Mitsubishi has revealed the first details of its newest car, days before its official unveiling at the 30th Gaikindo International Auto Show in Indonesia on 10 August.
The vehicle in question, which has yet to be named, will be a compact SUV (otherwise known as a “crossover”) geared towards the more affordable end of the market, and is scheduled to go on sale in various markets around the world starting in November 2023.
“We are sure that current and new Mitsubishi customers are waiting with huge excitement on our all-new compact SUV, which will further build on MMSA’s lifestyle attraction – stay tuned for the world premiere,” said Jeffrey Allison, the general marketing manager at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA).
What we know so far
The Japanese firm has thus far only provided a handful of details regarding the new crossover, including two images of what it will look like.
According to the manufacturer, the mini-SUV was designed to appear sleek and powerful in a way that suits life in the city as well as the great outdoors, which resulted in details like a “floating roof” and “muscular proportions” with flared fenders.
“In this all-new model, we have further evolved the design to meet the needs of the compact SUV market, which has been growing in recent years,” said Seiji Watanabe, the division general manager of design at Mitsubishi Motors.
“In addition to the robustness and powerfulness characteristic of Mitsubishi Motors, we have pursued a design that is more stylish, energetic, and distinctive than ever.”
The front has been shaped to emphasize the three-diamond emblem prominently displayed above the grille – something that has been achieved through the use of new L-shaped daytime running lights combined with LED headlights to form an inward-pointing T-shape.
This same design has been applied to the rear LED tail lights, which give the crossover a wide and stable look, said the carmaker.
Proportionally, the new Mitsubishi is 3,390mm in length, 1,810mm in width, and 1,660mm in height, making it similar in size to something like the new Toyota Urban Cruiser or the Suzuki Grand Vitara.
The company also confirmed that its crossover would feature 18-inch wheels with large-diametre tyres, and that it would have a ground clearance of 222mm.
Regarding its powertrain, the new model will be equipped with a 1.5-litre engine and a CVT transmission, which will connect to the front wheels.
While the automaker has not shared any other details regarding the engine, it’s possible that it may end up with the same 1.5-litre unit found in the Xpander, which generates 77kW and 141Nm, and is comparable to the 1.5-litre drivetrains found in the Urban Cruiser and Grand Vitara, which provide 77kW and 138Nm.
Further information on the new Mitsubishi crossover, such as its name, launch date, pricing, and specifications, will be revealed during its public debut later in August.
Keyword: Mitsubishi’s new crossover is coming to South Africa