Mitsi Kills Lancer..Production to end ???

[csv8]

"The Mitsubishi Lancer appears dead in the water, with the Japanese car maker’s boss revealing there are no plans to build a successor to the popular small car.

Mitsubishi Motors CEO Osamu Masuko gave industry journal Automotive News the clearest indication yet that the brand was turning its back on its traditional small car to instead focus on vehicles that sell well in the US, primarily SUVs.

“We are strong in SUVs and four-wheel drives, and that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the US market,” Masuko said.

“We have changed direction. We are going to allocate more resources to the areas where we are strong in the US.”

The writing has been on the wall for some time for the Lancer. Lacking the funds to develop a new-generation model on its own, Mitsubishi has been searching for years for a partner to co-develop a successor for the nine-year-old Lancer, but has been unable to reach a suitable agreement."

Read more at http://www.caradvice.com.au/400546/m...ylgY7x72Roh.99

[xxx000]

Horrible old fashioned looking things especially the wagon
Can't believe they survived this long

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by xxx000

Horrible old fashioned looking things especially the wagon
Can't believe they survived this long

Last wagon Lancer was probably 2007 model.

[Ford_The_Win]

That's a shame, I really like the Lancer. Basic and definitely no frills, but solid as a rock.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

That's a shame, I really like the Lancer. Basic and definitely no frills, but solid as a rock.

Number one car for reliability in the world 7 years running I think, at least it's made in Japan you know it's not crap.

[Windsor220]

Very strange to drop Lancer and Pajero. They are the main two models you think of with the brand. The Lancer just needs to be renewed. Really cant see them being a big player in the future. Only Triton will keep their numbers half decent and who knows how popular it will be once it gets older.

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by tempted

Just kill the bloody thing already. It's about as stale as a month old loaf of bread.

So is the AU falcon, but you continue to drive one, seems you dislike every car bar your own, going by the bulk of your posts bagging pretty much every car mentioned on this forum

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by RANGEREST

So is the AU falcon, but you continue to drive one, seems you dislike every car bar your own, going by the bulk of your posts bagging pretty much every car mentioned on this forum

hey i have an AU lol

[zilo]

They are ramping up EV manufacturing in the US plants.

[danzvtil]

I don't think these 2 models will be dropped just yet, they will remain in production indefinitely for markets in which they still sell well, its just that there will be no replacement.
Lancer has had a "face lift" and Paj still sells well in the middle east.

[Brazen]

It's time Mitsubishi stopped pretending they don't know how cheap dealers sell these Lancers for and just advertise them 16,990 drive away. It is a good, roomy, reliable car for the money.

[4stanger]

At one stage these lancers were part of mitsi. 10 year drive train warranty. the manufacturer must be confident in their product to advertise that.
This current model had a long run over the years, possibly a good little reliable 2nd car run about, should be plenty of them as spares at wreckers for the next 10 to 15 years ;)

[mik]

Originally Posted by Arnaldo

At one stage these lancers were part of mitsi. 10 year drive train warranty. the manufacturer must be confident in their product to advertise that.
This current model had a long run over the years, possibly a good little reliable 2nd car run about, should be plenty of them as spares at wreckers for the next 10 to 15 years ;)

from memory proton used the lancer engine in its cars Edit : dont know if they still do ? my mate had one, a reliable little donk for sure.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by mik

from memory proton used the lancer engine in its cars Edit : dont know if they still do ? my mate had one, a reliable little donk for sure.

Proton has an identical clone called the Inspira. Apparently it is fully made in Malaysia. If Mitsubishi discontinues Lancer, perhaps they could start exporting Inspiras to fill the void. Proton has no problem reproducing decades-old technology. They produced the 1982 Lancer Fiore all the way up until around 2004, as the Proton Saga.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Proton has an identical clone called the Inspira. Apparently it is fully made in Malaysia. If Mitsubishi discontinues Lancer, perhaps they could start exporting Inspiras to fill the void. Proton has no problem reproducing decades-old technology. They produced the 1982 Lancer Fiore all the way up until around 2004, as the Proton Saga.

Not fully made, just assembled. They get them in CKD form from Japan who still stamp them. Proton would have to purchase the tooling to keep making them long term.

[malazn mafia]

What a shame, could think of more uninspirational, pedestrian or poorly engineered cars more worthy of being discontinued than the lancer: Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Cerato. None of them have the rally heritage or performance options that Lancer has.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

What a shame, could think of more uninspirational, pedestrian or poorly engineered cars more worthy of being discontinued than the lancer: Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Cerato. None of them have the rally heritage or performance options that Lancer has.

Cerato's ain't bad, but I agree with the other two.

