Mitsubishi India has facelifted the Outlander giving it the front of the Lancer Evo. Changes include new headlamp cluster, new front grille, reshaped bumper and hood, new roof rails and door mirrors with integrated turn lights. No changes have been made to the rear or to the 2.4-liter engine which develops 167bhp of power and a 23kgm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed CVT gearbox. As usual the company has reduced the price, this time by Rs. 60,000/- to Rs 23.58 lakh (OTR, Mumbai). Mitsubishi should seriously shut shop and head back to its headquarters in Japan.
Source – Autocar
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February 24, 2010 at 2:00 pm
@FAS: What do u mean Mitsu should shut shop?
February 24, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Sagar, Mitsubishi has no interest in India at all. Look at them, they have not even given a single advertisement regarding the new Outlander. Their website is down since a few days and they have been harping about the new Lancer since 3 years now. Its better if they leave and not give us Mitsu fans false hopes.
February 25, 2010 at 11:14 am
@ FAS: Dont take it as a arguementative counter comment but more of a fog clearer. Let me present a few facts to you which I have recieved through reliable sources recently after having gone through your post.
1. The administration/management of Mitsubishi India is done by HM not Mitsu. If anyone at all its HM to be blamed for current situation (bad mgmt, PR, mktng etc..)
2. Adverts for new Outlander are not out as they have already spent quite a lot on the print ads of the current Outlander (they are cash strapped afterall) and Pajero and secondly, its not an immediate need as they already have highest ever bookings in Feb itself. Having said that I think new ads are on their way .
3. The price you’ve quoted are Mumbai prices which are higher than anywhere else in the country as the Octroi charges in Mumbai are highest of all cities in India. Chennai, Delhi and lot of other cities don’t even charge Octroi if I’m not wrong hence the prices will be significantly lower.Even otherwise the Ex-showroom has come down to 19 odd laks from 21 odd laks which is a significant reduction considering the body changes they have made. Having said all this, Outlander remains a high quality high performance pdt up there with CR-Vs (better in fact), not like the cheaper Endeavour, Captiva, Vitara etc which are a league below.
4. Personally I feel Mitsu is very interested in India, the reason why they have hung on to HM despite their follies and are exploring various ways to improve the tie-up with HM. They are going to launch a few more new products after Outlander. New volume pdts should be launched if they wanna get better sales and revenues but I have no idea on that.
5. As far as the new Lancer is concerned, I have not seen either Mitsu nor HM making any official or unoffical comment abt bringing it to India wvwr and its the work of auto mags/websites who have published unverified news to draw attention (read readership. howevermuch little). I still remeber one mag putting New Lancer on their cover page announcing an imminent launch. God knows where that came from. If you ask me, I have no trust in these automags, they are all profit driven most of the info is biased/twisted/puffed in the interest of more readership and maybe even more access to OEMs for road tests.
6. Personally I dont think it makes sense bringing the current Lancer to India as it was launched in 2008 worldwide. If brought to India, by the time its tested, homologated (takes a year), suspension modified, engine detuned etc (Thanks to the great Indian fuel and roads) and launched it will be 2011, a new model of Lancer might have arrived worldwide and Indians will be pi**ed off at being given an older model. And anyway it might work out to 13-14 laks thereby shooting over Civic and Altis and customers wont like that.
Finally, I’m by no means or methods connected to Mitsu (wish I was though ;-) ) and am just a diehard fan having driven the Cedia and Lancer. I’m an equally diehard fan of Motorbeam and thus am taking the effort to get clear info on the site.
Cheers.
February 25, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Sagar, I love to have healthy arguments about cars and bikes. I am aware that Mitsu is managed by the useless HM and that is the reason a fantastic brand like Mitsubishi has been killed due to poor service and marketing. But its Mitsubishi’s fault as well. They shouldn’t be sitting hoping for a miracle to happen. They can very well back out and go solo. But sigh no one at Mitsu really cares about the Indian market. They have been testing the waters with HM since a long time and its high time they do something about it.
