Earlier this month at a Mitsubishi make conference with its dealerships the automotive companies announced that the next generation of vehicles with have a little more pep in their step. The models will have completely updated turbocharged engines. Leading the way is 1.5 liter turbocharged engines for the 2018 midsize crossover segment. This should make the die hard Mitsubishi fans excited. The brand was notorious for being an early adopter of turbocharging in the 1980’s and 1990’s and boosting sales during that time.
Dealers who attended the meeting said Mitsubishi showed images of the crossover that is slotted between the next generation Outlander Sport and Outlander. Mitsubishi also told dealers that it may only sell 100,000 vehicles per year in the U.S. ,but it is the biggest and most profitable market for Mitsubishi. Making the US ideal for investment. Mitsubishi higer ups are considering a turbocharged 1.1 liter engine for the next generation of the Mirage and supcompact cars. In addition to the 1.1 liter engine a larger turbocharged engine is being developed for the next generation of the Outlander three row crossover.
“They know we’re their best chance,” said Ryan Gremore, chairman of Mitsubishi’s dealer council and general manager of O’Brien Mitsubishi in Normal, Ill. “You put your resources where you get your best results.”
Don Swearingen, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America, told dealers that he and CEO Ryujiro Kobashi are traveling to Japan this month to advocate for the turbocharged engine in the Outlander. In an interview, Swearingen said Mitsubishi needs the boosted engine to move the Outlander upscale as fuel economy standards grow more stringent.
Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi 