£29,499 for the entry level SG2 and rise to £40,999 for the flagship SG4 model.

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The 2012 model year brings a subtle makeover for the Mitsubishi Shogun that is set to arrive in UK showrooms next week.

The revised Shogun, which is also known as the Pajero and Montero in other markets around the world, comes with an updated Euro V compliant turbo diesel engine and a choice of either three door short-wheel base or five door long-wheel base body styles.

The cosmetic changes over the outgoing Shogun include a redesigned front grille with slotted bars and thick chrome dividers on either side, a color-keyed front bumper, black front skid plate and roof rails, plus new 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels.

In the interior, Mitsubishi says the 2012 Shogun benefits from higher-quality material for both cloth and leather upholsteries, a new illumination for the instruments and a brushed silver finish for power window control panels.

All models get a new brake override system, which applies only the brake in the case that the driver accidentally hits the brake and accelerator at the same time.

In addition, the SG3 and SG4 trim levels gain auto lights, auto wipers and privacy glass as standard for the 2012MY, while the SG4 also gets a colour coded spare wheel cover as standard.

In Britain, prices for the 2012 Shogun range from £29,499 for the entry level SG2 and rise to £40,999 for the flagship SG4 model.

At the time this article was written, Mitsubishi had only released a single picture of the Shogun, but we'll update the post once we get our hands on more photos.

Mitsubishi Plans to Drop 1,000 MiEVs to Illinois Town

While some carmakers are trying to endorse pure-electric vehicles as being different and new, others like Mitsubishi are taking a different approach promoting them as the "new normal".

That's the name of Mitsubishi's latest marketing campaign, which will see the Japanese auto manufacturer flooding a quiet Midwest town called –wait for it- Normal with 1,000 MiEV electric cars.

In addition, Mitsubishi will help install a high-tech EV charging infrastructure comprising of 30 ultra-fast Level 3 quick charge "refueling" stations spread across the town.

"Normal EVTown is a community that is embracing new technology in an environmentally sound way," says Chris Koos, Mayor of Normal, Illinois. "It is a way of imagining the future and Normal is that future."

Before you pack your bags and head to find the Midwest town that is situated amid the cornfields of Illinois, learn that Mitsubishi won't be giving up the cars for free. Instead, it will make 1,000 out of a total of 15,000 units readily available to the town's residents who won't have to get in line (or so to speak…) to buy the MiEV.

What Mitsubishi avoids to say in the promotion is that the tiny pure-electric model will reach showrooms in November with a starting price of $27,990, which can drop by as much as $7,500 to $20,490 after government subsidies.

Japanese Carmakers Lose More than 500,000 Vehicles to Earthquake, Toyota hit the Worst

It’s been over a month since the first of a series of earthquakes along with a catastrophic tsunami hit Japan’s shores resulting in devastating destruction and flooding, but the country is still feeling the effects in more ways than one.

According to a news report, Japan’s big seven automakers have lost more than half a million units of output since the March 11 quake. To make matters worse, even though many factories opened recently, they have not yet reached their full production capacity due to a lack of parts.

Toyota Motor Corp. is the most affected having lost some 260,000 units at its 18 plants in the country, while Honda’s volume was reduced by 58,000 vehicles. Nissan, which has restarted its five domestic plants with reduced output, lost some 55,0000 vehicles up until now, with Suzuki counting 45,000 fewer cars through March 31 and 59,000 through April 9.

Mazda’s toll comes out to 43,000 units, Subaru’s to 29,000 vehicles until April 5 and finally Mitsubishi has lost 26,000 vehicles through April 10.

Source: Autonews

Proton Shows Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X Lookalike Concept of Inspira with 240HP Turbo Engine

The 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show at the Putra World Trade Centre in Malaysia saw local automaker and owner of Lotus, Proton, revealing a host of concept models including a sport prototype of the recently launched Inspira called the Jebat. Needless to say, it's clearly inspired from the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

As you may remember, the Inspira is a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer sedan and is the result of an OEM collaboration between the Malaysian automaker and Mitsubishi Japan. However, we're not so sure if Mitsubishi had this in mind when it was signing the agreement with Proton.

