Mitsubishi G4 concept previews Mirage-based sedan

The Mitsubishi G4 concept ('global four-door') previews a new city-sized sedan, which will be built alongside the compact Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback (below) in Thailand and sold around the world.

Although unconfirmed at this stage, Mitsubishi Australia says if the production version of the Mitsubishi G4 is made available to our market as expected, it will launch it locally. The G4 is expected to form a partnership with the Mirage in the light-car segment from 2014, mirroring the two-pronged strategy employed by Honda (Jazz and City) and Nissan (Micra and Almera).

The G4 concept showcases Mitsubishi’s next-generation compact sedan design language, incorporating an upright hexagonal grille, broad LED-infused headlights, a long wheelbase that claims to offer the most spacious interior in its class, and dynamic character lines that kick up towards the rear.

The Japan-based car maker says the production version of the Mitsubishi G4 concept will have the lightest body in its class thanks to its use of high-tensile steel. It is also targeting leading fuel efficiency, with the concept teaming the Mirage’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Mitsubishi promises the new sedan will also offer “agile and pleasing driving dynamics”, as well as “reassuring handling [and] stability and [a] comfortable ride”.

City-sized sedans have traditionally been significantly less popular with Australian consumers than their hatchback counterparts, as indicated when Ford and Mazda withdrew their slow-selling Fiesta and Mazda 2 sedans after offering them for a short time.

The Mitsubishi Mirage was the second-highest-selling city car in Australia last month, with its 1154 units trailing only the Mazda 2 (1538).