Mitsubishi micro car on the way

The novelty will be smaller and cheaper than today's Colt

The newcomer will be smaller and cheaper than today's Colt, which opens Mitsubishi shares in Australia starting at $15,740 and should be operational within two years. The project is codenamed “Global Small” and is a personal priority for Mitsubishi Motors President Osamu Masuko.

“The key challenge facing the industry at the moment is increased demand from emerging markets – emerging markets – while sales in mature markets remain stagnant. Increased environmental issues have also become a serious problem,” Masuko tells Australian reporters.

“These two factors are affecting the way we do business, and there is a worldwide shift from large passenger cars to smaller, more efficient and fuel-efficient vehicles. We believe that in developing countries the sales and importance of these vehicles will grow. It is believed that the growth segment will be small cars.”

He thinks there's now an option for a smaller car than the Colt, though he's ruling out anything as simple as the Tata Nano, designed to take Indians off bikes and into cars. “The Global Small will be smaller than the Colt and the price will also be cheaper,” he says.

Masuko also confirms that a plug-in electric version will eventually arrive. “We are also going to launch an electric car a year later. Of course he will come to Australia.”

Masuko says Mitsubishi plans to expand its global audience with a range of vehicles that will bring new customers to the brand. “Until now, Mitsubishi is considered the strength of all-wheel drive vehicles. What we would like to build on as a company are cars that are sporty and emotional.”

It also confirms plans for strategic alliances with other brands, such as the one Mitsubishi already has with Peugeot, to reduce development time and increase production volumes. “From now on, we will continue to consider many alliances,” he says.