Sometimes you wonder why a little budget car like the Mitsubishi Mirage was tested on a big racetrack like the Bira Circuit in Thailand half a year before its launch on the Philippine market. The low-tech, low-cost, lightweight Mirage is by no means a high-performance car or sports car whose power, speed and agility needs to be proven on a racing circuit.
Overshadowed by last week’s 50th anniversary bash of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. was Osamu Masuko’s announcement of the imminent rollout of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the upcoming 2013 Outlander crossover.
When motoring journalists from seven countries including the Philippines tested the all-new, fluidic-sculptured subcompact Hyundai Accent in Dubai in February 2011, many of us asked when a diesel version would be offered in our country. Evasive answers didn’t give us much hope.
I love small cars. With small cars, you can have a lot of fun driving, but without spending too much, and have enough laughs and giggles without going scary fast. Small cars are inherently more responsive, thanks to their light weight. You don’t need huge power, super wide tires (which kill steering feel) and monstrously powerful brakes to have fun.