Reasons like being cash strapped is not an excuse for not marketing your new products. If they were so badly cash strapped I am sure they would head back and sell their assets. As far as the prices go, all are quoted in Mumbai or Delhi. However there is no doubt that the CR-V is 2 lakhs dearer and the Outlander is a better machine but what is the use when Mitsu can’t even create the awareness about their product. Good product is one thing, after sales service and resale is another altogether. The Endy is possible the worst SUV on earth but it still manages to sell. Because Ford does bother to promote it. If a good car sells on its own than today we would see more Puntos on the road, but sadly that is not how it works.
I wouldn’t comment on other magazines but I can assure you, here at Motorbeam we rather upset a few OEMs by speaking the truth than upset the readers by being biased. I think Business Standard carried the news on the Lancer launch and some dealers too had confirmed the same. Anyways don’t you think Mitsu should get the new Lancer anyway. Its been freaking 3 all new Citys since the Lancer even changed its makeup.
Given the credetinals of the new Lancer, people will buy it at Rs. 14 lakhs too. The Punto was launched in 2005 but came here only in 2009, its doing decent. A new version has come out too, the EVO but no one is complaining. I love Mitsubishi too and I am a big fan of the Lancer Evolution VI. But if someone you expect something from, doesn’t perform, the anger is evident.
February 25, 2010 at 11:40 pm
hi
its a big big comments…………..
they are back mitsubishi outlander not a bad move….
what about the evo and new lance..
im waiting…till 2012..
bye..
February 26, 2010 at 12:19 am
@FAS: First up, I’m very happy that Motorbeam is one site where the comments are accounted for and replied to. No other site/forum does this.
Just to back your observations and settle the topic, I too believe that HM has nearly killed Mitsu as well as itself. But there is hope and the changes being brought about in Outlander are a sign of that. Outlander is the model that saved Mitsu worldwide before recession pushed it back below sea level globally, it’s best suited to save them here as well. I dont think Mitsu can go solo now, it would take tremendous investment and effort (purchasing plant from HM, acquiring dealers, setting up logistics and then fixing all the bugs in the HM setup) as simply buying out and continuing with HM’s systems and processes will screw it all. Everything will have to be started afresh. They could have done so earlier when Lancer was just beginning to slide down but they were entangled in their own screw-ups worldwide with NZ and AUS plant closure, American debacle, Daimler pull-out, global failure of 2000-01 Lancer (the original square headlamped CEDIA launched with Century Diamond punch line. Total failure). Later the two-tone Pajero suddenly started selling like hot cakes and things seemed to be turning around. prior to that the 2004 CEDIA launch in India was expected to turn things around as well but HM botched the marketing totally before Mitsu could do anything. MItsu in itself is not a very successful brand and is currently struggling with its own affairs in Japan and rest of the world. The i-car failure was a deadly blow as well. Won all the awards but not customers.
HM should sell their assets like you mentioned, and they have done so by selling a massive portion of their Kolkata land for an undisclosed amount, but that money was used to save the Kolkata plant which had thousands of workers’ livelihood on line. They also demerged the Pithampur engine plant to save that plant from debacle as money from there was going into other plants. Its doing well now thankfully. Compare this to LML and Sipani. HM is also one of the few companies that did not cut jobs or lower salaries or shut down plants despite being possibly worst hit in recession (if they fare so poorly in good times, imagine their state in recession). Thats someplace where reserve/raised money was probably used. All said and done, I am of the opinion as well that marketing should have been done for the new Outlander, but I guess since they are getting orders anyhow (the not-so-old Outlander and Pajero ads are still in circulation which brings customers to the dealerships and there they spot the new Outlander. What a strategy!! lol..)and are probly putting new ads in place, but knowing HM, I could be wrong. Anyway the point I’m trying to bring out is that all businesses ensure sustainability before planning for growth. It’s appreciable that HM is still alive. This was extremely essential after the ultra-poor management and near closure of the firm. Also HM still has a governmental set-up and aggression is evidently not part of their business models.
