Mitsubishi and Suzuki?

[A-Spike]

What are the perspectives for them? Their sales in the US are dropping, they have a good image in Europe but the European markets are shrinking and I don't know how they are doing in Japan.

So, Mitsubishi has the - Colt, a nice but underrated small city car
- Lancer, the strong point of Mitsu, but it won't be a brand saver
- Evo, no comment, just brilliant
- Outlander, good and capable SUV, but that's just about it
- ASX, a smaller outlander
- Eclipse, America only, FF
- Galant, outdated, America only
- Endeavor, rubbish, junk, worthless
- Pajero, capable off roader, only sold on a few Euro markets and in the oil full middle east
- i-MiEV, electric kei car, might have a future
- L200 nice and capable pick up truck, should be sold in America, because you know, Americans love trucks
They should drop the Eclipse until they can make it a proper sports car and replace it with the Lancer coupe and Lancer EVO coupe. And then they should look for a partnership, and I think that Mazda is a good partner for Mitsubishi, a partnership that should debut with Mitsubishi using the MX-5 Miata platform for a new Starion. And then the partnership could continue using the working Hyundai-Kia, Peugeot-Citroen, Renault-Nissan model, with 1 platform/2 different cars in the same class, each with distinctive styling. Imagine that, Rotary FR Eclipse that looks like the RA concept. yum

[A-Spike]

Suzuki is being assimilated by VW, so it will probably get back on line, using some VW platforms.

[Dimman]

I think Mitsubishi has too many models. They should pattern themselves a bit after Subaru. Two cars, two crossover SUVs. Add the electric as a city car too, which Subaru doesn't have. And try not to go head to head with Honda and Toyota, like they seem to be doing. Or Hyundai as they don't seem to have the content/pricing. They should probably change their image to an exciting high-tech one with their cars. Lancer Evo covers that, if the MiEV can be made to have a sporty image as well that would be good. Galant I would move upscale but sporty, give it AWD, optional Evo sequential transmission, make it kind of a less-expensive Acura TL/BMW mix or something.

MiEV would be below the Civic/Corolla range and give them good green tech image. Compete mostly with iQ/Smart.

Lancer would be above the Civic/Corolla range and should have a wide option range. Offer AWD option on non-turbo cars for example. They could even do an Outback-style thing with their Sportback, by jacking it up and offering it with AWD as an SUV alternative. It should be slightly larger, sportier, and better looking than Civic/Corolla. Lancer will cover base model first-time buyers all the way up to the halo Evo. Simple hybrid option wouldn't hurt either (Honda style).

Galant would be placed maybe against the Maxima. Basically something for the Evo buyers who 'mature' to move up to. Maintain the sporty AWD handling and performance, but smooth it out a bit in a bigger, V6-powered sedan. Also add a high-performance version (like the old VR-4) that could run with higher-class cars like S4. And a 'green' edition with a hybrid option?

SUV's arent't really my thing, but a CRV competitor and a 'real' SUV (Pajero?) should be sufficient.

[A-Spike]

Originally Posted by Dimman

I think Mitsubishi has too many models. They should pattern themselves a bit after Subaru. Two cars, two crossover SUVs. Add the electric as a city car too, which Subaru doesn't have. And try not to go head to head with Honda and Toyota, like they seem to be doing. Or Hyundai as they don't seem to have the content/pricing. They should probably change their image to an exciting high-tech one with their cars. Lancer Evo covers that, if the MiEV can be made to have a sporty image as well that would be good. Galant I would move upscale but sporty, give it AWD, optional Evo sequential transmission, make it kind of a less-expensive Acura TL/BMW mix or something.

MiEV would be below the Civic/Corolla range and give them good green tech image. Compete mostly with iQ/Smart.

Lancer would be above the Civic/Corolla range and should have a wide option range. Offer AWD option on non-turbo cars for example. They could even do an Outback-style thing with their Sportback, by jacking it up and offering it with AWD as an SUV alternative. It should be slightly larger, sportier, and better looking than Civic/Corolla. Lancer will cover base model first-time buyers all the way up to the halo Evo. Simple hybrid option wouldn't hurt either (Honda style).

Galant would be placed maybe against the Maxima. Basically something for the Evo buyers who 'mature' to move up to. Maintain the sporty AWD handling and performance, but smooth it out a bit in a bigger, V6-powered sedan. Also add a high-performance version (like the old VR-4) that could run with higher-class cars like S4. And a 'green' edition with a hybrid option?

SUV's arent't really my thing, but a CRV competitor and a 'real' SUV (Pajero?) should be sufficient.

You are complicating things man, in the Mazda-Mitsubishi alliance, it should be Colt/Mazda 2, Lancer/ Mazda 3, Galant/Mazda 6, ASX/CX3, Outlander/CX7, Pajero/CX9, Starion/MX-5, RX-9/Eclipse, L200/BT-50 and Grandis/Mazda 5. See? A full line of 11 cars for each manufacturer, and a lot of future possibilities. That if they decide to form an alliance, of course, if not, Mitsubishi will have a lot of work on their hands, and will need to spend a lot of money.

[70NYD]

thats a beautiful plan except that toyota owns a nice share in mitsubishy and ford still owns a decent part mazda..

[A-Spike]

Originally Posted by 70NYD

thats a beautiful plan except that toyota owns a nice share in mitsubishy and ford still owns a decent part mazda..

Ford owns about 10% of Mazda and it's looking to get rid of those shares, and I never heard anything about Toyota owning Mitsubishi stocks.

[Dimman]

Mitsubishi-Mazda alliance???

How'd I miss that...