2007 Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan
July 17, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Despite the early photo leak published in the Herald Sun, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) have today officially announced details of the Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan.
After a Series II release and a significant drop in pricing, Mitsubishi still found it hard to reiterate the 380.
So, it’s now time for the third coming of the Mitsubishi 380 – enter the Mitsubishi 380, Series III.
Although the 380 has not enjoyed the predicted sales figures since its 2005 launch, the 380 has proven itself as one of the better and more reliable family sedans available in Australia. With rumours of Mitsubishi closing shop long forgotten, the 380 is back for another round.
Manufactured at the Tonsley Plant in Adelaide, the new Series III sedan will go on-sale on 29th of July 2007. Despite previous rumours of a TMR 380, as we reported last week, Mitsubishi have so far put the project on hold while they concentrate on the new Evolution X.
The changes include a rework of the car’s interior appointments, multiple external styling updates, specification upgrades and most importantly a redo of model variants.
The 380 sedan has always been recognised as offering excellent driving comfort and style at a very attractive price, and the 380 Series III just takes that whole value proposition one step further.” Robert McEniry, President and CEO of MMAL said.
The 2007 380 Series III sedan line-up consists of four main variants:
- The entry level ES
- The highly specified SX
- The sporty VRX
- The fully equipped GT model
- Optional GT-L variant
There is no change as far as the powerplant goes, the Series III sedan will continue to make use of the company’s 3.8-litre 24-valve SOHC MPI V6 engine.
With 175kW of power at 5250 rpm and 343Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, the 380 is behind its competitors as far as power goes (Toyota Aurion – 200kW, Holden Commodore Omega – 180kW, Ford Falcon XT – 190kW).
The engine is coupled to either a five-speed INVECS II “Smart Logic” automatic transmission with Sports mode or for the brave, a five-speed manual (ES and VRX variants only).
Mitsubishi have been known to offer more for less, the 380 has been a prime example and the Series III doesn’t dissapoint either. Standard features include:
- Dual front and side SRS airbags,
- ABS brake system with EBD,
- automatic climate control air-conditioning,
- power windows and mirrors,
- remote central locking,
- cruise control,
- power adjustable driver’s seat
- steering wheel audio controls as standard features.
Breakdown of the different variants and the special edition models:
| Variant | Features |
| — | — |
| ES | Traction control 16” alloy wheels Sports front bumper Fog lamps Grey seat inserts Chrome rings to instrument cluster |
| SX | New alloy wheels Seat inserts Charcoal grille paint treatment Additional accessory socket |
| VRX | Enhanced visual package New front and rear bumper inserts Larger rear wing New alloy wheels Charcoal grille paint treatment New cloth seats with VRX logo |
| GT | New alloy wheels (machined and painted) Chrome finishing strip to deck lid Sports type instrument cluster |
| GTL | New option on GT Black/stone interior Chrome finishing strips to deck lid and tail lamps Luxury type instrument cluster Sunroof Silver painted wheels |
| LIMITED EDITIONS | ES Sports 17” alloy wheels Rear wing Sports suspension Sunroof Bluetooth connectivity |
| VRX Fusion Burst Limited edition special paint colour Matching coloured seat insert Sunroof |
Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan – ES – $28,990 (Man) – $30,990 (Auto)
As the entry model the ES starts from a record breaking $28,990 for the manual. The new Series III ES is blessed with a sports front bumper, fog lamps and alloy wheels from the outside, while new seat trim and chrome instrument cluster change the interior.
Mitsubishi have also responded to safety concerns by adding traction control as standard across the entire 380 range.
If you get in quick, there will be a limited edition ES Sports available from launch. It has all the features of the LS but also ads a rear wing, 17 inch alloy wheels, upgraded sports suspension, sunroof and Bluetooth phone connectivity, and best of all? it still costs the same!
Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan – SX - $34,990 (Auto)
The SX sits in the middle of the range. Series III updates include new design alloy wheels and new grille paint treatment for the exterior while revised silver seat trim finishes the interior.
Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan – VRX - $36,990 (Man) $38,990 (Auto)
The VRX variants gets a new front bumper insert, rear bumper insert and a large rear wing. Additionally, the VXR comes with new alloy wheels and charcoal grille paint treatment. The interior gets new luxury cloth seat trim with VRX logo and a restyled leather steering wheel.
There is also an optional Luxury Pack for the VRX model which includes full leather interior trim with contrast silver stitching and sunroof.
Mitsubishi 380 Series III Sedan – GT - $44,990 (Auto)
The range topping 380 GT gets a set of new restyled machined alloy wheels, chrome body detail and a sports type instrument cluster.