As far as Lancer is concerned, the brand still pumps adrenaline in us enthusiasts, but has taken a severe beating among the general customers, and its also considered a City category car, not Civic/Altis category. Maybe they can get it under the Galant Fortis name, but its a risk they can avoid right now. Ford has done well like you said. Endy sells since its cheap but the marketing makes sure that the Toughie image is intact, and the fact that its featured in comparos with the Pajero and is declared winner by automags helps immensely in adding premium to the brand. That was what I was pointing out with my Automags observation. Had it been 20L+ it would have sunk. It also does not share any parts with cheaper Ford vehicles, which works well for Ford. The Punto Evo was launched after Punto in India was launched, and the grande Punto is still on sale. If you ask me, I think HM-Mitsu are possibly planning to bring the Lancer but first are trying to rebuild the brand with Evo-X launch which is rumored. Its better they erase all memories of the current lancer. The outlander draws on the new EVO front end as well. Once Evo takes off as a brand, they might launch the new lancer on its shoulders. May be 2012 model.
Finally, both you and I are entitled to our opinions. I respect and endorse most of your views but not all ;) and highly highly appreciate that the comments are taken into account and responded to meaningfully without one-upmanship efforts. Two big thumbs up to you guys. Cheers!
February 26, 2010 at 1:18 am
Sagar, thanks for the appreciation. We do read all the comments and try to reply to as many as possible. Sometimes people start fighting (usually happens with bikes) so we just keep it cool.
I believe in order to get back, Mitsu need a mass market car, not an Outlander. In the U.S. people buy SUVs like we buy hatchbacks so there is a significant market for it. But in India all SUVs are selling in two digit numbers after the launch of the Fortuner. We need a good diesel powerplant in the Outlander along with service promise, etc to really confide in HM.
While HM might have sold its assets, do we really care. They make a 50 year old Amby which was a good car during world war but not anymore. What Indians like you and me want is simply a good car (which the Outlander is) and peace of mind (which HM is not capable of giving). Mitsubishi website is up and running again but with the pictures of the old Outlander and Montero. Now look at Ford for example, their Figo is yet to be launched but the website is well up and running. This shows seriousness and updating a website is not a costly affair that Mitsu cant do it. Its just plain lazyness.
The Endy uses leaf spring suspension (used by trucks = horrible ride) and the last row seats is for aliens (no space there) but its selling because its diesel and Ford does throw in some marketing time to time. We need to be reminded you exist, in case of Mitsu we need to remind them they exist. I think no matter how much we guesswork here, Mitsu will take its own sweet time getting the Lancer and by that time, there will be the Polo sedan and many more cars to compete with.
Mitsu should focus on increasing its dealership and a small car. For brand building as you said the Evo is a good idea. Other then that, if they keep launching vehicles silently, only die hard fans will be the ones buying and nobody else.
And as you rightly put it, everybody is entitled to an opinion. We all can’t think at the same altitude or like the same things, because if we did, then we all would like only Honda or only Toyota and there would be no other car company, LOL. So which car do you personally drive?
February 26, 2010 at 10:14 am
@ FAS: I drive a Swift Vxi and loving it, waiting to lay my hands on the Polo 1.6. Etios is not my thing yet..
February 26, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Sagar, I drive a Swift VDi boosted to 90bhp. I am waiting for the 90hp Punto. Etios looks bland and the Swift handles better than the Polo.
February 26, 2010 at 10:37 pm
wowow wat great comments, lets mitsu divorce HM and start their operations simple, break up. then the ball is in the court, why hm is not cooperating mitsu to grow up, HM WATS WRONG WITH U?, MITSU IF U WANT TO GROW UP COME OUT OF THE NUTSHELL AND PLAY HARD IAM SURE U WILL BE A TOUGH COMPETITOR, R U LISTENING MITSU?
