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Mitsubishi leaving US? No, it's doubling its marketing budget

We rarely hear any major news coming out of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting in Orlando, FL, but Mitsubishi executives found this a fitting place to announce a big push for increased advertising here in the US. A report in Automotive News states that the struggling Japanese automaker is returning to advertising in prime time television for the first time since 2005, with the push slated to begin in June and July for the launch of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander shown above.
Despite dwindling sales and a shrinking lineup, Mitsubishi's new North American chairman, Gayu Uesugi, has said on multiple occasions that the automaker has no plans to abandon the US market. Spending extra money on marketing and advertising should be a good start to help improve sales, but a lack of fresh and competitive products is also keeping showrooms empty. Aside from the new Outlander, the AN report says that Mitsubishi spokesman Roger Yasukawa said that a "yet-to-be-named subcompact" will arrive this year, which suggests the unnamed hatchback shown below (known elsewhere as the Mirage), could be heading to the US after its North American introduction at the Montreal Auto Show last month.

Fiat introduces new Fullback pickup

Fiat has unveiled its first foray into the mid-size pickup truck market, the Fullback, at the Dubai Motor Show. It's not an entirely new product, confirming earlier reports. It's closely related to the Triton pickup (also known as the L200) that Mitsubishi builds in Thailand for markets in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Moreover, it's not likely ever to make it to North American showrooms. Riding on a 118-inch wheelbase, it measures 208 inches long, 71 inches wide and 70 inches tall. Those are identical measurements to the Mitsu, and give it roughly similar dimensions to the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon we get here. The Fullback can carry up to 2,300 pounds, and is powered by a 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine available in either 150- or 180-horsepower states of tune, and mated to a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Fiat Professional will roll out the Fullback in markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where it will compete against the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Volkswagen Amarok. FIAT PROFESSIONAL DEBUTS NEW FULLBACK PICK-UP TRUCK AT THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW - New FIAT Professional pick-up truck to be named Fullback – a name derived from the cornerstone position in rugby and American football - Available in the UK in autumn 2016, the FIAT Fullback will combine a practical double-cab body style with a spacious load area and competitive payload of 1,045kg - Powered by a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, with 150hp or 180hp outputs, the FIAT Fullback will have four-wheel drive as standard, combined with a manual or automatic transmission - More details, including pricing and final specifications, will be announced closer to the launch of the FIAT Fullback in the UK FIAT Professional has unveiled the all-new FIAT Fullback pick-up truck at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show. The new, medium-duty pick-up will join the award-winning FIAT Professional range in autumn 2016 and will be available only with a practical double cab body style configuration in the UK making it an ideal vehicle for both commercial and leisure time activities. Measuring up to 1,780mm in height, 1,815 mm in width and 5,285mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm, the new FIAT Fullback will offer a competitive payload of 1,045 kg and will be powered by a 2.4-litre, aluminium, turbo-diesel engine with a power output of either 150hp or 180hp.

Mitsubishi still wants to bolster US sedan lineup, investigating options

Mitsubishi looked healthy in 2014 with a nice sales boost for the year, but so far 2015 hasn't been quite so pleasant with news of product delays or outright cancelations. The Japanese brand isn't letting the setbacks get it down, though, and is still planning for the future. Perhaps the biggest recent disappointment was that Mitsubishi and the Renault-Nissan Alliance scuttled plans to bring a South Korean-built, midsize sedan to the US under Mitsu's branding. The scheme was first announced in late 2013 and would have given the Japanese automaker a replacement for the long-retired Galant. According to Automotive News, the decision came because high exchange rates with the Korean won and Japanese yen against the US dollar made the Asian-built vehicle too costly. Mitsubishi isn't throwing in the towel on the possibility of a larger four-door in the US, just yet. One solution might be retooling the company's US factory in Normal, IL. According to Automotive News, the plant current exports over half of the Outlander Sport units that it builds. That capacity could switch to a new sedan, some of which could also be for shipment abroad. The Outlander Plug-in Hybrid is also being delayed until the second quarter of 2015 in the US. The electrified crossover has proven popular in other markets but has seen multiple postponements in going on sale here. In the meantime, there are a few new products coming down the line. The Mirage Sedan is eventually launching in the US, and the Lancer is reportedly getting a refresh soon. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Koji Sasahara / AP Photo Plants/Manufacturing Mitsubishi Sedan