Mitsubishi Mirage bows in Montreal without a name, Canadian sales promised

Sun, 20 Jan 2013

The Detroit Auto Show had plenty of major debuts for North American car buyers, but the Montreal Auto Show is being used for the North American debut of a new subcompact hatchback from Mitsubishi. Although this car is unnamed, it is almost identical to the redesigned Mirage we saw back at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show (and has been on sale in Asian markets such as Thailand since last year), but it is unclear if the car will carry this name when it goes on sale for our neighbors to the north starting this fall.

Aside from a slightly less annoying shade the of green we saw the car painted in at the Tokyo show, there are a few changes made for the car's Canadian debut. The biggest difference is that it is almost three inches longer, which is likely a result of the new rear fascia that is also visually different with some altered lines and small, circular reflectors. Other changes include a bigger three-cylinder engine (with a 1.2-liter displacement instead of the Tokyo car's 1.0-liter engine) and headlights that have new amber lenses for side reflectors.

There is still no word as to whether or not we'll see this new car in Mitsubishi's US lineup anytime soon, but it does seem like a good competitor against cars like that Mazda2, Chevrolet Spark and Hyundai Accent.

Mitsubishi has provided a press release for this Canadian hatchback, which we've posted after the jump.

2014 Mitsubishi Small Car Makes North American Debut
Canada's Newest Subcompact Arrives This Fall

Montreal, Quebec (January 17, 2013) – An all-new Mitsubishi subcompact made its North American debut today at the Salon International de l'auto de Montreal. Canada's newest subcompact, the five-door Mitsubishi promises class-leading fuel economy and value for money in a youthful, fun-to-drive hatchback.

Wider than Chevrolet Spark, taller than Hyundai Accent and longer than Scion iQ, the new car (known as Mirage in other markets) is based on Mitsubishi Motor Corporation's successful global small car and will arrive in Canada this fall. Produced in Thailand and featuring a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder MIVEC engine mated to a five-speed manual or CVT transmission, the new car is expected to achieve superb fuel economy in city, highway and combined driving.

Displayed in striking Green Metallic paint, the subcompact was unveiled by Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN) president & CEO Shin Fujioka to gathered media: "The new 2014 Mitsubishi is fun, efficient, greener and affordable. We can't wait!" he said.

Based on the 'Global Small' concept car unveiled by Shin Fujioka 12 months ago, the new entry becomes the fifth model in the MMSCAN line-up. When it arrives at MMSCAN's 84 dealerships, it will rank as one of Canada's most affordable and fuel efficient new cars.

Describing it as MMSCAN's "latest ultra-efficient vehicle" Quebec sales manager Patrick Renaud, added: "Fuel efficiency is our global focus, our company mission", noting the Mitsubishi RVR compact sport utility achieves class-leading 6.1 L/100 km and Mitsubishi Lancer is "not far behind".

Preliminary specifications are: Length, 3,780 mm; width, 1665 mm; height, 1500 mm; wheelbase, 2450 mm; wheels/tires, 165/65R14; output, 74 hp at 6,000 rpm and 74 ft. lbs. torque at 4,000 rpm.

MMSCAN research reveals subcompact car consumers hold five key purchase considerations: Fuel economy, value for money, price, reliability and exterior styling. The new Mitsubishi is expected to hit squarely on all five, leading the industry in several.
Fuel Economy / Price / Value for Money
MMSCAN expects the new car's fuel economy to be among the best for gasoline-powered cars in Canada. In terms of affordability, MMSCAN will announce final retail pricing closer to the sale date, however it expects an MSRP in the low teens for a model that will feature an impressive, long list of standard equipment.
Reliability
The 2014 Mitsubishi subcompact is backed by the best warranty in the world – 10 years or 160,000 km limited powertrain, five years or 100,000 km limited new vehicle and five years, unlimited mileage roadside assistance.

Additionally, it is designed with Mitsubishi's Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body system. RISE combines an impact energy-absorbing front end with a high-rigidity cabin structure.
Exterior Styling
The new car's unique headlamp design and sculpted hood create an expressive frontal "face". The sides feature a taut belt line that starts down low from behind the front wheel and rises gently towards the rear. The roof line curves gently down toward the rear spoiler. Through fluid analysis and wind tunnel testing, Mitsubishi has crafted the optimal design to reduce air resistance.

The front end emphasizes visibility and maneuverability. The interior package is efficiently designed to accommodate five adults and luggage.

The newest Mitsubishi comes with a palette of seven body colours including Green Metallic, Dark Grey, Blue Mica, Red Metallic, White, Cool Silver Metallic and Black Mica.

By Jeffrey N. Ross