Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 Gdi Elegance

As I approached the Carisma, which was hidden in a crowded parking lot, I reflected on the great success of the Mitsubishi plant in the World Championship rally. If Finn Makinen and Belgian Lois can compete with a similar car in a tough technical competition like the World Rally, then the car should be basically very good. But is it true?

The first slight indignation that I can attribute to him is the fuzzy shape of the body. It's no different from other competing cars: its lines are stern but modern rounded, the bumper and rear-view mirrors are modernly body-colored and, as you may have noticed only closer observers, it even has round front fog lights and original Mitsubishi. aluminum rims. So theoretically it has all the trump cards that we need from a modern car, but ...

Mitsubishi Carisma is not attractive at first glance, but it needs to be looked at twice.

Then I look inside the cabin. Same song: we can't fault functionality for almost anything, and we can't ignore gray design. The instrument panel is covered with high-quality plastic, the center console is imitation wood, but the feeling of emptiness cannot be banished.

The Nardi steering wheel, trimmed with wood (on the top and bottom) and leather (on the left and right), brings a little liveliness. The steering wheel is beautiful, quite large and thick, only the wooden part is cold to the touch on a cold winter morning and therefore unpleasant.

The Elegance equipment includes airbags not only on the steering wheel, but also in front of the front passenger, as well as in the backrests of the front seats. The seats are generally very comfortable and at the same time offer ample lateral support so you don't have to worry about whether you are still sitting in your seat or land on the front passenger's lap when cornering faster.

The comfort of the Elegance package is provided by electrically adjustable windows, automatic air conditioning, radio, electrically adjustable rear-view mirrors and, just as important, an on-board computer. On its screen, in addition to the current frequency of the radio station, average fuel consumption and hours, we can also see the outside temperature. When the outside temperature drops so much that there is a danger of icing, an audible alarm sounds so that even less attentive people can adjust their driving in time.

There is ample space in the rear seats for taller drivers, as well as plenty of storage space for small items. The driver will love the driving position as the steering wheel is height adjustable and the seat angle is also adjusted by two rotating levers. The trunk is generally large enough, and the back bench is also split into a third to carry larger items.

Now we get to the heart of this car, the direct injection gasoline engine. Mitsubishi engineers wanted to combine the advantages of gasoline and diesel engines, so they developed an engine labeled GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection).

Gasoline engines have lower efficiency than diesel engines, so they use more gasoline and have more CO2 in their exhaust gases. Diesel engines tend to be weaker, emitting high concentrations of NOx into the environment. Therefore, Mitsubishi's designers wanted to create an engine that would combine the technology of gasoline and diesel engines, thus eliminating the disadvantages of both. What is the result of four innovations and over 200 patents?

1-liter GDI engine developing 8 hp at 125 rpm and 5500 Nm of torque at 174 rpm. This engine, like the latest diesel engines, boasts direct fuel injection. In other words, this means that both the injection and the mixing of fuel and air take place in the cylinder. This internal mixing allows for more precise control of fuel quantity and injection timing.

In fact, it should be noted that the GDI engine has two modes of operation: economical and efficient. In economical operation, the intake air swirls strongly, which is ensured by the recess in the top of the piston. When the piston then returns to the top position during the compression phase, fuel is injected directly into the cavity of the piston itself, which ensures stable combustion despite a poor mixture (40: 1).

However, in high performance mode, fuel is injected when the piston is in the down position, so they can deliver high power output through vertical intake manifolds (like the first gasoline engine) and high pressure swirl injectors (which change jet shape depending on the operating mode). The injectors are driven by a high-pressure pump with a pressure of 50 bar, which is 15 times more than other gasoline engines. The result is lower fuel consumption, increased engine power and reduced environmental pollution.

Manufactured in Borne, The Netherlands, Carisma will delight the relaxed driver with comfort and a secure stance on the road. However, the dynamic driver will lack, in particular, two things: a more responsive accelerator pedal and a better feel on the steering wheel. The accelerator pedal, at least in the test version, worked according to the principle of action: it does not work.

The first small changes to the pedal did not affect engine performance, which was problematic, especially when driving very slowly through the crowded streets of Ljubljana. Namely, when the engine finally started up, there was too much power, so he was very glad that other road users were probably getting the feeling that he was a newbie behind the wheel.