Mitsubishi are also offering an optional Luxury Pack called the GTL (superseding the LX variant). The GTL comes with leather interior, alternate rear deck lid and tail lamps, luxury instrument cluster, sunroof and silver painted alloy wheels.
In addition to the four attractive models of the Series III line-up, MMAL has announced the release of two Special Edition variants, and these models offers unrivalled value and style in the large vehicle segment.
Mitsubishi have tried hard to inject some fun into the new 380 and have thus released a limited edition, “380 Fusion Burst”. With flaming orange duco, striking matching seat trim and a large sunroof, the 380 Fusion Burst is not for everyone, but it will help improve the cars image.Although it’s true, the 380 offers fantastic value for money, safety features such as Traction Control simply don’t cut it anymore. Traction control simply limits a loss of traction while accelerating, there is no assistance when the car understeers, oversteers or loses control.
We look forward to driving the new Mitsubishi 380 and hope that it reignites the car in the Australian market.
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What a shame now that Mitsubishi are no longer building cars here in Australia. Still strange to see the same people bagging the 380, obviously never having driven one. Our next car will be a 380, second hand of some VRX variant, most likely a Fusion Burst, maybe even a newie if we can find one. To all at Tonsley Park be proud of the vehicles you have built especially over the last 10 years.
I love my 380, and I do not put a lot of faith in wheels Magazine reviews & awards. The brown nose always wins with those guys.
Don’t believe me,, then read on
Who remembers the P76? Without a doubt one of the worst cars ever built,unless you wanted to carry a 44 gallon drum in the boot, then it would have probably suited you just right.It was, has and still is being panned & laughed at by every car magazine in the known Universe,, except that is for Wheels Magazine Australia
Question:
What year did the Leyland P76 win the Wheels Magazine Car of the Year?
ANSWER:
In January 1974, the P76 V8 was named the 1973 WHEELS Car Of The Year. …Nough said
The Mitsubishi 380 rules, and will always be remembered as the big one that the Australians let get away.
Thank God for Holden’s & Fords because at least you know where most of the Brainwashed D!ck Heads are.
I agree with LanceDickchops that it is a crying shame the 380 is no more. It was/is a wonderful car all round that has more going for it than most Holden or Ford drivers will ever know. It handles better, it’s roomier, quicker off the mark, more comfortable and has a better appointed interior than the Holden & is almost on a par with the much pricier Falcon.
Ask the NSW Police force what they think of the 380 as a patrol and pursuit vehicle and they will tell you that overall they are better than Ford or Holden & that they feel safer in them as well.
If nothing else the Mitsubishi 380 kept Ford & Holden honest, but that aspect is gone now and your Big Two will no longer have to try as hard to get your buck.
Because of blind ignorance & nothing else Aussies have killed a great car that did not deserve to die.
RIP 380 you will be remembered as the one that could/should have been.
Well Mr Dickchops any panel beater will tell you that the 380’s have some body parts fitted that are absolute rubbish.
Just wait a couple of years until you see their front bumpers lying on the side of the road all over the place reminiscent of the old Falcons. The crappy PP Plastic bumpers are as soft as butter & held on by 3 self tappers and a truckload of plastic clips.The bottom PP Plastic grills are purposely drilled out from behind so they will break if you hit anything larger than a Grasshopper.
It’s obvious that the robots & people who put the plastic bits on the cars did not give a damn. The screws are either too tight which splits the crappy soft plastic or they are too lose which causes the bits to move so much they break anyway.
If Mitsubishi hadn’t gone bust they would have started being paid out on for making rubbish soon enough. If you add a “t” to the name Mitsubishi it pretty much describes the 380 perfectly.
Good riddance
Does this have, due to the light clutch?
After going on holidays in Tasmania with a rented 380 SX from Hertz rent a car, I sold the BA Falcon and headed to zupps mitsubishi and picked me up a Black SX 380 a little down on power than the falcon not by much, but 100kms more on a tank of fuel and handels like a euro sports car now its sitting on king spring super lows.
lol – petesfeet’s comment was moronish. Have you ever driven one? It’s that ignorant attitude that killed the 380 and why the Falcon and Commadore will always sell. The 380 is one of the safest and most fuel efficient in the class, one of the quikest (I’ve had my SX timed 0-100 in 7.7s which is on par with figures from Mitsu) has the overall best handling, the best braking performance (easily best in the class but amazingly enough even better than most smaller, sports focus sedans like the Mazda 3 MPS and Civic Type-R), had the best warranty and was the cheapest to buy and own. What more could you want?