Mitsubishi's Budget Mirage Supermini Enters Production

The all-new Mitsubishi Mirage, a no-frills supermini that we first saw at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, has entered series production at the company's brand-new factory at Laem Chabang in Thailand. The Japanese automaker's "global compact car" will first go on sale in Thailand next week before it is exported to other Southeast Asian countries followed by Japan, Europe and other markets around the world later this year.
"I am pleased to present the Mirage first in Thailand," said Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
"The Mirage is an all-new compact car focused on premium fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions just right for the times where demand for superior fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness are increasing all over the world."
At 3710 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, the new Mirage falls between city cars like the Fiat Panda and superminis like the Ford Fiesta.
It is powered by a new 1.0-liter three-cylinder MIVEC gasoline engine that can be equipped with Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system linked to a CVT driving the front wheels. Mitsubishi claims a combined fuel efficiency of 30km/L (equal to 3.3lt/100km or 70mpg US) on the Japanese test cycle.
The Thai-market Mirage will be priced between THB 380,000 to 551,000 (US$12,300 to US$17,900 or €9,400 to €13,600) depending on trim level, and Mitsubishi's plans are to sell approximately 2,500 units per month in Thailand.

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Mitsubishi Mirage is a No Frills - Low Cost Entry in the Small Car Segment

You'd think that with the rise of the Korean auto industry, a troubled Japanese carmaker like Mitsubishi would up its game and even take some risks to gain a competitive edge.

Instead, Mitsubishi goes and creates the Mirage – quite possibly, the most bland looking city car in the market today…
 
But perhaps that was Mitsubishi's plan all along […] as the company claims that the design of the small subcompact model "was focused on compactness, affordability, and high fuel efficiency in order to fit the needs of emerging markets as an affordable entry-level model as well as needs of advanced markets for fuel efficiency and low-CO2 emission."
In terms of size, at 3710 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, the Mirage sits between thoroughbred city cars like the Fiat Panda and superminis like the Ford Fiesta.
A new 1.0-liter three-cylinder MIVEC gasoline engine with an available Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system linked to a CVT drives the front wheels of the car with Mitsubishi targeting a fuel efficiency of 30km/L (equal to 3.3lt/100km or 70mpg US) on the Japanese test cycle.
The new Mirage will go on sale in 2012 in Thailand first before Mitsubishi releases it across the world later in the year.

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