New Concept Car: Mitsubishi Global Small Vehicle

Mitsubishi has been slowly dishing bits and pieces of its plans to increase U.S. sales and market share, which we’ve now learned to include a new family of models that will be produced at its U.S. factory, along with a new global subcompact offering.

Let’s start with that small hatchback. Mitsubishi teased the new B-segment offering earlier this year, when it unveiled sketches of what it dubbed the New Global Small back in December. The company just announced, however, that the car will be shown in concept form (pictured) at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Few finite details have been announced to date, but Mitsubishi officials have confirmed to us that the NGS will, in fact, be sold in North America, where it will compete against the Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Chevrolet Sonic, and the forthcoming Hyundai Accent hatchback. Mitsubishi’s offering, however, may prove to be on the smaller side of that segment. In other markets, the car will be fitted with 1.0- and 1.2-liter I-4 engines and a CVT, both engineered to provide maximum efficiency. Mitsu, in fact, says these features, along with regenerative braking, will help yield best-in-class fuel economy.

Mitsubishi expects on launching the new subcompact in North America by 2013, but the car won’t be built on the continent. That said, the automaker is finalizing plans as to what vehicles it will build within its U.S. assembly plant in Normal, Illinois. Automotive News suggests a family of vehicles based upon the GM platform used for the Lancer, Outlander, and Outlander Sport, will be produced at the plant. A Mitsubishi spokesman confirmed that the new U.S.-built vehicles will be built on the GM platform and suggested an SUV or crossover-like vehicle would be the most logical possibility. However, he did note there is the possibility of building other variants — excepting, of course, the niche Lancer Evolution — at the Illinois site.

Mitsubishi is expected to finalize its U.S. production plans on January 20, but for now, things remain up in the air. If AN’s source is on the money, expect production to begin roughly two years after the Galant, Endeavor, and Eclipse — all currently built in Normal — are phased out of production.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Detroit Auto Show 2011: Hyundai Curb Concept Small Crossover

Hyundai Curb Concept

Trouble is brewing for the Nissan Juke. Hyundai has made in its assault on the Curb Detroit, a concept that aims to guide the style "Fluidic Sculpture" at the garages of younger consumers. The result is a small SUV (4.1 meters), almost with an air of coupe, and a daring shared with the equally impressive Veloster, which has also received his first bath of masses in Detroit. His conduct fell under the responsibility of studying the South Korean manufacturer in California.

First Sketch: 2013 Mitusbishi Global Small

It's no secret Mitsubishi has been interested in bolstering its North American product portfolio with a number of globalized small cars, but it appears the first example to actually cross the pond may be a subcompact hatchback similar to the sketch shown above.

The company announced a number of new ventures in Thailand at a press conference earlier this week, but the biggest piece of news from the event ironically surrounds a new small car. The vehicle, currently referred to as the Global Small, gives Mitsubishi a new B-segment offering it can tailor to each market. For emerging markets, content can be scaled back to allow it to be priced competitively against the likes of the Nissan Micra, to say nothing of Honda's Fit and Brio models.

For developed markets, however, Mitsubishi apparently plans on being able to dress up the car to appeal to buyers with more sophisticated tastes. We wouldn't be too surprised if the North American-spec car, which will serve as Mitsubishi's entry-level offering here in the U.S., receives a slightly more upscale interior, a trick that was also applied to the Americanized form of the company's electric I.

Even so, this dualistic nature poses some product planning headaches. a Mitsubishi spokesman tells us attempting to bridge both markets with a single product may create a number of headaches in terms of pricing and equipment packages, but also noted it's far too early to speculate as to what we'll receive here.

Details on either the U.S.-spec of the foreign Global Small model, however, are still scarce. Thai models will receive both 1.0- and 1.2-liter engines, although Mitsubishi hasn't announced any further details (the company does, however, have a number of I-3 and I-4 engines that fit this description). U.S.-spec cars, however, could potentially receive a larger engine offering, allowing it to compete against the Fit and Ford's Fiesta, which are fitted with 1.5- and 1.8-liter I-4s, respectively.

Production of the Global Small is expected to commence in March of 2012, and Mitsubishi will likely orchestrate a staggered introduction across the globe. A spokesman says the car is due in the U.S. by 2013, but noted things are "on track" for the car to possibly arrive Stateside even sooner.
Thanks to: Motor Trend