OREANDA-NEWS. August 3, 2012. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that it will launch the all-new Mirage global compact car at dealerships throughout Japan on August 31, 2012 at an MSRP ranging from JPY 998,000 to JPY 1,288,000.

A Fuel-efficient and Affordable Compact for Everyone

The new Mirage is a global compact car developed on the concepts of high fuel efficiency, affordable and compact (easy to drive), the ideal characteristics sought in a compact, and which meets the needs both emerging countries as an entry-level car as well as advanced markets as an "eco-car." Following its debut in Thailand where the model is being produced, and rollouts in ASEAN countries and Japan, the Mirage will then be successively rolled out in Europe, Australia and other regions. The Mirage is the most fuel-efficient "eco-car" in Thailand; exceeding the requirements for the Thai government's "eco-car" classification which allows tax subsidies. This achievement has been well received by the Thai people; over 33,000 orders have already been received for the Mirage in Thailand as of the end of July.

Best Fuel Efficiency

In Japan, the new Mirage will be offered in three trim levels with all models coming with a powertrain mating a new 1.0-liter 3-cylinder MIVEC*1 engine to a new version of the INVECS-III*2 CVT transmission. M and G trim levels employ Eco Drive Assist which promotes smarter and more fuel-efficient driving. AS&G*3 idle-stop and other technologies applied, the M and G trim levels achieve fuel economy of 27.2 km/liter*4 and make the Mirage the most fuel efficient registered gasoline car*5 in Japan. This figure is well over 20% better than Japan's 2015 Fuel Efficiency Standards, which mean these trim levels qualify for the Japanese government's "eco-car" classification thus are exempt from acquisition tax and motor vehicle tax at the time of purchase. While not equipped with AS&G, the E trim level still benefits from its extensive weight reductions, reductions in running and air resistance and other refinements in basic vehicular engineering technologies to return fuel economy of 23.2 km/liter*4. This is 10% better than the 2015 standard which means this trim level also qualifies for 75% reductions in acquisition tax and motor vehicle weight tax at the time of purchase as an eco-car. MMC has been taking orders for the new Mirage since June 26 and it has already proved very popular with orders for over 5,000 units as of the end of July.

*1: Mitsubishi Innovate Valve timing Electronic Control system.

*2: Intelligent & Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System. INVECS-III is a management system solely for CVTs.

*3: Auto Stop & Go

*4: Per the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's JC08 fuel-economy test cycle.

*5: Hybrid vehicles not included. As researched by Mitsubishi Motors at August 1, 2012.