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Mitsubishi's president, Osamu Masuko, addressed the assembled masses in Beijing to inform them of plans to create a new subcompact car destined for Europe, China and Southeast Asia. The new platform will fit the standard dimensions of a Kei car in Japan (no more than 11.2-feet long and five-feet wide) and will come equipped with either the Japanese-mandated 660cc engine or, in markets outside of Japan, a 1.0-liter engine. Power will be sent to the rear wheels and the architecture will be flexible enough to be sold in several other markets. Masuko didn't mention the possibility of exporting the model to North America, but our friends abroad will be able to purchase the new subcompact in 2010.

Gallery: Mitsubishi i Turbo - Live in NY


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mitsubishi developing RWD subcompact world car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compactmitsubishimitsubishi compact world carMitsubishiCompactWorldCarworld carWorldCarMon, 21 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Next-gen Astra "world car" to cost GM $4.2 billion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/next-gen-astra-world-car-to-cost-gm-4-2-billion/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/next-gen-astra-world-car-to-cost-gm-4-2-billion/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/18/next-gen-astra-world-car-to-cost-gm-4-2-billion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The new Saturn Astra will be hitting US shores in the 4th quarter of 2007, but an even newer, more global c-platform vehicle will follow for the 2011 model year. The vehicle, which will be built in England, Germany, Sweden, and Poland, will be a truly global small car for the General, which helps GM lower tooling and component costs. Speaking of money, the cost of GM's global small car program is a staggering €3.1 billion ($4.2 billion), which is a big pile of cash.

As crazy a number as $4.2 billion sounds, we're guessing it's much cheaper than two or more like-sized, yet completely independent models that are sold regionally. (Ford Focus, anyone?) On the downside, if the product flops in one market, like the Mondeo/Contour fiasco at Ford, GM will need to be flexible enough to adjust quickly.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Next-gen Astra "world car" to cost GM $4.2 billion

Next-gen Astra "world car" to cost GM $4.2 billion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astraGMhttp://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=120464opelsaturnWorld CarWorldCarWed, 18 Apr 2007 09:32:00 EST