Mitsubishi ASX tops class in fuel efficiency rally
18 October 2010
The new Mitsubishi ASX Diesel Sport is the most fuel-efficient Small Lifestyle Vehicle in New Zealand, winning the class in the AA Energywise Rally.
"The excellent result proves that diesel technology is really coming into its own," said driver and Mitsubishi Motors technical services manager Lloyd Robinson. "The ASX engine features world-first variable valve timing in a diesel passenger car; the result of a collaborative focus to extract maximum potential from the fuel.
"There is a huge amount of development going into diesel engines," said Mr Robinson. "Mitsubishi Motors and sister company Mitsubishi Heavy Industry have been developing this engine for some time and they've done an exceptional job. It is very fuel efficient with low carbon emissions and, at the same time, strong and powerful - consumers no longer have to compromise between efficiency and power."
The rally took competitors from Auckland to Wellington and back over four days, covering 1,780 km over a variety of roads. The ASX Diesel Sport used slightly over a tank and a half (95 litres) of fuel at a cost, including Road User Charges, of $195.30 or 0.11 cents / km.
In winning the class, Mr Robinson bettered ASX's 5.9L/100km factory fuel use figure by 8.65% and the stated 155g of CO2 /100km by 9.42%. At the finish line he'd averaged 5.4L/100km and 140g/100km over the event.
The ASX was revealed to the New Zealand market in August and has enjoyed buoyant sales, capturing the imaginations of consumers in a range of segments. Mitsubishi's head of sales and marketing strategy Daniel Cook says ASX has appealed to lifestyle-focused customers.
"ASX complements many New Zealand lifestyles perfectly," said Mr Cook. "It's highly fuel efficient without compromising driving enjoyment and the slightly raised seat configuration, together with a good dose of off-road capability, delivers versatility to meet many needs.
"To-date, in a difficult market, it has been very well received and the Energywise Rally result reinforces the exceptional value ASX delivers."
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) has placed well in Wheels Magazines Gold Star Cars awards 2010 seeing the ASX and Pajero receive first place and Lancer VR Sportback and Lancer VRX receive second place in selected categories.
The Wheels Magazine judges evaluated each vehicle against a range of criteria including warranty, service interval, fuel economy, service prices, purchase price, retained value, safety, driving experience, insurance and cross-class comparison.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) Vice President of Brand and Marketing, Paul Unerkov, was pleased with the success of our products in the Wheels Magazine awards.
“It gives me a great sense of pride to see our newest compact SUV achieve first place in the Gold Star Cars awards and of course our sturdy Pajero, recognised for its alluring rugged charm,” said Mr Unerkov.
Mitsubishi’s ASX AWD turbo-diesel received first in the Compact SUVs category ahead of the Hyundai iX35 and the BMW X1 for its fuel efficiency, sharp pricing and attractive styling. An overall score of 81.87 resulted from the ASX’s warranty cover and five-star safety rating as well as its cheap fuel bill of as low as $1034 per annum and 5.9 litre per 100km economy figure.
The Pajero GLS 3.2 CDi also topped its class with first place in the 4WD segment ahead of the Toyota Prado and Land Rover Discovery. Recognised for its reasonable $62K purchase price, 9.2 litre per 100km turbo-diesel thrift and five-year warranty, the perennial off-road workhorse was a well deserved winner.
‘Small under $26k’ and ‘Sedan/hatch $26-31k’ saw Lancer take home second place in both categories. The VR Sportback for the former, scoring maximum points for active and passive safety equipment and the VRX for the latter offering confidence to buyers and representing low-maintenance motoring.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia introduces the sporty and practical Lancer Sportback 2.4
October 21, 2010
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the official importer and distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles, unveiled the new Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback today. The arrival of the fully-imported Lancer Sportback from Japan expands the Lancer range in Malaysia, which includes the GT and EX sedans.
The Lancer Sportback is a sporty five-door hatchback variant of the Lancer family, powered by a strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 170 PS at 6,000 rpm and 226 Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm.
"The new Lancer Sportback is set to create a new sporty trend in the passenger car market - it is a good all-rounder that's sporty, good to drive and practical, ideal for those with a modern lifestyle, without compromising on space. With the biggest engine in its class and sport-tuned suspension, the Sportback will excite enthusiastic drivers. There's an equal measure of sharp handling and good ride comfort that will please both driver and passenger," said Tetsuya Oda, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
With the largest capacity engine among C-segment vehicles in Malaysia, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia aims to sell 50 units of Lancer Sportback per month. As of August this year, the non-national market share for Lancer is 7.5%, with an average of 150 units per month.
Available in three colours (Lightning Blue, White Solid and Black Mica) the Lancer Sportback's introductory price is RM129, 363.80 (on the road excluding insurance).
30 special edition Lancer Sportback LE with Ralliart accessories were also launched today. Priced at RM130, 831.80 on-the-road excluding insurance, the Lancer Sportback LE features a re-styled sporty exterior with gun metal rims, re-painted front grille and sporty carbon fibre design on its rear bumper. Its Ralliart accessories include stickers and emblem, front bumper foil, fog lamp ring and scuff plates. The interior is enhanced with race-inspired re-designed Nappa leather seats with red and orange stitching.
The 16-valve DOHC engine with Mitsubishi's proprietary MIVEC technology is paired to an INVECS-III Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with a 6-step Sports Mode. This gearbox combines efficiency and seamless progress with the involvement of a manual transmission. It comes with magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters that enable drivers to shift gears with both hands on the wheel.
With sport-tuned fully independent suspension which incorporates front MacPherson strut and a rear multi-link system, the Lancer Sportback offers a good ride and handling balance. A front strut tower bar that further sharpens handling is standard on the Sportback. Large 18-inch wheels with wide low profile 215/45 tyres contribute to both sporty looks and good roadholding. Braking duties are handled by front ventilated discs and solid rear discs.
The Lancer Sportback has a full suite of active and passive safety features. Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) help keep the car on the chosen path while dual stage SRS driver and passenger airbags offer added protection. The Lancer Sportback's rigid RISE body structure plays a key role in protecting occupants in a crash.
Far more than just a sporty driver's car, the Lancer Sportback is a truly practical proposition. Created for those with active lifestyles, the Sportback boasts a variety of cabin configurations, ease of use and generous space.
The large boot has a height-adjustable floor that can either create a "hidden compartment" or provide extra 90 mm depth. The process is a quick and easy one-handed operation.
Similarly easy to use are the 60/40 split folding rear seats for long cargo. There are latches on both sides of the cargo area that folds the seats once pulled. This is also a one-handed operation that can be performed when one's hands are full - no stretching required. A tonneau cover keeps prying eyes away.
The Lancer Sportback comes with an extensive list of standard equipment. The front sport seats and the rear seats are covered in full Nappa leather. The sporty three-spoke steering wheel, gear knob and parking brake lever are also leather-wrapped. All occupants will enjoy the automatic air-conditioning and 2-DIN LCD touch screen entertainment system, which has six speakers and steering wheel audio controls.
