Mitsubishi i/Colt/Grandis/Triton
Text & Photography by Sammy Chan
| Click any of the thumbnail pictures for more details |
Judging from the sights of spanking new Mitsubishis on the roads these days, one would not have known that business had in fact been quite dismal for this company ever since it set foot in Canada nearly five years ago. It’s sales stood at levels below 11,000 units annually, squeezing in only 0.7 per cent of market share. Outlook immediately brightened with the arrival of the all-new Outlander and Lancer early this year prompting Mitsubishi Canada to revise its forecast to 17,000 units for 2007. But it was more than products that contributed to the positive upshift. It was the arrival of Koji Soga, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc. (MMSCAN), last October and the strategies he had adopted that really make the difference.
Being independent rather than being a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors North America has also enabled MMSCAN to cater its products to the specific needs and demands of Canadian consumers. To further their goals, MMSCAN is also working on to form their own Parts Delivery Centre. Improvement in Customer satisfaction will result when parts supply are being done in Canada rather than from down south.
Although it’s probably the Lancer Evolution and the Pajero that we hope to see in Mitsubishi’s line-up (Evo will finally make our shores next Spring) in the nearest future, it’s five other cars you see here that MMSCAN thinks would more suit our needs. To that end, MMSCAN has recently brought over these five special vehicles from Japan and Europe for a journalist event in Toronto, aiming to get some feedback as to which might be a better candidate(s) for us Canadians.
Mitsubishi i
Touted as a revolution in the minicar category, i is the first minicar to come out of Mitsubishi. With minicar accounting for one out of every three new cars on Japan’s roads these days, the i with its innovative design, environmentally friendly qualities and best-in-class safety, is simply a vehicle that the market has to stand up and listen.
If we Canadians are keen to give the i our ears, we will be rewarded with great fuel economy, negligible emissions and an interior space which can comfortably accommodate four adults all while being cocooned by a strong body structure that provides excellent multidirectional impact safety.
To provide a generous front crumple zone, its 660 cc 3-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is mounted in the rear. Weighing only 900 kg, the i will certainly outsmart smart at the traffic lights and offers a lot more fun and stability in the process. It’s also surprisingly roomy inside with a tallish cabin and a wheelbase that surpasses the Toyota Yaris by 90 mm. If only it’s price would be as irresistible as its looks, the Mitsubishi i will be the new darling for "smart" buyers.
Mitsubishi Colt CZT & DID
I do not have a warm heart for diesels, so it’s the 152 hp CZT rather than the 94 hp DID that coodles my desire when it comes to seat time. Although it’s the 3-door DID that looks the coolest, both engines are available in either 3 or 5-door configurations in markets outside North America. I find it amusing that with a history (since 1962) longer than any of its competitors- Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, the Mitsubishi Colt is actually the one that has been left out. So, say a BIG please to MMSCAN to bring us the Colt, and in the meantime please don’t forget the Colt CZC Turbo with its magical folding hardtop too.
Mitsubishi Grandis
With 4 conventional doors and no sliding doors, the Grandis might meet a lot of resistance in the minivan market. But badge it as a 7-passenger Crossover, this aggressively styled people mover would attract a lot of buyers who need a minivan but are turned off by their clumsy clothes and sleepy character.
Mitsubishi might want to replace the current 2.4-litre 160 hp 4-cylinder engine with a V6 before going ahead with their sales plan. Driving dynamics is top-notch with handling and high-speed stability that few minivans could match.
Mitsubishi L200/Triton
Built in Thailand, the L200 has helped Mitsubishi made significant gains in pick-ups in markets where it is sold. I have never been fond of pick-ups particularly full-size ones because of their arrogance and excess, but this compact full-cab pick-up has left me with a good impression of what might turn out to be the best business proposition of all. So, it is with utmost sorry to Edwin that we are not in agreement on this matter.