I find it hard to comprehend that there are Lancers on the road which are 2015 models. They are just one of those cars that look so bland and out of date. They have had the current look model since 2007, but it feel like much longer than that.
But I guess they are reliable and that's all that matters to some people.
If they updated the look and kept the reliability it wouldn't be a bad car I would guess

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Cerato's ain't bad, but I agree with the other two.

I find it hard to comprehend that there are Lancers on the road which are 2015 models. They are just one of those cars that look so bland and out of date. They have had the current look model since 2007, but it feel like much longer than that.
But I guess they are reliable and that's all that matters to some people.
If they updated the look and kept the reliability it wouldn't be a bad car I would guess

Guess it's in the eye of the beholder but the lancer is a clean cut, neat design. Short bootlid, high waistline and it has a good, modern engine with decent power and can have some serious boost put through it for more go. Even sported those slimlined headlights, trapezoidal ford grille before even Ford invented it. It hasn't conformed to the melted contoured sculpted Hyundai look of the last five years, like the Corolla has, but the lancer certainly doesn't look old?

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Cerato's ain't bad, but I agree with the other two.

You think a Hyundai Lantra is crap but a Kia Cerato is OK ?

They are the same basic car built by the same manufacturer.

They are about as different as a Mazda 323 is to a Ford Laser

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by tempted

Who cares, they're both ugly Korean pieces of crap.

That may have been true 10-15 years ago, but have a good look now.

I'm no fan imported or FWD 4-cyl cars, but I don't see a great difference in build quality or reliability between the Hyundai/Kia range & the Toyota/ Mazda stuff. Don't get me started on the Euro-trash.

I try to be as un-biased as I can be, but I've probably been in the motor trade for too long, now over 45 years BTW.

Dr Terry

[castellan]

If we are to talk about a good small car what would it be ? discounting high powered turbos, but just family type small car that people are looking to nowadays.

Mitsubishi to dump a Lancer size type car sounds weird to just toss such a car away nowadays.

Mitsubishi claim they need help for the new project to get under way and that has fell through.

So what they do nowadays is build a body with two or three other car makers and go from their with their own skin covering it and so on, as this cut's down the cost and they can keep competitive in the pricing.

Peugeot 306 was the most impressive ride and handling small FWD car I have ever been in, that rear end set up was magic, so when you hit the brakes hard the rear squat down to the road, not launching up in the air like all the other rubbish does.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by tempted

I've seen all I need to see.

They are horrible to look at with their over the top, try hard curvy styling, horrible to drive with gutless engines and diabolical handling and seem to be the car of choice for clueless numpties who have no idea about cars or how to drive.

A lot of people also think that about the AU (I'm not one,) and whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, everyone sees car styling differently.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by tempted

I've seen all I need to see.

They are horrible to look at with their over the top, try hard curvy styling, horrible to drive with gutless engines and diabolical handling and seem to be the car of choice for clueless numpties who have no idea about cars or how to drive. IIRC Hyundai and Kia were rated below average for reliability in the latest surveys.
All the blind praise they have been receiving lately make me think that Hyundai must be putting something in the water supply.

Hyundai and Kia make decent cars these days.

Do you like any car in the world that isn't a Falcon?

[Ben73]

The interior looks a bit dated for new cars standards, but you hardly ever see that unless you own one.

Exterior wise I think because the model is several years old I have just got bored of it. I used to actually really like them, I don't know what changed. I think so many good looking 'normal' cars have came out over the past few years the Lancer has just faded to the background in my memory.

[vztrt]

Lancer must have been making too much money so they had to get rid of it.

The latest model was a joke. Unless you were 5.5ft you couldn't fit in the stupid things.

[snopony]

Id be sad to see the little things go...Ive owned three and they were a wonderful little car- for me.... Im short, female aaaand the only reason I traded the last one was it took about a week to kill the suspension on a new farm property's driveway. niche market.

[Vesper Martini]

There were some pretty funky designs for the new Pajero, its a shame I was looking forward to see one on the road.
http://justcarreviews.com/mitsubishi-pajero-2016/
looks like they down sized the project to the Pajero sport (replacement to Challenger)
so its not gone completely

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by tempted

Funky????

The only words I would use to describe that 'thing' would be censored from this forum.

Your Opinion, given what its worth suddenly makes me like it more.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by tempted

Funky????

The only words I would use to describe that 'thing' would be censored from this forum.

I thought word was the Pajero was unprofitable and being discontinued, and Mitsubishi was simply going to continue the 4wd purely based on Triton as challenger/Pajero sport.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

I thought word was the Pajero was unprofitable and being discontinued, and Mitsubishi was simply going to continue the 4wd purely based on Triton as challenger/Pajero sport.

Wouldn't surprise me... Its in the same sector as things like the Prado and Grand Cherokee which both have the market pretty well dominated I would think... Wonder how many new Pajero's they even sell per month? Mustnt be all that many...