Thailand welcomes new Mirage, rest of Asean next

After making its world premiere at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show on Nov. 30, 2011, the all new Mitsubishi Mirage has finally arrived in Thailand showrooms.

Stepping up as the Japanese automaker’s all-new global city car, the all new Mirage went on sale in Thailand last March 28, ending its 10-year hiatus in the world market.

The Mirage immediately became a hot seller in Thailand after it reported more than 15,000 orders (with delivery a month after). Mitsubishi plans to initially produce 100,000 Mirages in its brand-new third factory called Laem Chabang (the largest MMC plant and export hub outside of Japan).

Thailand plans to expand annual production capacity to 200,000 units as its starts exporting the car to the rest of the world.

While Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has not announced its exact arrival here or its price, expect the all-new Mirage to go on sale toward the last quarter of 2012.

Featuring a stop/start technology (aka Auto Stop & Go) and a continuously variable transmission, the 1.2-liter Mivec engine equipped Mirage is rated to deliver a fuel efficiency of 22kpl, placing it among the best in its class and above the Thai government’s requirements for “eco-car” certification.

The all-new Mirage measures 3.7 meters long, 1.6 meters wide and almost 1.5 meters tall.

Leading the March ceremony in Thailand MMC president Osamu Masuko explained that the company has designed the Mirage to meet the needs of both emerging and advanced markets, with an emphasis on “compactness, affordability and high fuel efficiency”.

“The Mirage is an all-new compact car focused on premium fuel efficiency and low CO2 emission, just right for the times where demand for superior fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness are increasing all over the world,” he said in a statement.

Masuko assured that after Thailand, the Mirage will be exported to the rest of the Asean countries before it makes its way around the world.

In Beijing on Monday, Masuko bared they want to start producing Mirage compact models in China by 2014. Masuko told reporters at the Beijing Autoshow that Mitsubishi aims for at least 100,000 annual sales of Mirage a year in China. The company also aims for China sales of 300,000 in 2015 versus 164,000 in 2011.