Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mitsubishi set to idle Illinois plant for seven weeks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/mitsubishi-set-to-idle-illinois-plant-for-seven-weeks/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/mitsubishi-set-to-idle-illinois-plant-for-seven-weeks/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/mitsubishi-set-to-idle-illinois-plant-for-seven-weeks/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Slumping sales have pushed Mitsubishi to schedule a production stoppage at their Normal, Illinois plant early next year for a period lasting more than 40 days. The facility, employing 1,568 workers, manufacturers both the Galant and Eclipse. When the assembly line lights go dark between February 16 and April 3, it will signify the longest halt of production since the facility began operation in 1988. The news obviously isn't good, but it thankfully doesn't carry any immediate word about layoffs. According to Mitsubishi, all employees will remain on payroll during the shutdown and be shifted to other non-production jobs, including maintenance and training.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mitsubishi set to idle Illinois plant for seven weeks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closurelayoffmitsubishimitsubishi eclipsemitsubishi galantMitsubishiEclipseMitsubishiGalantnormalNormal illinoisNormalIllinoisshutdownstoppageWed, 10 Dec 2008 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[LA 2008: Mitsubishi shows a pair of '70s novelties]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/la-2008-mitsubishi-shows-a-pair-of-70s-novelties/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/la-2008-mitsubishi-shows-a-pair-of-70s-novelties/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/la-2008-mitsubishi-shows-a-pair-of-70s-novelties/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of these fun '70s Mitsubishis

We might have skipped the Mitsubishi booth altogether this year at the LA Auto Show if it hadn't been for this pair of eye-catching cars from the '70s. While checking out the neighboring Audi booth we spotted a toad-green FTO and then caught a glimpse of what looked like an old F1 car. The racecar turned out to be the last single-seat racer Mitsu ever made, the 1971 Colt F2000. It actually won the Japan Grand Prix that year. It was powered by a 4-valve dohc 1,994 cc R39B that put out 290 PS. It was also one of the first open-wheelers to use those side-mounted radiators that became the standard in many forms of single-seater racing.

The other car was a 1973 Galant FTO GS-R. Fittingly painted toad-green, this little beast had warts all over it. Built between 1971 and 1975 the FTO was a rear-drive coupe that could be had with a number of different Neptune and Saturn fours ranging from 86 hp up to 110 hp for the top option 1,597 cc mill found in the GS-R. A spiritual predecessor to the Evos of today, both are some fun finds here at an otherwise somber LA Auto Show.

Gallery: LA 2008: Mitsubishi shows a pair of '70s novelties


Live photos copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

LA 2008: Mitsubishi shows a pair of '70s novelties originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Colt F2000ColtF2000F2000Galant FTOGalant FTO GS-RGalantFtoGalantFtoGs-rla auto showla auto show 2008la autoshowLaAutoShowLaAutoShow2008los angeles auto showLosAngelesAutoShowMitsubishi Colt F2000mitsubishi galantMitsubishi Galant FTOMitsubishi Galant FTO GS-RMitsubishiColtF2000MitsubishiGalantMitsubishiGalantFtoMitsubishiGalantFtoGs-rFri, 21 Nov 2008 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi wants to halt U.S. Galant production, switch to small cars for export]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/mitsubishi-wants-to-halt-u-s-galant-production-switch-to-small/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/mitsubishi-wants-to-halt-u-s-galant-production-switch-to-small/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/mitsubishi-wants-to-halt-u-s-galant-production-switch-to-small/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Mitsubishi has a plant in Normal, Illinois that's capable of churning out 240,000 vehicles per year, if the demand is there. Currently, the plant produces the Galant, Eclipse and Endeavor CUV, a model mix that doesn't even spur enough excitement to drive the plant to its 100,000 vehicle per year break even point. Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko would like to shuffle the models produced in Normal, focusing less on the Galant and producing more cars for global sale. For instance, vehicles like the Lancer or Outlander could be built in the Illinois plant instead of the Galant. Since those vehicles are offered worldwide, the hope is that building them in the U.S. for export to other markets would bump the plant's volume past 100,000 vehicles per year on the strength of demand elsewhere. Mitsubishi has only been able to sell 80,000 vehicles in the U.S. this year, and Masuko wants more small cars to meet growing consumer desire for fuel sippers. One thing seems certain is that the Normal plant won't be idled, having just been given a four-year extension with a UAW labor deal.

