MITSUBISHI IS testing a very small car in California, this to expand its US market after the 'i' minicar was the hit of the Tokyo motor show in 2005.
The 'i' hit Japan's streets in production guise earlier this year where it is known as a 'kei' car in Japan. A 'kei' is simply a car that meets certain, albeit diminutive, criteria set by the Japanese government. You can sum up these criteria as: really small body, really small engine.
Hiroshi Harunari, new chief of Mitsubishi Motors North America says the company is looking for customer feedback about the 'i' that will guide a decision to sell or not to sell.
NATURALLY ASPIRATED
The US model is not likely to get the 660cc
turbocharged engine that qualifies the 'i' for 'kei' car status in Japan, but rather the concept
version's naturally aspirated 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine (or a variant thereof).
Two i cars arrived in March and will be
driven in the Los Angeles area.
"We will drive it to get customers' comments," says Hiroshi Harunari, the new boss of Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc.
"We will study things like which size engine is suitable for the U.S."
Harunari, a 33-year Mitsubishi veteran,
was chosen by the parent company to bring
new products, leadership and consistency to
the U.S. unit.
Harunari did not say when or if the 'i' car would come to the mainstream market in U.S., but he says it has possibilities. It sells in Japan for $11,142 and gets about 40 mpg.
"I think this would be a good niche for us to get into," says Ted Terp, chairman of the Mitsubishi National Dealer Advisory Board.
The 'i' would join a growing budget-car segment that includes the Chevrolet Aveo, three Scion nameplates, and the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, which both go on sale this spring.
Sources: autoweek.com and jalopnik.com