In any case, the Jebat study, which could very well lead to a similar production model, features a wide body kit with blistered wheel arches and splashes of matte black paint all around the car. Power is provided by a turbocharged 4-cylinder MiVEC engine producing 237HP (177kW) at 6,000 rpm and 343Nm of peak torque at 3,000 rpm.

No word if the pseudo-EVO (that does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) comes with the real EVOs four-wheel drive system, but Proton has announced that the Jebat completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.6 seconds and tops out at 232 km/h or 144 mph.

Via: Proton and CBT

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Popular Mechanics Compiles List of 1980s and 1990s Dreams Cars Priced under $6,000

Popular Mechanics has put together a list of 1980s and 1990s cars, which it claims, back then could be considered by many as "dream cars", but today can be found on eBay for under US $6,000. We can't say we fully agree with the term "dream cars" for some of PM's choices as they're not exactly the hottest vehicles ever made, but, hey, they represent some weird decades.
Just be sure that you can mend a thing or two under the hood, otherwise you should be wary or better yet, increase your budget. Hit the jump to read about the cars that made it into Popular Mechanic's list and why not, tell us what your choices would be from the era with a budget up to $6,000.
1984-1986 Chevrolet Corvette
When it was launched in 1983, the C4 was the first all-new Corvette since 1963. No wonder customers were eager to get their hands on it.
It had sleek lines, good handling and a modern interior, with an electronic dashboard, signaling that Chevrolet took a big step forward compared to the previous generation. However, the Cross Fire Injected 5.7-liter V8 and 4+3 overdrive manual transmission weren't so good, which explains why these days you can buy one for as low as US $3,000.
Starting with the '85 model year, GM offered the better L98 Tuned-Port Injected V8, capable of 235 hp (175 kW). A well kept one sells these days for a little over 5,000 dollars, which is money well spent if you factor in the sex appeal of a C4.


1982-1990 Porsche 944
Introduced in 1982, the 944 was basically, a wide-body 924. It was way better than the latter, mostly because it had a proper Porsche engine. The Germans took the 928's V8 and cut it in half, thus creating the 2.5-liter four-pot, rated at 150 hp (112 kW).
The zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint took 8.3 seconds, a decent performance by '80s standards. Handling wasn't bad either, as the 944 had a rear-mounted transaxle setup.
The best part is that virtually all models can be had cheap nowadays. A 1986 variant, with up to 100,000 miles, sells for around $5,600 and even a fabulous 247 hp (184 kW) 944 Turbo can be bought for about $7,000. True, it's over the budget, but still a bargain and a true driver's car.


1985-1993 Ford Mustang 5.0
It arrived after the mediocre Pinto-based Mustang II and used the all-new Fox platform, designed by Jack Telnack. One of the most memorable variants, the GT, boasted the now-iconic 5.0-liter H.O. V8, initially with 157 hp (117 kW). The performance increased over the years, first to 175 hp (130 kW) in 1983, then to 210 hp (157 kW) in 1985.
The "arms race" continued in 1986 too, as the introduction of port fuel injection further upped the power, this time to 225 hp (168 kW). The Mustang 5.0 put all of these ponies to good use, as it was capable to accelerate from standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 6.5 seconds. That's a good performance even today.
There are tons of 5.0 Mustangs around, so finding a good one for under $6,000 is a piece of cake. Popular Mechanics saw a solid 1990 GT on eBay, with only 89,000 miles, for just $3,900.
1991-2000 Lexus SC400
Lexus hasn't been around for a long period of time, so, aside the LF-A supercar, not many of its models can be considered true collectibles. Still, Popular Mechanics thinks that the SC400 coupe has the best shot of becoming one. Featuring a forward-looking design, it was a strong competitor in its class, going head to head with the German rivals.
It used the very reliable 4.0-liter V8, good for 250 hp (186 kW), shared with the range-topping LS400. In 1998 it received variable valve timing, which bumped output to 290 hp (or 216 kW). This later version could reach 60 mph in 6 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph.
Being solid, well engineered cars, means that even older ones tend to be in good shape, so, for example, you can have a 1992 model for as low as $4,550.
1997-2001 Honda Prelude
Five generations of Honda Preludes have seen the light of day since 1978, the most interesting being the fifth and last one, launched in 1997. It was a good balance of styling, power and handling, featuring a 2.2-liter 195 hp (145 kW) four-cylinder engine, mated to five-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The highlight of the Prelude was the advanced Active Torque Transfer System of the Type-SH, capable of sending more power to the outside front wheel, thus reducing understeer.
You should go for the Type-SH (as in Super Handling), a good one, with 63,000 miles, costs around $5,150 on eBay.


