This is a fan based fiction on the upcoming Mitsubishi Lineup. A completely fabricated thought I had, while dreaming on a Sunday afternoon nap. Mods, if you think it doesn't belong here, feel free to delete
Here it goes.
MITSUBISHI ANNOUNCES BIG PLANS FOR INDIA
Ashutosh Balwaria
May 5, 2017: Mitsubishi India made a surprise announcement today. And, boy, was it big.
It plans to launch, not one, but four all new models in the next four years in the Indian market. Having recently received a shot in the arm, after Nissan buying a controlling stake in the company for $2.3 billion, the Japanese manufacturer plans to make full use of Renault-Nissan platforms.
Mitsubishi can’t ignore a big market like India, chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, Carlos Ghosn had said in an interview to Autocar India.
And it shows. Deciding to ditch the entire existing lineup in India, altogether, Mitsubishi plans to launch two SUVs and two sedans in the Indian subcontinent.
Following the German car makers' naming strategy, Mitsubishi plans to launch different cars with the same name, followed by the series the car belong to.
"Indians identify Mitsubishi with two names. The Lancer and the Pajero. I would even say that they are a bigger brand than Mitsubishi itself.", said a person privy to the developments in the rejuvenated Mitsubishi India camp.
The company plans to come out with the future line-up under two separate sub-brands. Pajero and Lancer.
The first model to be launched on Indian roads will be the
Pajero A, a sub 10 lakh rupee crossover, based on the current Micra / Sunny platform. The design will be in line with the original Pajero's rugged looks and will most probably the most masculine looking soft roader in the segment. With this being the fastest growing segment, Mitsubishi is hoping to get good volumes. Development of this car is at full throttle and the company plans to launch the car within the next 15 months.
The second model to follow will the
Lancer A, a sub 10 lakh rupee sedan. Again based on the current Micra / Sunny platform, the car will follow the design language of the car maker's Evo series. Expect it to be the best handling car in the segment, to make it live up the Lancer's heritage. We hear that Mitsubishi wants to launch it alongside the Pajero A. With the capabilities of the Renault-Nissan alliance now behind Mitsubishi, it somehow doesn't sound impossible.
The third in the Mitsubishi lineup will be
Pajero B, a sub 20 lakh, seven seater SUV based on the upcoming 2018 Renault Duster. With plans to share the engine and a new top hat, the Pajero B is expected to be the butch SUV, many buyers are waiting for, in this price segment. Expected launch 2020.
This is to be followed by the
Lancer B, a premium sport sedan, with a price below 20 lakhs. Luxurious, sporty, this car is expected to be a shade smaller than the original EVO, and is expected to be the most powerful car in the segment. We are hearing that its marketing will be surrounded in the car's 0-100 time and its power output. More details about the Lancer B platform are still awaited. Expected to be launched on the same podium as Pajero B.
The engine options have not been disclosed yet, but we are told that every single car will live up to the Pajero and Lancer brand's name, rest assured, performance won't be compromised.
The Pajero currently at sale, will be rechristened
Pajero C and at a later stage, will be replaced by the fifth generation Pajero in 2018. An all new
EVO is in the pipeline too. Not looking at big volumes here, these cars are expected to act as halo products, with prime target of exports to other right hand drive markets.
We, at TeamBHP Dream Factory, can't wait to see the cars in metal and get behind the wheel.