The Mitsubishi Mirage: Coming soon from Thailand

MANILA, Philippines - In a way, our recent trip to Thailand was a reunion with a long-lost friend, nay, even family. For after some three decades of absence, we were reintroduced to the Mirage.

Yes, you read that right: the Mirage. Here is a vehicle marque that is surprisingly as familiar as the badge affixed to it. For those old enough to remember, the old Mirage hatchback was a fixture on Philippine streets in the ‘80s—one of the workhorse rides that existed peacefully as a cheaper option to stable-mates Lancer and Galant. Also known as the Colt, the Mirage was eventually overtaken by the times and slowly faded into the background even if its evolution and production proceeded elsewhere.

So those whose memory of the Mirage is limited to that distant era may no longer recognize its latest—the sixth, actually—iteration.

The Mirage has seemed to embrace a clear-cut role in a budget-conscious era of devalued currency and inflating gas prices. Throwing its hat into the arena of thrifty rides, Mitsubishi has apparently done its due diligence and research into the market and demands of its consumers.

Foreseeing a P500,000 to P600,000 price tag (Mitsubishi hasn’t decided on the actual figure yet, but Thailand’s selling range is THB380,000 to THB545,000) once we take delivery of the first Mirage units from Thailand, one can predict, with good reason as you’ll see later, that the Mirage will be a true category killer.

Indeed, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation SVP for Treasury and Marketing Orlando Alvarez Jr. shared his excitement over the impending import of the Mirage in the last quarter of the year. “It will send a strong message that Mitsubishi’s back in the passenger car segment,” he said over a welcome dinner hosted by Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Company Limited (MMTh).

“With its features, attractive styling, and superior fuel economy, we believe that the launch of the Mirage will help us all to boost our sales and market shares in the segment,” he continued.

MMTh reported robust local sales numbers since the Mirage launch last March 28 at the Bangkok International Motor Show. As of April 18, a total of 15,000 units had been ordered.

The Mirage plant in Leamchabang, Thailand boasts a highly mechanized and streamlined manufacturing process

That figure is sure to rise dramatically as more units roll off Mitsubishi’s Laemchabang Plant in Chonburi province, some 170 kilometers from Bangkok. It’s a breath away from a port, which makes quick work of shipping. According to the company, Mirage will be exported to ASEAN countries, then Japan, then to Europe and other countries.

Mitsubishi has had a long history in Thailand, dating back to May 1961 when the Sittipol Motors Company was established as a sales/distribution conduit. Vehicle production started three years later, and the MMTh name was assumed in 2003. By 2007 a milestone was reached: a staggering one million units had been exported from its factories.

Today, 66 percent of Leamchabang’s production is allocated for other countries; the remaining 34 percent is earmarked for the local market.

Presently the sprawling 1 million square-meter, five-factory Leamchabang (which employs 6,000 people) churns out the Triton or L200 pickup, the Pajero Sport (Montero Sport), the Lancer, Lancer EX, along with the Mirage.

Factory Three is devoted entirely to Mirage production, which we were privileged to witness with a rare, photos-allowed tour. What we saw was a highly mechanized, streamlined process within a pristine plant boasting two work shifts of eight hours each (with an option for two hours of overtime). Production quality is ensured through the Mitsubishi Motors Production Way (MMPW) system, which promises to “achieve rigorous quality assurance at each work station through the adoption of ‘station completion’ (where) only non-defective units are allowed to pass to the next station on the assembly line.” Additionally, Mitsubishi sent “highly experienced inspectors” from Japan to “train the local staff and ensure the same levels of quality as those achieved at the company’s plants in Japan.”

At the Bira International Circuit in Pattaya, we finally got the chance to sit behind the wheel of a Mirage and coax it through the track past some traffic cones. Though advised to stay to a positively dawdling 80 kph, a handful of were able to zoom the Mirage above 100 kph without incident. The Mirage proved capable and willing to be thrown around corners at speed that you’d forget you were driving a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder miser.

Aside from some Mirage units, MMTh also provided us a couple of in-class competitors for comparison: a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder Nissan March, and a 1.2-liter, four-cylinder Honda Brio. I found the newer Mirage the biggest inside and out—promising more bang-for-the-buck fun. Exterior styling also earns it the most points.

The Mirage, said Mitsubishi, addresses the demand for high fuel efficiency, and low ownership cost. Its MIVEC engine is said to return a fuel economy figure of 22 kilometers to the liter, which makes it one of the best in its class.

A seven-percent shave off the weighing scale didn’t hurt the mileage either, even as the company stresses that the Mirage is safer than ever. Despite having a frugal engine, the Mirage is helped along by lower rolling resistance and drag coefficient (0.29). Expect it to come in tasty colors, too.

Indeed, the all-new Mirage is no mirage, and it’s coming our way real soon.