1990-1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS Turbo and GSX
The 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse had a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine delivering 195 hp (145 kW). Codenamed 4G63T, it was the same four-pot mill that since then has seen action in most Evos and, in GSX trim, sent its oomph to all four wheels.
For the second generation, launched in 1995, the Japanese maker also used the 4G63T, albeit with more power (210 hp or 157 kW). Exterior changes were made, making it a more modern presence, and it had a bigger interior, too.
As they could be easily tuned to 300 hp (224 kW), most surviving Eclipses are pretty beat up. High mileage, first generation cars are fetched for about half of the six thousand dollar budget, but solid cars, like a '97 GSX with 130,000 miles, sell for $5,998.


1989-1998 Nissan 240SX
With the 240SX, Nissan wanted to offer an affordable rear-wheel-drive sports car. Launched in 1989, it had a 2.4-liter engine under the bonnet, producing just 140 hp (104 kW). In 1991, this was increased to 155 hp (116 kW) by adopting a four-valve head. It's obvious that it wasn't immensely powerful, but, still, it was great to drive.
The second generation came in 1995 and it was larger and torsionally stiffer, which improved handling even more. Owners quickly adopted Japanese domestic market performance parts, including turbocharged engines, such as the Nissan SR20DET or the RB20DET, the latter sourced from the legendary Skyline.
Like the Eclipse, the 240SX was also widely used for track racing or drifting, so finding a well-kept example can be tricky. Popular Mechanics found a decent 1989 240SX (with automatic transmission and 62,491 miles on the odometer) up for sale for an even $5,000.


1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Featuring a unibody construction, with solid axles, four-wheel-drive and two- or four-door body styles, the Jeep Cherokee was quite a capable off-roader. Furthermore, equipped with the optional tow package, it could even handle 5,000-pound trailers.
The 4.0-liter inline-six engine delivered 190 hp (142 kW), enough to help it reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in 8 seconds. A top-notch two-door XJ, with 106,000 miles and five-speed manual, sold on eBay for $4,200.


1970-1993 Alfa Romeo Spider
The Italian designers drew such beautiful lines for the Spider that Alfa Romeo was able to sell the small roadster virtually unchanged for 27 years. But good looks are deceiving, as even the more powerful variants of the 1980s had only 115 hp (86 kW) under the hood. However, they more than made up for this shortcoming by being fun to drive.
Some say that the Spider was, in many respects, like the Mazda Miata, minus one: the reliability.
In this case, older cars tend to be more expensive, as they're thought to be "more delicate and pure". Still, a 1986 Spider Veloce with 104,000 miles sold on eBay for just $4,251. That's an acceptable price for such an inspiring car, but buyers are advised to thoroughly check them out and only opt for regularly driven and maintained ones.
By Csaba Daradics

Bigger is Better: Mitsubishi's US-Spec Wide-Bodied i-MiEV Revealed Ahead of LA Show

These are the first official photos of the North American version of Mitsubishi's i-MiEV all-electric city, which will have its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show, to be held from Wednesday, November 17 to Sunday November 28.

