For those of you fooled by the *cough* deceptive *cough* restyling Proton has done, the Inspira (from the Bahasa Malaysia word 'Inspirasi' which means 'Inspiration') is based on the current generation Mitsubishi Lancer.
In a world first, customers will be able to take the compact crossover around a closed circuit course, controlling the actually vehicle through an "interactive remote control" from the comfort of their own internet-connected PCs. I wonder what a "non-interactive remote control" would be...
When developing the Live Drive experience, Mitsubishi consulted robotics expert, Dr. James Brighton who was instrumental in constructing the online test drive program
The small car would possibly be offered here in 2012 (it's said to have sub-1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine), but it's hard to believe a small efficient car (and the Lancer family) could be enough to justify keeping the brand here. There's light on the horizon, but more on that in a bit.
As you can for yourselves in the video after the jump, the Auckland rally driver lost control of his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO racer when an unknown individual flashed his crack (33 seconds into the video) ahead of a tight corner causing him to crash and rollover the car.
Under the agreement, Mitsubishi will supply its new ASX crossover (named RVR in Japan) to the PSA group that will make two visually different vehicles for its Citroën and Peugeot brands with sales set to begin in early 2012.
They even teased fans with the turbo'd, AWD Eclipse Ralliart concept back in 2006; for some reason, nothing came of it. Who WOULDN'T buy a coupe-ified Evo?
With the exception of a few details such the black finish on the ASX's front and rear bumper inserts, grille and rocker panels as well as the addition of turning signals on the exterior mirrors, the European does not differ in any other way from the JDM version.
'ASX' is the name that Mitsubishi chose for the European version of the JDM RVR that will have its world premiere at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show in early March.
Via: Theophilus Chin
The Outlander's smaller brother will be offered in Europe with various powertrains including an all-new Euro 5-compliant 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine with Stop & Go technology that's linked to a six-speed manual transmission.
The ASX will have its European premiere at the at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March with sales set to follow from late Spring 2010.
Both variants are fitted with a new entry-level 2.0-liter gasoline engine producing 148PS at 6,000 rpm and 20.1kgm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm.
The base Outlander 20E (pre-facelift body) is available with 2WD or AWD and is priced from 1,995,000 Yen, which comes to around US$21,800 or €15,100.
The Outlander Roadest 2.0 with the sporty aero parts, also offered with 2WD or AWD, starts from 2,475,900 Yen, or about US$27,100 / €18,800 at today's exchange rates.
These are the first official images of Mitsubishi's all-new compact crossover which bears the name 'RVR'. With this model, the Japanese automaker expands its crossover lineup, which already includes the full-size Pajero (also known as Shogun and Montero in some markets), and the recently updated mid-size Outlander.Inspired by the Japanese firm's 2007 cX concept, the RVR makes use of Mitsubishi's mid-size global platform, which also forms the basis for the Lancer and Outlander.
However, at 4.3 meters in length, the RVR is 365mm (14.4-in.) shorter than the current Outlander SUV.
The compact crossover model will be offered at launch with an all-new 1.8L MIVEC petrol engine, though it is almost certain that Mitsubishi will add a diesel variant for some markets in the near future.
Mitsubishi said that the RVR will be released globally, including North America, Europe, and Asian regions including China, with sales set to start first in Japan next Spring.
Even though we're still a full year away from the European market launch of the iOn, Peugeot has already started to take pre-reservations for the all-electric car in the UK. Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the i0n is actually a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV. As part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi deal, Citroen will also launch its own version of the i-MiEV called the C-Zero. With four doors and four seats, and a compact length of 3.48 m, the i0n is powered by a 64bhp electric motor that allows it to reach a top speed of 80mph or 129 km/h.
The small city car has a driving range of 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged in six hours through a conventional mains power supply or recharged to 80% capacity within thirty minutes with a fast charging system.
Peugeot has not disclosed prices for the i0n. However, we do know that in Japan, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (that's €34,500 or $51,300 at today's exchange rates), which is more than twice the cost of a Toyota Prius.
Remember how promising Mitsubishi's all-new small crossover looked in the teaser sketch that was released back in October? Well, if these official designs are of any indication, then the reality is that the as-yet unnamed crossover won't be as near as exciting as Mitsubishi wanted us to believe. On the other hand, the production model does retain most of the styling cues featured on the 2007 Mitsubishi cX concept, on which it is based, with most changes concerning the rear end of the car that appears to have grown in length.
Leaving the styling aside, Mitsubishi's baby crossover uses the Japanese firm's mid-size global platform, which also forms the basis the Lancer and Outlander. However, the new model will be smaller than the Outlander and will compete, at least in Europe, against Nissan's forthcoming Quazana crossover.
Power will come from four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines including Mitsubishi's new 1.8-liter turbocharged that made 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of peak torque in the 2007 cX concept.
The new crossover is scheduled to go on sale in Japan next February, and in Europe and other markets, in the summer of 2010.
Along with the introduction of the rest of the 2010 Outlander facelift range, Mitsubishi's U.S. division also uncovered the top-of-the-line GT model which is based on the New York Show Outlander GT prototype that previewed the redesigned model earlier this year. And while Mitsubishi didn't stick with the prototype's lower exterior trim finish, 19-inch O.Z. alloys, aluminum roof finish and the specific three-spoke steering wheel, what it did keep on the production GT is a version of the Lancer EVO X's S-AWC or Super All-Wheel Control system.The S-AWC system uses an active front limited-slip differential and an electronically controlled four-wheel drive coupling to prevent wheel slip between front to rear and side-to-side thus improving handling, traction and stability.
The 2010 Outlander GT also gets 18-inch alloy wheels, enhanced interior trim with leather seats and an available full leather treatment for the dashboard, sport seats, alloy pedals, a multi color 3.5-inch LCD between the gauges, a sunroof and an upgraded 710-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.
Just like the 2010 Outlander XLS, the GT benefits from the tweaked 3.0-liter V6 engine that gets a 10-horsepower bump for 2010, now producing 230HP at 6,250 rpm and 204 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Power is transfered to the wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters.
The new Outlander GT is priced in the U.S. from $29,250 (excluding destination and handling fees).
