Mitusbishi’s mini car scheduled for 2010
April 22, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Mitsubishi Motors is planning a mini low-cost world car for 2010, based on the company’s mini car platform. The new car will initially be geared toward Europe, China or Southeast Asia.
The company plans to simply export its Japanese-spec mini car, albeit with a bigger engine and more equipment.
By Japanese law, mini cars are limited to having engines no bigger than 660cc and dimensions no more than 3.41 metres long and 1.52 metres wide. They are hugely popular in Japan (1/3 of all new-car sales), partially as a result of government tax breaks, low price tags and more importantly, their excellent fuel efficiency.
The key for Mitsubishi will be building more flexibility into the design so it can easily be sold outside Japan.
” Mini cars are a weakness in one way, because unique area strategy cars are no longer valid,” Masuko said. ” We can make that a strength if we can use it as a base for a worldwide model.”
Mitsubishi’s current small car is the Colt but the new mini car will be a whole grade smaller and be driven via the rear-wheels.
Print it: 
This is the i-Car and it’s been on the market in NZ for over a year. 660cc turbo under the rear boot floor, 4 speed auto. Surprisingly roomy inside but pretty narrow. Performs surprisingly well in the city, but it’s not for everyone. A bit like a four-door Smart for-two really.
Only about $2k cheaper than the Colt apparently
Ive had the opportunity to drive one for a day in NZ recently and Im actually surprised by the overall experience.
Its definately a compact city car but also very capable on the highway.
Being rear drive is unique in this category and the interior is also quite funky and not necessarily a “girls” car.
Australia will be getting this vehicle within 12 months but it will have a larger engine and more safety features, there’s also news Mitsubishi is looking at widening the body and there’s even an electric vehicle version slated for 2010 release too.
Interesting and pioneering stuff coming out of Mitsubishi once again.
drove an i-car in tokyo recently. looks tiny from the outside but pretty roomy inside, nice and easy to drive especially on the narrow and conjested streets there.
“Interesting and Pioneering stuff” ??????
How is this thing pioneering? It’s a very small car with a turbo engine, a formula that has existed for years, eg Daihatsu Charade Turbo comes readily to mind.
Small engine in the rear – plenty of examples of that – Beetle et al.
Might make sense if it’s cheap enough and uses little fuel, but when you can buy real cars that use 4-6L/100 why would you bother with something that blows over in a gust of Melbourne wind?
where the hell is the i in Australia? they said that it was a definite for oz! and of course nz gets better cars than us!
pfft!
The i has received rave reviews in UK, one of its major markets outside Japan.
It would make a good city car.