Mitsubishi News: Mitsubishi Begins Work On Next-Gen Lancer In Case Of Not Finding A Partner

[William Maley]

Mitsubishi hasn't had the best of luck of trying to find a partner. Back in February, we learned that talks between it and Renault had fallen apart for a new midsize sedan. Mitsubishi shelved those plans and reportedly began talks with Nissan. We also learned that Mitsubishi moved up the replacement for the Lancer.

 

Now Mitsubishi has begun working on the Lancer replacement in-house while it still looks for a partner.

 

“We are talking with a potential partner at this time, (but) at the same time we’re doing an internal design of the vehicle. We’re running parallel because we cannot wait any longer to see if a partnership will work out. If it falls through then we’re another year behind,” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America to Wards Auto.

 

Swearingen confirmed that Mitsubishi is still in talks with an automaker - many believe to be Nissan. Even if a deal is reached, Swearingen says the model is still 18 to 2 years out.

 

Additionally, Swearingen confirmed the a midsize sedan from Mitsubishi isn't happening.

 

“We’ve made the decision that D-segment will not work for us in the U.S. When you do the financial analysis and you look at the amount of money (needed) for advertising (and the amount) most of our competitors are spending on incentives, it doesn’t pencil out to do a partnership.”

 

Source: Wards Auto

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[regfootball]

and you thought GM and Ford had long cycles.

 

I give Mits credit for this.  10/100 warranty + 5/60 BTB

 

and not much else.

[oldshurst442]

Partnering up with Mitsubishi garnered ZERO interest...

That is nice to know...what is really nicer to know is that I made a funny!!!

 

Mitsubishi...Zero interest...

Mitsubishi Zero...

 

 

 

 

I just crack myself up sometimes!!!

 

I know...some of you are having this reaction...

 

Hey...If I was a talented comedian...Id have my own show about nothing on NBC also...

[oldshurst442]

On a more serious note...

 

No spit Sherlock Mitsubishi should do the next Lancer in-house.

The Lancer has become the company's Holy Grail car. If they want to be relevant again, they better make sure they do this car by themselves...and they better get it right...and THAT is how they will retain what little audience they have left.

[Susimi]

God help Mitsubishi if they phased out the Lancer. You think of Mitsubishi and the Lancer almost certainly comes to mind. It's like their trademark car.

 

I'm hoping they give the next one some life to it and make it something special to bring the audiance back to it.

 

Oh, and I love the Zero too

[Frisky Dingo]

It's so sad what this brand has become. After the Lancer Evo, Eclipse, Montero, Galant VR-4, 3000GT, they've become this caricature of their former self. Shame.

[G. David Felt]

Sad that they did not capitalize on the car scene from Fast and Furious 2. They could have so grown and kicked ass if they did not ignore the trends of youth.