March 2, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@ FAS:
Did some more research on Mitsu worldwide. Few findings
Outlander Diesel: Its on sale in Europe but the Engine is sourced from a European firm (Citroen/Peugeot??) and is licensed to be fitted on vehicles sold in EU only. Not licensed to be sold in India. Mitsu does not have any diesel engines of its own. This rules out diesel Outlander in India.
Small Car: Mitsu has two small cars- 1)Colt hatchback 2)i-Car. Both have proved to be too expensive globally and have fared poor-average in sales. A new small car design has been ruled out as both Mitsu and HM currently do not have the capacity to make large scale investments like Toyota/VW/Honda/Hyundai for designing and manufacturing small cars in India.
A new crossover called Compact Crossover (mini version of outlander) is to be launched in a few countries. Similar to Skoda Yeti I think. No info on India plans for the same.
Pics: http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/futuremodels/
Evo: Launch is likely very soon.
Thanks.
March 2, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Sagar, that leaves Mitsu where is is. They need to launch more cars and not stagnate. A diesel in a SUV is a must. Can you tolerate a mileage of 7kmpl on petrol (considering the hike in petrol prices recently)?
March 11, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Thanks guys, (Sagar and FAS,) for some useful tips , I have driven a lancer for 10 years , no problems, Excellent now I want to upgrade to a SUV, Choosing between a Honda CRV and Outlander, Any advice
How much mileage do these two give on road city / highway ?
I refuse to believe the folks at both these companies who say 10 to 12 Kmpl
Any suggestions
March 12, 2010 at 12:21 am
Taranvir, the new Outlander looks outstandingly hot. If you have no issue with service, go ahead get the Outlander. Mileage is more or less around 8 kmpl.
March 13, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Thanks FAS,
I had almost made up my mind on the Outlander , but now I am been told , it failed completely , when it was launched for the first time in India, no takers , some are even suggesting if this time it does not sell , it maybe phased out completely
The mileage is around 7 kmpl in city conditions
Any advice
March 15, 2010 at 1:46 am
Taranvir, if I were you I would give the Outlander a miss and get a Fortuner instead. Peace of mind is very important, specially when you spend close to Rs. 20 lakhs on a car.
March 15, 2010 at 10:41 am
Fortuner ,is not an option for me, Don’t like the looks, nor the interiors.
Some magazines have reported Outlander will launch diesel version in OCT, 2010 and a Pajero Sport in Mid 2010, of course the local dealers deny this .
Are these worth the wait?
March 15, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Taranvir, no Outlander diesel but yes the Pajero Sport is coming soon. The Pajero Sport is a judwa of the Fortuner, so I guess you won’t like it either.
March 16, 2010 at 11:27 am
I saw photographs of Pajero Sport quite impressive , When is it being launched in India ? at What price ?
Feedback please
March 17, 2010 at 2:22 am
Taranvir, check our post on the Pajero Sport. Around 20 lakhs.
March 17, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I could not find the link to your post on Pajero Sport, help pls.
Whats your take on the new Ford En devour ?
March 17, 2010 at 5:44 pm
http://www.motorbeam.com/cars/mitsubishi-pajero-sport/mitsubishi-to-launch-pajero-sport-in-india/
The Ford Endeavour is a SUV worthy of a miss. Poor ride and suspension and horrible last row of seats.
April 6, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Hi Guys ,
Pajero Sport Versus Fortuner , any Suggestions
April 6, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Taranvir, Fortuner obviously. Toyota plus better service.
May 17, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Guys i had a test drive of the new outlander last evening. Its very impressive, what i loved was the sports mode gearing, it rocks…handling is better tha CRV.
You can always use the city mode to save fuel.
Outlander is very very torquey in sports mode, its a great suv for bratish feelers.
August 22, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Just bought an outlander 2010…. grt car…. i think in the 20l Suv category there is no better car than outlander….captiva and fortuner r shit car….. specially fortuner looks like a innova from inside and the gear knob vibrates like a truck