Mitsubishi faces uncertianty virtually everywhere. They do make good turbos though.

It would help if Mitsu’s mainstream products were a little more exciting than plain, white bread.

It sounds like they’re insolvent.
Just make better cars – bring smaller ones like the Lancer there – Mitsu suffers from the usual “boring car” thing that most Japanese carmakers suffer from

I honestly only know the Lancer and even if they try, it can hardly come out any more boring. No idea what other cars they have at the moment.

They only *build* one model there – they offer the full (imported) range for sale.

So let me ask the obvious question. Where the hell did the Starion go? And for those who don’t know, it was also sold as the Chrysler Conquest TSi. That was a great car that was miles ahead of the usual boring Japenese econoboxes of the day, both in terms of performance and style. Walking away from that is every bit as stupid as Honda abandoning the Acura Integra, or Mercedes selling cheap xxxx in the 90’s thinking nobody would notice.

The only things Mitsubishi’s good at are making Evos and big trucks.

Mitsubishi makes the ugliest cars as a whole. Their products frequently break with no credible dealers to fix them. If Mitsubishi wants to continue to do business in the world, they are going to have to start with better trained service employees and much better designs for their products.

Australians don’t buy Japcrap, simple as that. Holden is king there.

Australians have smartened up for once and only buy GM product since they know it’s the best.

For a while, MITSUBISHI was a really exciting car maker. They seemed for a a long time to be moving in an upwardly direction, building cars with luxury such as the Diamante and Galant, (in upper trims), and high end sport, the 3000GT (they can do better), the Starion/Eclipse (especially as an Turbo AWD) and the Lancer EVO. They even had formidable Off-road in the Pajero (should have kept the formula) Aside from the the 3000GT’s lacking perfromance, the company had all its ducks in a row…

I would loathe to think that being associated with CHRYSLER has anything to do with it. MITSUBISHI really was a partner with CHRYSLER and not a subject of takeover Like MAZDA is to FORD, or ironically CHRYSLER who fell victim to with DAIMLER-BENZ.

If anything is to blame, it is, as with many struggling car makers, the fault of not knowing and responding to the their customers. MITSUBISHI still has a strong fan base and loyal customers. As with any car maker the remedy is simple, if hard to apply: Give ‘em what they want and they will give you what you need.

I think Mitsubishi fell victim to its own poor business decisions, and then poor products followed suit. Although, I still think for a lot longer time than people probably give Mitsu credit, they were producing the cars people wanted. 3000GT/Dodge Stealth, Eclipse/Plymouth Laser. The Eclipse pushed the Celica out of production, and in its hey day, it had no real competition from the Celica, Tiburon, etc. The latest Eclipse is the best ever made (I’m not saying its the best car ever made, mind you) and the new Lancer has people turnin’ heads. But the sales numbers aren’t adding up.

A scandal with Mitsu’ brass in Japan and the folly of giving *every* one a car loan, no matter how much they didn’t deserve it, was start of the downfall.

If Mitsu can engineer cars for the UK and Japan, you’d think it’d have the goods to have a good go at the right-drive Aussie market. LLN says the line-up is uninspired, and I don’t know if the new Lancer’s on sale in Australia yet. But if there’s no turnaround and if people find your cars uninspired long enough, the only good business decision is end the business.

Australia was home to Japanese manufacturers well before US was. Perhaps it was because both countries are driving on the wrong side of the road.
Mitsubishi had quality problems at home (Japan) and everywhere else. Instead of investing into quality of auto components they stuffed their ****ty cars with products of other division s(except tuna cans): loud stereo and electronic gizmos. The crap hit the fan eventually: their targeted clientèle was not smart to earn for financing of new car and the element of society that earns enough would not throw money on **** like Mitsubishi (Chrysler, Pontiac’s excitement etc).
RIP

yes it not that hard to see why with models as ugly as that

Mitsu cars are not attractive They really need to get their quality up to be on par with Honda and Toyota. They need edgier designs along the lines of Mazda or even Hyundai.
I dont see them lasting much longer in the US with their current lineup. Bring the Diamante back and make a CUV with attractive styling.

i gotta say id take a new lancer over a civic/corolla/sentra and probably a few others anyday. Only problem is, id never buy a car in that segment.

Just one look at the current Galant pretty much sums up the problem. I cannot believe that anyone working at Mitsubishi took a look at this thing in the design stages and honestly said to themselves “Boy, do we have a winner on our hands!” Their market share has slipped because they build unattractive, unreliable vehicles.

The Lancer was a good start (although there are things about it that I think need to be improved). Mitsubishi needs to build on that basis. The next generation of its core products have got to be attractive, well built, and competitive. If they miss, then I’m afraid it’s curtains for Mitsubishi. I would hate to see that happen because variety is what makes the auto industry so interesting.

One word of advice: don’t base your future designs on your recent concept cars or you will fail miserably. They are either bland or hideous or both.

Ouch.

As the current owner of an Evolution, I find this news very sad and hope their whole situation turns around for the best.

A4, you alone aren’t going to save a market segment, so that isn’t the problem.

GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, VW.

Poor quality = poor sales.

Constant trips to the dealer even under warranty don’t generate increased sales.

And don’t give me that crap about 1970’s quality, today it still stinks……..for your own reality check.

You’re the one in need of a reality check moron. GM quality is still superior to anything on the market by FAR! Ford, Chrysler, VW, Mitsubishi all poor quality yes but don’t lump General Motors in with those losers.

It’s been a long time since mitsu made any really interesting cars.

Madcapp: The starion was replaced by the 300GT (The VR-4 is the second-best japanese car ever).

The company has also suffered from its poor choice of customers — seems like only idiots drive eclipses.

1115: I don’t think mitsus are great, but they’re still a lot better than toyondas.

A4, I agree with you.

Sunshine: i wouldn’t say Mitsubishis are ugly, they just don’t inspire any visceral feelings in me. Ugly might actually be better

Well I dont like these but they cant be worse than any domestic

I HOPE THEY FIND A WAY.

Ford and Toyota do very well in Australia as well as Holden. Not sure who is king and I certainly won’t spit crap like someone here routinely does.

And I FINALLY get why the Impreza stays ugly! It’s because Mitsu might not last another generation! Sad!

1115: either way, that doesn’t make sense