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Mitsubishi wants to halt U.S. Galant production, switch to small cars for export originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mitsubishimitsubishi eclipsemitsubishi economy carmitsubishi endeavormitsubishi galantmitsubishi lancermitsubishi manufacturingmitsubishi normalmitsubishi outlandermitsubishi plantMitsubishiEclipseMitsubishiEconomyCarMitsubishiEndeavorMitsubishiGalantmitsubishilancerMitsubishiManufacturingMitsubishiNormalMitsubishiOutlanderMitsubishiPlantMon, 03 Nov 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/iihs-midsize-smack-down-side-impact-ratings-better-rear-crashe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/iihs-midsize-smack-down-side-impact-ratings-better-rear-crashe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/iihs-midsize-smack-down-side-impact-ratings-better-rear-crashe/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just wrapped up its latest battery of batterings and most of the tested contenders in the mid-size segment faired well. The Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, along with the Infiniti G35, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Mitsubishi Galant and Kia Optima all received a grade of "Good" for front and side impacts, with the exception of the Optima, which ranked "Acceptable" during the side impact evaluation. However, problems arose in the rear crash test, where the G35, Altima, Malibu, and Aura were all rated as "Marginal," while the Avenger/Sebring received an "Average" score and the Optima walked away with a gold star and a "Good" rating. The only vehicle that received a "Poor" rating on any of the tests was the Mitsubishi Galant, which didn't hold up as well during the rear-impact test.

All the details from the IIHS are available in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much

IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevrolet malibuChevroletMalibuchrysler sebringChryslerSebringcrash testsCrashTestsdodge aventerDodgeAventeriihsinfiniti g35InfinitiG35insurance institute for highway safetyInsuranceInstituteForHighwaySafetykia optimaKiaOptimamitsubishi galantMitsubishiGalantNissan altimaNissanAltimasaturn auraSaturnAuraThu, 10 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi ZT Concept could replace cancelled 380 in Australia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/mitsubishi-zt-concept-could-replace-cancelled-380-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/mitsubishi-zt-concept-could-replace-cancelled-380-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/mitsubishi-zt-concept-could-replace-cancelled-380-in-australia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Concept ZT.

It's a foregone conclusion that the Concept ZT unveiled in Tokyo is the styling direction Mitsubishi will take when it unveils a reworked Galant in the next couple of years. So common sense says that the next iteration of the Mitsubishi 380 sold in Australia, which began life in 2005 as a rebadged Galant with a few design tweaks, is going to reappear sharing most of the cues debuted on the ZT.

The fact that Mitsubishi will end production of the 380 at its Adalaide, Australia plant towards the end of March so it can pursue a "full import strategy" is further proof that the next 380 is going to share even more in common with the next generation Galant. While it's not certain that the 380 moniker will be nixed in favor of a Galant badge, it's likely to be packing a choice of new motors that puts fuel-efficiency over performance, including one of Mitsubishi's new diesel mills.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Gallery: Mitsubishi Concept-ZT

Mitsubishi ZT Concept could replace cancelled 380 in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>380concept ztConceptZtgalantmitsubishimitsubishi 380mitsubishi concept ztmitsubishi galantMitsubishi380MitsubishiConceptZtMitsubishiGalantMon, 11 Feb 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago 2008: Reskinned 2009 Mitsubishi Galant seen with new nose]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-reskinned-2009-mitsubishi-galant-seen-with-new-nos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-reskinned-2009-mitsubishi-galant-seen-with-new-nos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-reskinned-2009-mitsubishi-galant-seen-with-new-nos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Mitsubishi just unveiled its freshened-for-2009 Galant sedan at the Chicago Auto Show, and unlike our favorable response to the changes made to its Eclipse sibling, we think Mitsu might need to do a hard refresh on the Galant a couple of more times before it looks as handsome as it could. The new uninterrupted grille might look better than the prior split version, but it still doesn't seem to work as well as the nose on the EVO or new Eclipse. Out back, however, the new Lancer-inspired taillights and slightly reshaped fenders are a big improvement.

