Once again your insider Nissan knowledge has proven invaluable to the community.


That's a good start, but if the

really wants to improve the optics of the situation, they can focus more on making their current charges stick more than on things like making sure he isn't allowed to speak to his wife; now that they are no longer able to just throw him back in solitary confinement to interrogate him for days on end every time he posts bail for the previous thing he is charged with.
Then it wouldn't look so bad that even business journals start floating the idea that the

acted in collusion with one of their biggest industrial corporations mostly to prevent a merger with a company owned by a foreign power.

Having looked into it a bit, what the Japanese government is doing is very Shady, they seem to have people within the Nissan and Mitsubishi Company making sure they never Merge, the same thing has happened with the Recent Fiat Chrysler talks of a merger last week.