Mitsubishi Mirage deliveries to continue through 2022 despite security changes, but other affected models are declining

The Mirage hatch will eventually be discontinued, but Mitsubishi has enough stock to keep selling it until 2022.

Mitsubishi will continue to sell its Mirage microcar for some time to come, but the hatchback has been discontinued after it no longer complies with the new Australian Design Regulation (ADR) changes that came into effect on November 1st.

The Japanese automaker looks like it's the only manufacturer affected by the new rule that still has stock to sell.

The new rules, known as ADR 85, were introduced to try to reduce the severity of serious injuries as well as reduce fatalities in side impacts with stationary objects such as poles and trees.

A number of makes and models have been withdrawn from the Australian market as they no longer comply with SUV and passenger car regulations. Light advertising must comply by November 2022.

This was announced by the representative of Mitsubishi Australia. Cars Guide that the aging microcar for the Australian market has been discontinued and that the remaining Mirage stock is the last for the current model.

“Existing Mirage shares are fully compliant with all applicable ADRs in relation to their sale in Australia. We expect stock to last several months, depending on the pace of sales,” they said. 

This means that Mitsubishi must have ordered enough stock from the Thai plant to keep dealers for a few more months.

The Lexus IS sedan is one of three Lexus models to be dropped from the lineup.

According to the Department of Infrastructure, which oversees ADR, the new rules are applied based on the date the vehicle was manufactured, not the date it was sold. So, if the car was produced on or before November 1, 2021, it can still be on sale.

Other discontinued models include the Lexus IS sedan, RC coupe and CT200h hatchback, Alpine A110 coupe, and Nissan GT-R coupe.

Of the three models, only dealer demos remain, a Lexus spokesman said, and there are likely only a handful of IS and RC models left in the country.

The CT appears to be nearly sold out, with the latest sales figures for November showing only one unit sold last month.

Lexus says it's improving its lineup of mid-range vehicles, including the ES sedan and NX SUV, to fill the gap left by the IS.

The Nissan GT-R has seen some of the highest sales since its launch in 2009.

An Alpine spokesperson said given that the model was built to order, it is unlikely that it will remain in stock. However, just last month, the niche performance brand owned by Renault sold nine copies of the coupe worth around $100,000.

This was announced by a representative of Nissan in Australia. Cars Guide that all of the last stock of GT-Rs have arrived in Australia with a conformity placard installed in accordance with regulations, and the company expects to sell the last example in early 2022, if not sooner.

Nissan sold 11 GT-Rs last month, up more than 1000% from November 2020.

Interest in the latest GT-R T-Spec was so strong that October was the fifth-biggest sales month since the launch of the current-generation R35 in 2009, according to Nissan.

Another vehicle affected by the new ADR 85 is the Fiat 500C and its sister Abarth 595C convertibles. However, a spokesman for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia said the tiny city cars will be updated to ensure they comply with the new regulations.