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Mitsubishi Motors has crafted a new compact car that will satisfy the needs of people all over the world, whether in emerging markets or mature markets. That car is the new Mirage.

The development goal for the new Mirage was to offer world-class environmental performance and the easy d r i v a b i l i t y o f a c o m p a c t m o d e l a t a n e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e p r i c e w h i l e a l s o d e l i v e r i n g a c o m b i n a t i o n o f r o a d performance, design excellence and build and trim quality to bring driving pleasure to more people. The new Mirage sits on a new lightweight and high-strength platform. The extensive use of high-tensile steel sheet together with painstaking weight reduction throughout the entire vehicle has produced one of the lightest five-seat five-door hatchback bodies on the market. The lightweight body and its slippery aerodynamic lines contribute greatly to the
car’s low fuel consumption. The Mirage provides the maneuverability and easy drivability expected of a compact car while also offering ample interior and luggage space. The Mirage is powered by a new 1.0-liter 3-cylinder MIVEC engine which uses a regenerative braking system for energy recovery.

Incorporating Mitsubishi Motors’ own Auto Stop & Go idle-stop system in the new engine boasts a top-of-class level of fuel economy. In creating the new Mirage compact car Mitsubishi Motors has stayed faithful to the Mitsubishi Motors Way, reviewing and re-examining in painstaking detail every technology applied to and incorporated in the Mirage.

The Mirage embodies a new way of thinking in building automobiles. Mitsubishi Motors is confident the Mirage will meet the expectations and earn the satisfaction of customers the world over in its role as a partner in their daily lives and communities. The Mirage production model will go on sale first in Thailand in March 2012 and will be rolled out in other markets all over the world in quick succession to bring real driving pleasure to customers everywhere.

Design

The design of the Mirage is speckled throughout with “dashes of spice” that are meant to enhance the driving experience for the owner in his or her daily life. In the exterior, this can be seen in its elegant silhouette and the appearance of the expressive body panel surface. The interior design, meanwhile, gives expression to the design theme in the clean and simple aesthetics of the center panel and can be seen in the careful attention given to the even the smallest of details. The Mirage was not designed solely with style in mind; rather to make a comfortable driving experience that is both eco-friendly and people-friendly.

Exterior

The Mirage uses roof lines which create distinctive side view proportions in a very aerodynamically efficient design. The trailing roof edge creates a sharp and edgy shape yet s t i l l provides ample rear seat headroom. Providing excel lent forward and s ide vi s ibi l i ty, the beltline starts low down just behind the front wheel arch and rises gently as it runs towards the rear. The beltline and roof shape are balanced to inject movement into the side design

The taut panel surfaces bring out the charm in body c o l o r i n g t o m a x i m u m e f f e c t . T h e h e a d l a m p s t h a t accentuate the front of the Mirage were shaped to give its distinctive face use a richly expressive design which adds crispness to the side view while morphing into softer and gentler styling in the front view. From the r e a r , t h e t a p e r i n g c a b i n s h a p e i s c o u n t e r p o i s e d b y thick bumper ends to give the Mirage tail a wide, squat and reassuring look of stability.

T h e Mi r a g e wa s r e l e n t l e s s l y d e s i g n e d t o a c h i e v e a n a e s t h e t i c a l l y p l e a s i n g a n d e f f e c t i v e b a l a n c e b e twe e n sophisticated looks and superior aerodynamic performance. This can be seen in the front grille with its minimal opening, in the front bumper with its airflow rectifying design, in the aero wheel covers which optimize airflow a r o u n d t h e w h e e l s , i n t h e s h a r p e d g e s o f t h e r e a r b u m p e r a n d r e a r e d g e o f t h e c a b i n , a n d i n t h e w i n d tunnel-optimized rear spoiler design. By aggressively using these elements in the design, the Mirage was made very aerodynamic, contributing to its high fuel efficiency.

Interior

“Simple & Clean” was the design theme for the Mirage’s interior, aimed at creating a spacy and comfortable interior that envelops its occupants in a pleasant ambiance. The use of a flat dashboard design wi t h a n a c c e n t l i n e wh i c h d e s c r i b e s a n a r c s t r e t c h i n g f r om the windscreen edge across its whole length imparts a sense of width to the cockpit. The edge of the dashboard is cambered, giving a greater feeling of openness to the cockpit. The center panel with its glossy piano-black finish enhances the overall texture and gives an elegant a c c e n t t o t h e c l e a n a n d s imp l e d e s i g n o f t h e i n t e r i o r , ma k i n g a pleasant ambiance.

Packaging

The Mirage features innovative packaging which fits an interior space with ample front and rear seat leg room into a compact body and delivers a comfortable ride for all occupants. The Mirage’s compact dimensions give it a top-of-class turning radius, while its slim-line A-pillar and low-set belt line give the driver an outstanding field of vision. The styling allows the driver to see the engine hood, thus making it easier to judge the width of the car for easier maneuverability and drivability.

Performance

The Mi rag e i s powered by a new 1.0- l i ter 3- cyl inder engine wi th a number of ef f i c iency-enhanc ing features including the MIVEC variable valve timing system, the adoption of Mitsubishi Motors’ Auto Stop & Go idle-stop system, a Brake energy regeneration system, as well as thorough weight reduction and an exhaustive reduction in friction losses. The well-balanced mix of new technologies and improvements to existing technologies provides top-of-class environmental performance. The MIVEC engine is mated to a next-generation CVT with an auxiliary gearbox providing a wide ratio span. Feeding torque drive effectively and efficiently to the driving wheels, this transmission delivers both outstanding fuel economy and drivability. The Mirage uses Mitsubishi’ s RISE safety body design which has been made lighter by strategic use of lightweight and very stiff high-tensile steel plate.

Together with its superior aerodynamics, the production Mirage will be targeting top-of-class fuel efficiency of 30.0 km per liter.

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