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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Rumorpile: Mitsubishi Pushes Back Redesigns Of Some Models Due To Nissan Deal

      Two of Mitsubishi's key products have been pushed back

    We have been wondering what kind of impact the Mitsubishi and Nissan alliance would bring to the table. According to a report from Automotive News, it looks like delays for a couple of key products for the diamond star brand.

    Speaking with supplier sources, Mitsubishi has pushed back the redesigns of the Outlander and Outlander Sport crossovers. Originally, Mitsubishi was planning to launch the next Outlander "in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019", while the Outlander Sport would follow a year later. Now, the Outlander has been pushed back to late 2019 or 2020 and the Sport to after 2020.

    The delay is due to a review being undertaken by Mitsubishi and Nissan to search for a way to share architecture and parts with the Rogue and Rogue Sport. According to sources, the goal is to "commonize underpinnings and components" to save money while keeping an outer identity distinct to each brand.

    Mitsubishi confirmed the review but declined to comment on any delays.

    This delay could be a big blow for Mitsubishi's dealers in the U.S. who have been clamoring for new products. Joe Bizzarro, chairman of Mitsubishi's national dealer advisory board told Automotive News that no such delay was discussed during a meeting with dealers earlier this year - leading us to suspect this delay has come up recently. Dealers have yet to be notified about this delay.

    Right now, the only new product destined for Mitsubishi's U.S. dealers is the upcoming Eclipse Sport due in early 2018.

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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    Drew Dowdell

    I wonder if they're just trying to swap powertrains at this point. If the Outlander was supposed to be in dealerships 2 years from now, much of the platform design work must already be locked down.  The only thing I could see swapping out is the engine and possibly transmission.

    Either way, not good news of Mitsu...

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    Robert Hall
    4 hours ago, dfelt said:

    I understand the common platform across multiple product lines, but this blows and will hurt them in the US market. Way too long between model refresh let alone new updated versions.

    They have been dead in the US for years, I don't know why they still bother here...

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    G. David Felt
    22 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    They have been dead in the US for years, I don't know why they still bother here...

    Yea pretty much so, there are only 4 Mitsu dealers left in washington state and all 4 are located in lower income areas. Guess that is really all they can sell into now since they really have no relevant product.

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    Robert Hall
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    Yea pretty much so, there are only 4 Mitsu dealers left in washington state and all 4 are located in lower income areas. Guess that is really all they can sell into now since they really have no relevant product.

    I think that whole scandal 15 years ago or so w/ the financing really hurt their image, then the recent fuel economy figures scandal didn't help. And they let the Evo hang around almost a decade w/ no changes...just nothing they have now really stands out vs the competition. 

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    Drew Dowdell
    1 hour ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    I think that whole scandal 15 years ago or so w/ the financing really hurt their image, then the recent fuel economy figures scandal didn't help. And they let the Evo hang around almost a decade w/ no changes...just nothing they have now really stands out vs the competition. 

    I'm not sure the fuel economy thing did anything.  Most people were like, "They still make Mitsubishis?"

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    Stew
    22 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    They have been dead in the US for years, I don't know why they still bother here...

    That is sad because at one time they were actually innovators in the market.  Knew is was going in a bad direction when they started watering the Eclipse down or the 3rd gen. 

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    Drew Dowdell

    They really need to get back to their roots.  Make an AWD Galant again. Make a decent off-roader SUV. Make an AWD sports coupe that doesn't weigh 3900 lbs.

     

    But now, under Nissan control, they won't do any of that.

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    Drew Dowdell
    16 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    They really need to get back to their roots.  Make an AWD Galant again. Make a decent off-roader SUV. Make an AWD sports coupe that doesn't weigh 3900 lbs.

     

    But now, under Nissan control, they won't do any of that.

    new hashtag? #MAGA - Make an AWD Galant Again.......   might get it to go viral.

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    Drew Dowdell
    10 hours ago, regfootball said:

    I thought their US sales were up

    Overall I think they are... but they aren't keeping pace with the market, especially considering they're 90% crossovers. 

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    regfootball

    outlander sport is a decent product.  it's a great Trax alternative.  But it does need an update too.

    The Outlander was a huge punt.  it's cheap and has a ton of space, but its quite the dud from an engine and styling perspective.  It's judged as a tweener i think.  If it gets upsized it will be to their benefit in a big way.

    I think the new Eclipse cross looks decent.  But i cut mits more slack than most.

    The Mirage sells to those who can't buy anything else.  The lancer is now dead and in reality the Outlander Sport takes over the compact car space in the market.  It's cheap and just happens to be a crossover.

    Edited by regfootball
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    Drew Dowdell

    I actually like the Outlander in a "this is has a cool old school feel to it" sort of way.  But old school mid-size SUVs aren't in right now.   From what I understand, it's actually surprisingly capable off road with the right tires. 

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