Mitsubishi Cars

To quote the film title "Planes, trains and automobiles" - Mitsubishi makes them all, oh and Boats as well just for good measure.
Their most famous product is probably the Zero fighter a lightweight concoction of exotic materials, which terrorised the American pacific fleet.

Mitsubishi is also Japan's oldest motor company, having produced its first car, the thoughtfully named Model A, in 1917.

In 1925 it formed a link with Chrysler, this was severed by the outbreak of war.

Car production did not restart until 1950, with the 500. For the next five years the company concentrated on small cars,

Mitsubishi Motors Corp itself was established as a separate company in 1970, with Chrysler coming back in with a 15% equity share. Unlike some other Japanese manufacturers, Mitsubishi moved slowly, expanding the Colt range before adding is next model, the Galant, in 1969. A new mid-range model, the Lancer, was added in 1975.

After 1978 Mitsubishi started its move to front-wheel drive, with the launch of the Mirage, which was also sold by Chrysler in the USA as the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ. The most remarkable thing about this car was that it had, in addition to the normal four-speed gearbox, a two-speed transfer box, giving Power and Economy ratios.

It was at this time that Colt Car Company was set up in the UK, as a joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. It has followed the manufacturer's own path with a slow steady expansion that has seen it build a strong and profitable brand presence in the UK.

Mitsubishi built its first four-wheel drive in 1933, but the Pajero (or Shogun for the UK market) did not appear until 1982.

More than 2 million have now been sold, 1982 also saw the launch of the Starion 2000 Turbo. A year later came the first of a long range of people carriers, the 1.6 and 1.6 Chariot, which was to become the Space Wagon in the European market. Like most Japanese manufacturers, the company had its own city car, with a 657cc cc three-cylinder engine which, with a turbo, could produce a whopping 64bhp? - and came with 4wd if required.

In the early 1990s Mitsubishi launched its new Sigma model, with four-wheel steering and four-wheel drive.

In the USA, the jointly-owned Diamond Star plant was building the Eclipse coupé, based on the Galant platform. This was marketed through the Chrysler network as the Plymouth Lancer and Eagle Talon.

Mitsubishi responded to low demand for its Debonair by teaming up with Hyundai in South Korea. The model was built there as the Grandeur. Later, Mitsubishi also transferred technology to Malaysia's Proton.

The Starion was replaced in 1990 by the technical advanced and hugely quick 3000GT, which had appeared at the previous year's Tokyo Show as the HSX concept car. The 24V 3.0-litre V6 engine, with twin turbos, poured out 304bhp. Drive and steering was through all four wheels. A year later the MPV range was replaced, with the Space Wagon and smaller Space Runner.

In 1995 Mitsubishi moved into European manufacturing, in a joint operation with Volvo. NedCar was set up with the Dutch government and the two car makers each having one third stake. The Mitsubishi model became the Carisma, while Volvo's version is the S(saloon) and V (estate) 40.

In 1996, Mitsubishi became the first manufacturer to introduce direct injection technology. These difficult to perfect technique leads to increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Mitsubishi used the moniker GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection), but other makers have begun to use since under various names. Early reviews did not find striking improvements from the new engines, but there is not doubt that the technology is valuable, especially when extended to diesel engines.

In late 1999, Mitsubishi achieved a publicity coup by dropping its prices by 10%. Amid the political furore about UK new car prices then raging, this certainly attracted attention.

Cynics suggested that Mitsubishi's prices were too high in comparison to other makes already.

With the 2000 introduction of the Shogun Pinnin, Mitsubishi hoped to capitalise on the Shogun name. This cheaper mini-Shogun was really aimed at the lifestyle 4*4 market, unlike its more serious forebearer.

As UK import quotas have relaxed, Mitsubishi sales have increased by over 80% in 1998 and 1999 in the UK.

It is the tenth largest motor company in the world, but as the motor industry consolidates and rationalises even this isn't big enough, and in March 2000 the new Daimler-Chrysler Corporation consolidated its long-standing relationship with Mitsubishi by acquiring a 34% stake.



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