NEWS
Mitsubishi joins mini-sedan rush
Size a key selling point for big-booted Mirage four-doorBig bummed 'mini' cars are suddenly in vogue with Mitsubishi confirming it will launch the Mirage sedan in the second quarter of 2014, around the same time Honda's latest generation City goes on-sale.
As reported by motoring.com.au yesterday, Honda is spruiking the increase in boot capacity of its Jazz-based small car, which climbs from an already significant 506 litres to 536 litres.
MMAL is also excited by the substantial boot space the Mirage offers, although at 450 litres it falls well short of the City.
While based on the mechanicals of the popular Mirage hatchback that's been on-sale in Australia for about 12 months, including its 1.2-litre triple-cylinder engine, the sedan is a bigger car all-round, measuring up at 4.25m long, while the sub-light hatch is just 3.71m.
MMA's marketing executive director Tony Principe says that should be a strong selling point, although with hatchbacks accounting for around 90 per cent of mini-car sales, expectations aren't bullish the sedan will be a big hit.
"It is physically almost the size of the old generation Lancer [small] car and the boot is something like 450 litres," Principe said. "It is a pretty substantial car that we can actually pull some people out of the bottom of the small car segment who buy sedans."
Despite that growth, the Mirage sedan's measurements and its 57kW engine means it will still be among the smallest four-doors on offer in the Australian market. The City, with its 88kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and 4.44m length is more typical of the class, which also includes models such as the Ford Fiesta, Holden Barina and Hyundai Accent four-doors, that all have 1.6-litre engines.
The Mirage should undercut them on price considering the hatch commences at just $12,990. The sedan range is expected to be equipped similarly to the three-tier hatch range, be priced a little above it and offer both manual and CVT transmission choices.
Principe also confirmed the Mirage name had been approved for Australia by Mitsubishi Motors global HQ in Japan, although the Thai-built car is known as Attrage (as in 'Attractive Mirage") and G4 in other markets.
He said MMA had also taken some dealers to Japan to inspect the Mirage sedan and they had given it the thumbs up. Local testing in Adelaide and Sydney had also been positive, Principe added.
"It is actually 30 kilograms heavier than the hatch, but drives much better. Which is a real positive. It is quieter and smoother and it has much better response.
"Their engineering guys have done a great job mating the engine to the CVT transmission, and it's an exceptional handling car."
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Written byBruce Newton
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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