Mitsubishi considering 4cyl "380"

[fpv_gtho]

A frugal four-cylinder engine is being considered for the Mitsubishi 380. Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed it is considering a plan to fit the 380 with a smaller engine by 2008.

The 380 is currently only available with a 3.8-litre V6. A four-cylinder would not only increase the sales of 380s to fleet buyers worried about fuel prices in Australia, but would also be a core part of a plan to export significant numbers of 380s to parts of Asia where motorists pay less tax for cars with smaller engines.

Mitsubishi is pushing ahead with plans to export the 380 to Malaysia, either as complete cars or in parts for assembly in Malaysia by Proton. Back at home, Mitsubishi has slashed 380 prices to give the large car a chance against its rivals.

It launched the car last October with a starting price of $34,490, but dropped the price of the base car to $27,990 last week.

There are similar savings across the range. Mitsubishi president Rob McEniry had promised he would not cut 380 prices to boost sales, but performed a backflip last week when announcing the price cuts.

McEniry also announced the company would wind back production again at its Tonsley Park plant, reducing its daily production to just 75 cars and shedding another 30 jobs. He admits the 380 will fall well short of its launch target of 32,500 sales a year and is likely to sell between 15,000 and 20,000 a year.

"After many years of selling about 25,000 cars a year, Mitsubishi's volume dropped with the introduction of the TL Magna to about 15,000 units and has stayed in that general vicinity. Nothing has moved it, not the $26,990 pricing on the old Magna, not launching the new 380," McEniry says. "Last December we were thinking, in fact hoping, that the market conditions suppressing 380 would be relatively short-lived and that by March we would be back on track. But that is not going to happen."

McEniry says the new pricing structure, which follows a limited edition 380 launched at the Melbourne Motor Show in February, is here for the long term.



He says the four-cylinder 380 could help, if approved, but not straight away.
"It is under consideration, but it would be a two-year program. It is not going to solve our problems this year, so we have to manage what we have got."

Mitsubishi says it will give 380 customers, who bought their cars before the prices were cut, cashback offers including between $1000 to $2000 and limited free servicing, depending on the model and price paid.

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...-21822,00.html

[charged]

A 4 cyl with Mivec would be alright, may help sales, what engine would go in it hopefully not the old 2.6 astron

[fpv_gtho]

Probably the 2.4L out of the Outlander and Lancer

[SlickHolden]

Would Ford and Holden consider anything like this?
Maybe a 4cyl turbo engine??
Do they both have any for RWD cars.

[fpv_gtho]

4cyl turbo's in massive cars are only going to highlight the lag. They'd more than like run a shorter stroke version of the current 6's

[SlickHolden]

anychance ford might use the new V6??

So what type of power is the 4cyl expected to have?.

[Mr. Jinx]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

So what type of power is the 4cyl expected to have?.

Not enough

[fpv_gtho]

No reason why it cant make 120kw

[syko]

Ford could use its smaller inline 6 volvo engines if they wanted a more fuel economic engine

[Zrina11]

Does anyone really care about 380?

[Blitz_]

Originally Posted by Zrina11

Does anyone really care about 380?

Yes, why not? It's a crucial product for Mitsubishi Australia, and I, like many fellow Australians would not like to see Mitsubishi simply fade from our shores.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jinx

Not enough

True but it's funny that 120kw isn't much but then my car only has 127kw Back in the early 90's it was heaps now a days it's very low for a family car in Australia.

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

No reason why it cant make 120kw

Pretty good power from a 4cyl engine

Originally Posted by syko

Ford could use its smaller inline 6 volvo engines if they wanted a more fuel economic engine

The 5cyl in the Focus turbo?

Originally Posted by Zrina11

Does anyone really care about 380?

Yeah i got a little soft spot for it, It's not a bad car it's just mitsub are doing bad and the car is suffering from that.

[fpv_gtho]

No no, iirc its a 6 cylinder from the same family of engine as the 5cyl in the volvo. Ford would more than likely be paying more for one of them, than even a Barra190 and theres also importing them into the country to consider. Reinventing the 3.3L I6 could be better for them financially

[SlickHolden]

It's something Holden and Ford could consider a smaller 6. Not just dieseal and LPG.
If both had Say A base engine for option,
Ford 3.3LT I6 155kw 315Nm Runs 10 lt's per 100 average. + The barra I6.
Holden 3.2LT V6 i don't know it's power but it should be better on fuel. + the 3.6LT V6 200??


Then both have a decent powered engine with good fuel economy. But still have the bigger 6's for the ones that don't want little power. Even if the cars a heavy a smaller powered engine for some is fine, My mum hasn't seen the power of my car, My mate has only gave it to his old VR Berlina once. Some just don't mind a little less for better fuel economy now,
And as long as the engines aren't stretching themselves to move the cars it should be OK?.
Might lower the base price also?

[fpv_gtho]

Well im stuck driving mums Camry around, and that has barely any movement in the throttle compared to a Falcon, so i think that would take some getting used to. If you think though that Toyota sell a fair few 4cyl Camry's though, which are also 2.4L (they used to be 2.2L iirc) and theyre economical. In the city especially though it could have alot of benefit where you could be more worried about the traffic than opening the throttle up..