Mitsubishi to offer CVT for first time in U.S.
The next Mitsubishi Lancer will be the first vehicle from the company to be offered with a continuously variable transmission when it goes on sale next March. The CVT will be paired with a 2.4L version of the World Engine that Mitsubishi helped develop in conjunction with Hyundai and Daimler Chrysler.
AutoWeek reports that Mitsubishi is using the CVT as a relatively inexpensive way to increase fuel economy. The new tranny could improve the Lancer's fuel economy by up to 20 percent. The move will give the struggling Japanese automaker an attractive product in its portfolio for those seeking efficiency over performance.
Other notable items that AutoWeek mentioned include the fact that Mitsubishi isn't developing a hybrid because it would be just too expensive to develop. The company is, however, planning to offer a diesel in the U.S. by 2010 and is also working on creating flex-fuel engines capable of running E85.
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daddy-O 11:06AM (6/27/2006)
Can't wait for the EVO X next March!
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Glenn A. 12:25PM (6/27/2006)
This just gives credence to the idea that started to form in my mind awhile back.
Soon, there will be two tiers of automobile manufacturers in the world.
Those companies with resources enough to do hybrids (followed up by hydrogen fuel cell cars), and - those who don't have the resources.
It's somewhat analagous to when the electric starter for the gasoline automobile came out in the 1920's.
Car manufacturers which had "sold" their steam or electric cars on the fact that cranking cars was dangerous (it was) and difficult (it was) suddenly didn't have a leg to stand on.
Suddenly, the automobile industry had two tiers, then, too.
The steam and electric auto manufacturers either had to adopt the new technology - build gasoline cars with electric starters - or suffer the consequences.
Every single one of them ceased to exist.
Seen any new Stanley Steamers or Detroit Electrics, lately? Me neither.
In ten years, those companies without the resources or will to develop hybrids now and fuel cell cars then, will perish.
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MikeW 4:01PM (6/27/2006)
Maybe Chrysler wasn't allowed to couple the 2.4 World I4 to the JATCO CVT in the new Sebring.
The 4 speed automatic is just an insult.
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digitalzombie 5:09PM (6/27/2006)
Nissan own the majority of JATCO shares. They're exclusively for Nissan at least from what I've heard.
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John 9:56PM (6/27/2006)
#4, stop hearsaying and start reading.
Jatco, a Nissan subsidiary, sells to:
NISSAN MOTOR CO.,LTD.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION
MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK & BUS CORPORATION
ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO.,LTD.
SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
BMW AG
VW AG
LAND ROVER GROUP LTD
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
JAGUAR CARS LTD.
GM DAEWOO AUTO & TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
LONDON TAXIS INTERNATIONAL
FORD-WERKE AG
RENAULT SAMSUNG MOTORS CO.,LTD.
FORD LIO HO MOTOR CO.,LTD.
HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIA LTD.
CHINA MOTOR CO.,LTD.
PERUSAHAAN OTOMOBIL NASIONAL BERHAD (PROTON)
SHENYANG BRILLIANCE JINBEI AUTOMOBILE CO.,LTD
SAIC CHERY AUTOMOBILE CO.,LTD
SOUTH EAST MOTOR CO.,LTD
HYUNDAI POWERTECH
CHANGAN FORD AUTOMOBILE CO., LTD.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/LTD_INFO/profile.html
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