Mitsubishi is entering the budget hatchback market with its new Mirage. The new hatch will be built in Thailand to keep costs in check and will hit world markets during the course of next year, after making its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this December.
Measuring 3710mm in length the Mirage is about the size of a Nissan Micra and is said to offer comfortable accommodation for five adults - although it's unlikely that they are envisioning five South African rugby props here.
Nonetheless, the Mirage's big drawcard will be its economy - the company targeting a fuel consumption figure of 3.3 litres per 100km for the Japanese-market version. This, they say, is achieved through numerous painstaking weight reduction methods throughout the car and detailed improvements to the engine, transmission, tyres and aerodynamics.
Power is provided by a 1-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated to an idle-stop system and a CVT gearbox but no output figures have been disclosed as yet. It's likely, though, that the versions sold in developing markets will be a bit more basic than that aforementioned Japanese model.
On that note, we are awaiting a reply on whether the Mirage will be introduced to South Africa.