The all-new 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage has a tiny 67 horsepower, 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine that gets up to 67 mpg. Will America see the 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage? It’s hard to say. The Thailand-built Mirage will be available in Japan at the end of August 2012.
Being that there is a continuously variable transmission (CVT), energy recovering braking and a start/stop system connected to the 1-liter – don’t expect high performance. What you get is a vehicle that will transport up to five people from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ as efficiently as possible.
I think it’s cute the same way the Toyota Prius C is kind of cute. It looks like a cross between a Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 and a jellybean. The interior is simple, but it looks a hell of a lot better than the painfully cheap Lancer.
Mitsubishi used to be a real player in the United States. Now, they are on the verge of going the way of Isuzu, Daihatsu and Daewoo. That’s a shame, I used to consider Mitsubishi one of the most innovative and unique automakers around. Now, they rely on only a few vehicles in their North American fleet which (other than the EVO) are on the bottom of every comparison they participate in.
Don’t get me wrong; Mitsubishi can still build a quality vehicle – but the pickings are getting slim.
According to Mitsubishi, they have yet to decide if they are going to bring the 2013 Mirage to the U.S. If they do, it’s a pretty good bet the Mirage will have a base price around $13,000. That puts it directly against the Chevrolet Spark, Nissan Versa and even the FIAT 500.
Here’s the thing: if Mitsubishi manages to bring the Mirage to the United States, they will need to expand the appeal and performance of the 2013 Mirage. I guarantee the CVT will prohibit any performance hopeful’s idea of fun. If they add a five or six-speed manual, they should entice youngsters who dig on stirring their own coffee.
There is an unsubstantiated rumor via fan-boys and power hopefuls that Mitsubishi is working on a 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder engine for the Mirage that will make it into a baby EVO. Supposedly, it will produce up to 150 hp and have a DSG or six-speed manual transmission. One source swears that it will be all-wheel drive with a fully electrified rear end with its own, separate electric motor.
Sure, and the Easter Bunny’s a cosmonaut.
The only thing we know at The Fast Lane Car is that the 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage would be a nice addition to Mitsubishi’s North American lineup. Look, they can’t do much worse than the base model Lancer – right?
Check out Roman and I as we play with a 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer!
