Mitsubishi may sell i-car in the UK
4Car reports that Mitsubishi UK is showing the
Japanese-market i-Car to British dealers and focus groups, with an eye to importing the car. Mitsubishi UK would likely
sell the car in limited numbers (about 1,000 per year), as a test marketing exercise in preparation for volume
introduction of the next-generation i-car in 2010.Mitsubishi UK is prepared to invest in modifying the current i-car to meet EU standards, providing it can sell the car fully-loaded for under about $16,000 (£9,000).
The current i-car has its heritage in the now-defunct Mitsubishi-DaimlerChrysler partnership, and is based on the Smart ForTwo platform. The next-gen version will be all new, and available in a hybrid version with Mitsubishi's MIEV technology.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David 9:22AM (3/22/2006)
Thanks for leaving the U.S. out...again.
Are we ever going to get small cars again? And yes...I am aware of the Fit and the Yaris.
It's high time that we were able to drive micro-cars here...KEI cars...whatever. They just need to make it happen...soon.
This Mitsu looks terrific. Please send them here too.
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klaatu 9:35AM (3/22/2006)
Yes, if Smart can bring in this type of car via Zap, why not Mitsubishi "officially" bringing in say 5000 a year to dip their toe into the water? The Japanese price is about $11,500 with turbo 660cc, and a 1 litre version with turbo (and about 90-100 horsepower?) could sell in the US for about $12,000, as a guess. Yes, bring THIS generation "i" into the US by next spring - 2007. And, why not?!
I think Mitsubishi should try to put performance ahead of trying to compete with Toyota and Hyundai - in other words, be what Pontiac never could be. A slightly sportier, up-scale brand, away from the "mainstream" brands.
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Michael Karesh 9:44AM (3/22/2006)
If the Fit and Yaris sell, then we'll get more small cars. Just the way the market works. Most of the time when manufacturers bring a car over against their better judgment, because the press and/or vocal enthusiasts ask for it, it flops.
As promised yesterday, Honda Fit pricing is now up at http://www.truedelta.com. Equipment levels fall between the Civic DX and Civic LX. Adjusted for features, the Sport is actually about $2,000 less than the Civic. The Base model costs $1,300 less, but has about $1,800 less stuff, so it's about $1,500 less than the Civic.
Yaris pricing has been up for some time.
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Daddy-O 9:48AM (3/22/2006)
Yes, bring the i over here... just make sure there aren't any turbocharged escalades still on the road to bring you back to reality...
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Cosmo 10:23AM (3/22/2006)
If Mitsubishi brings this "i" car to the U.S., Im pretty sure that itll be a hit among college students, retirees, city dwellers, the environmentally conscious and basically people who dont mind driving a quirky-looking car (myself included). :)
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Buil 10:25AM (3/22/2006)
The UK Mitsubishi Colt *is* a Smart ForFour, isn't it...?
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klaatu 10:58AM (3/22/2006)
Buil, the UK (and European market) Mitsubishi Colt is built by Nedcar in Holland, which is 1/2 owned by Mitsubishi and 1/2 owned by DCX, so these two cars use a shared "pan" and some engines, but have different exteriors (skins) and interiors.
Mitsu also build the same Colt cars in Japan and have full rights to the design. The Colt is just about to have a retractible hardtop-convertible introduced (CZC I think), and has a "hot" (CZT I think) 3 door turbo-variant as well.
The Smart Forfour and Colt are more different than you might think and are NOT "badge-engineered" vehicles.
This means of saving money was used previously by unrelated companies; i.e. Saab and FIAT/Lancia collaborated on a pan before GM bought Saab, saved them both money in development, though in that example, no factories were shared.
Google nedcar's website in Holland and you'll see some interesting stuff, also check out
www. globalautoindex.com
if you have a few hours. Once a car-nut finds this site, you'll want to set aside a few hours; it shows every new car built in the world. Fascinating.
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rwcmick 5:23PM (4/03/2006)
For those who want this model to come to the USA, better run to LA and make some noise--they brought over two i cars to gauge interest.
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060403/FREE/60331080/1003/TOC&refcat=Automotive%20News%20Table%20of%20Contents
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http://www.allcarsallthetime.com
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Gary White 6:36AM (7/06/2007)
Hello Sir,
This is mr white and i will like to know if you have 2005 Chevrolet SSR instock and plz email with 2 models that you have instock now.
Thank You.
White.
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