As we recently reported when the info was dropped in our laps a few days ago, the 2009 Mitsubish Galant will be offered in four versions: the top-shelf Ralliart model (red car in pics), V6 Sport, four-cylinder Sport edition and the four-cylinder ES (gray). The Ralliart is still powered by a 3.8L MIVEC V6 producing 258 horsepower and uses a 5-speed Sportronic automatic transmission. The Galant V6 Sport gets a 230-hp 3.8L V6, while the two remaining models are powered by a 160-hp 2.4L MIVEC four-cylinder. The V6 models get a 5-speed Sportronic automatic, while the four-cylinders make do with four-speeds. The two Sport models (both V6 and four-cylinder versions) also feature a power glass sunroof and heated cloth front seats as standard equipment. A ho-hum enhancement for a model that never caught on after its last redesign, we think Mitsubishi missed the target on this one.

Check out Mitsu's full press release after the jump, and the new live pics in our gallery below.

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Continue reading Chicago 2008: Reskinned 2009 Mitsubishi Galant seen with new nose

Chicago 2008: Reskinned 2009 Mitsubishi Galant seen with new nose originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Galant2009GalantChicagochicago 2008Chicago Auto ShowChicago2008ChicagoAutoShowMitsubishi GalantMitsubishiGalantThu, 07 Feb 2008 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago '08 Preview: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant gets fresh face]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/chicago-08-preview-2009-mitsubish-galant-gets-fresh-face/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/chicago-08-preview-2009-mitsubish-galant-gets-fresh-face/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/chicago-08-preview-2009-mitsubish-galant-gets-fresh-face/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Mitsubishi will officially unveil the freshened-for-2009 Galant sedan at the Chicago Auto Show next week, but we can show you now what changes are in store for the mid-size four-door. The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant is marked by new exterior styling that, while not revolutionary, is just enough of a change to say the look is new. The front end features a cleaner design than the '08 model by dropping Mitsubishi's short-lived split grille for a more traditional one that spans uninterrupted across the Galant's face. The new hood gets some sharp creases and the lower intake has been changed and features new fog lights on either side. Big changes have occurred out back, too, where there are new rear taillights that necessitated a slight change in the rear fenders' shape, as well. Though Mitsubishi told us the interior had been updated too, the only difference we could see was a new shifter gate.

The 2009 Mitsubish Galant will be offered in four versions: the top-shelf Ralliart model, V6 Sport (shown), four-cylinder Sport edition and the four-cylinder ES. The Ralliart is still powered by a 3.8L MIVEC V6 producing 258 HP and uses a 5-speed Sportronic automatic transmission. The Galant V6 Sport gets a 230-HP 3.8L V6, while the two remaining models are powered by a 160-HP 2.4L MIVEC four-cylinder. The V6 models get a 5-speed Sportronic automatic, while the four-cylinders made do with four-speeds. The two Sport models (both V6 and four-cylinder versions) also feature a power glass sunroof and heated cloth front seats as standard equipment.

It would appear that Mitsubishi is banking on the Galant's new sheetmetal alone to move more metal off the dealer lots, but with more customer traffic in showrooms thanks to successful redesigns of the Outlander and Lancer, its plan just might work. Check out Mitsubishi's full press release after the jump.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Continue reading Chicago '08 Preview: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant gets fresh face

Chicago '08 Preview: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant gets fresh face originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Galant2009 Mitsubishi Galant2009Galant2009MitsubishiGalantChicagoChicago 2008Chicago Auto ShowChicago2008ChicagoAutoShowGalantMitsubishiMitsubishi GalantMitsubishiGalantFri, 01 Feb 2008 16:05:00 EST