Even though big ideas can come in small packages, for most things in America, consumers believe that "bigger is better" and "better is bigger". And seeing what happened with Mercedes-Benz and its Smart Fortwo mini, Mitsubishi decided to "fatten-up" the North American version of the i-MiEV, and make it bigger than its Japanese- and European-spec counterparts.

"[The i-MiEV] features an enhanced, enlarged body structure to secure plenty of space for four adults and better meet the expectations of U.S. consumers," said Mitsubishi in a statement.

With this and that, the wider and longer US-Spec i-MiEV measures 3,680 mm / 144.9" (+258mm or +9.8") in length, 1,585 mm / 62.4" (+110mm or +4.3") in width, 1,615 mm / 63.6" (+5mm or +0.2") in height.

In addition to the larger frame, the North American-spec i-MiEV gets a new set of front and rear bumpers as well as some interior changes.

Mitsubishi has not yet released details on the U.S. model's electric-drivetrain. The smaller JDM version of the plug-in EV is powered by an electric motor with 64HP (47kW) and 180Nm (132.8-lbs/ft) of maximum torque, driving the rear wheels. A full charge of the lithium-ion batteries is said to offer a driving range of up to 100 miles or 160 km.

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DAMD goes Low-Key with Mitsubishi Outlander Sport [RVR / ASX]

In what could be one of the most subtle proposals to come out of the DAMD tuning shop yet, the Japanese aftermarket company presented a rather tasty styling kit for the new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which as you probably already know, is called ASX in Europe and RVR in Japan.

DAMD's modifications include an aero/styling kit with a front lip spoiler, side sills a central rear apron with add-ons on both corners of the bumper, and a roof spoiler. All parts can be ordered in the same color as the rest of the car or in a matte black finish, which looks pretty cool on the white Outlander Sport pictured here.

The tuning firm also adds a sports exhaust and the option of 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels from Crimson wrapped around 245/35R Bridesgtone tires.

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Proton Rebadges Mitsubishi Lancer and Calls it Inspira. Too bad it isn't an EVO..

Proton, Malaysia's national carmaker and owners of Lotus, has taken the wraps of its latest model. No, you aren't looking at a cheesy Photoshop and this isn't an April Fools joke come six months late: this is the firm's new mid-sized Inspira sedan.

For those of you fooled by the *cough* deceptive *cough* restyling Proton has done, the Inspira (from the Bahasa Malaysia word 'Inspirasi' which means 'Inspiration') is based on the current generation Mitsubishi Lancer.

Priced at a tentative RM79,888 (US$25,654), deliveries of the Inspira will start in November. For some comparison, in Malaysia a base model Mazda3 sells for roughly RM30,000 (US$10,000) more.

Managing Director Dato' Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir is very happy with the new model:

"We maintain our stance in making valuable products more affordable for Malaysians. The car's distinctive sporty personality has been further enhanced by us with the injection of the renowned Lotus DNA of excellent ride & handling, while localisation of parts has enabled us to introduce the Inspira at an affordable price. With these combined, what we have here is what we believe to be another right car, at the right price and at the right time by PROTON."

The Inspira gets all the goodies the Lancer gets including a choice of a 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines, adaptive CVT with paddle shifters, cruise control, dusk-sending headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, climate control air conditioning and (presumably) 5 star ANCAP safety.

The Inspira is the first tangible result of the new strategic alliance between Proton and Mitsubishi, though the two companies have had close ties for years. In the mid to late '90s, Proton brought three cars to Australia that were little more than rebadges of current generation Mitsubishi models. Suffice to say, only the most cash strapped of buyers saw the Wira, Satria and M21 as anything but knockoff Mitsubishis.

Carscoop will have more details and pictures as they come through.

By Tristan Hankins

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