Mitsubishi lops $15,000 off price of 2012 i-MiEV in Australia

Mitsubishi Motors Australia has announced the price of its 2012 i-MiEV and it's a shocker. At $48,800 Australian ($51,444 U.S. at the current exchange rate), the 2012 i-MiEV is $14,977 less than the outgoing 2011 model. Now that's one heck of a discount (some simple math shows that the discount is 22.5 percent).

The 2012 i-MiEV will launch in Australia this August. When it does, it will be available for outright purchase, unlike the A$63,000 ($66,421 U.S.), three-year-lease-only 2011 model. Despite the drop in price, the 2012 i-MiEV features some additional items, including side and curtain airbags and electronic stability control. Mitsubishi says massive inquiries about the 2012 i-MiEV prompted the automaker to release details months ahead of launch in Australia.

[Source: Ward's Auto – sub. req.]