Another dissatisfaction, which, however, is much more serious, is the poor health of the driver when he drives faster. When the driver reaches the limit of tire grip, he has no real idea of ​​what exactly is happening to the car. Therefore, even in our photo, the butt slipped twice a little more than I expected and expected. I don't appreciate it in any car!

Thanks to the innovative engine, the Carisma is also a good car, which we will soon forgive these few minor mistakes. You just have to look at least twice.

Alyosha Mrak

PHOTO: Uro П Potoкnik

Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 Gdi Elegance

Basic data

Sales:	AC KONIM doo
Base model price:	15.237,86 €
Test model cost:	16.197,24 €
Power:	92kW (125 KM)
Acceleration (0-100 km / h):	10,4 with
Maximum speed:	200 km / h
Mixed flow ECE:	6,8l / 100km
Guarantee:	General warranty 3 years or 100.000 km and 6 years for rust and varnish

Costs (per year)

Technical information

engine:	4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line, transverse front mounted - bore and stroke 81,0 × 89,0 mm - displacement 1834 cm12,0 - compression 1:92 - maximum power 125 kW (5500 hp) at 16,3 rpm - average piston speed at maximum power 50,2 m / s - specific power 68,2 kW / l (174 l. injection (GDI) and electronic ignition - liquid cooling 3750 l - engine oil 5 l - Battery 2 V, 4 Ah - Alternator 6,0 A - Variable catalytic converter
Energy transfer:	front wheel motor drives - single dry clutch - 5-speed synchronized transmission - gear ratio I. 3,583; II. 1,947 hours; III. 1,266 hours; IV. 0,970; V. 0,767; 3,363 reverse – 4,058 differential – 6 J x 15 rims – 195/60 R 15 88H tires (Firestone FW 930 Winter), rolling range 1,85 m – speed in 1000th gear at 35,8 rpm XNUMX km / h
Capacity:	top speed 200 km/h - acceleration 0-100 km/h 10,4 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 9,1 / 5,5 / 6,8 l / 100 km (unleaded petrol OŠ 91/95)
Transportation and suspension:	limousine - 5 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, leaf springs, triangular cross rails, stabilizer, rear single suspension, longitudinal and transverse rails, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - dual-circuit brakes, front disc (forced disc) , rear wheels, power steering, ABS, mechanical parking brake on the rear wheels (lever between seats) - rack and pinion steering wheel, power steering, 2,9 turns between extreme points
Mass:	empty vehicle 1250 kg - permissible total weight 1735 kg - permissible trailer weight with brake 1400 kg, without brake 500 kg - permissible roof load 80 kg
External dimensions:	length 4475 mm - width 1710 mm - height 1405 mm - wheelbase 2550 mm - front track 1475 mm - rear 1470 mm - minimum ground clearance 150 mm - driving radius 10,4 m
Inner dimensions:	length (from dashboard to rear seatback) 1550 mm - width (at the knees) front 1420 mm, rear 1410 mm - height above the seat front 890 mm, rear 890 mm - longitudinal front seat 880-1110 mm, rear seat 740-940 mm - seat length front seat 540 mm, rear seat 490 mm - handlebar diameter 380 mm - fuel tank 60 l
Box:	normally 430-1150 liters

Our measurements

T = -8 ° C – p = 1030 mbar – otn. vl. = 40%
Acceleration 0-100km:	10,2s
1000m from the city:	30,1 years ( 158 km / h)
Maximum speed:	201km / h (V.)
Minimum consumption:	6,1l / 100km
Maximum consumption:	11,7l / 100km
test consumption:	8,6 l / 100km
Braking distance at 100 km / h:	47,9m
Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear	58dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear	56dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 5rd gear	56dB

evaluation

• Mitsubishi got out of a rut with the Carisma GDI, as the car was the first to feature a direct injection gasoline engine. The engine has proven itself to be a good combination of power, fuel consumption and low pollution. If other parts of the car, such as the shape of the exterior and interior, the position on the road and the somewhat uncomfortable gearbox, followed the interest and technological innovations, the car would be appreciated better. So…

We praise and reproach

engine

utility

workmanship

driving position

inaccurate accelerator pedal (working: not working)

position on the road at high speeds

Difficulty shifting in cold weather

price