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Mitsubishi off-road concepts head to Tokyo Auto Salon

While the focus on this side of the Pacific has been on CES and the Detroit Auto Show, over in Japan they're gearing up for the Tokyo Auto Salon. Most of the other Japanese automakers have already shown us what they have in store for the tuner expo, and now it's Mitsubishi's turn. This year, Mitsubishi will showcase two pairs of custom creations. They're all focused on the great outdoors, but two take more of an adventuring approach while the other two are geared towards camping. Two are based on the Outlander PHEV and the other two on the Delica D5 minivan. The Outdoor Gear concepts feature matte pearl white paintjobs with orange trim, black interiors with orange trim, and mesh fabric seats with grippy suede trim. The Outlander version rides on 20-inch wheels with off-road tires, a spoiler, and a bike rack on the roof. The Delica gets a carbon-style front bumper, LED daytime running lights, brush guards, and 16-inch wheels. The Active Camper concepts feature 20-inch wheels and matte silver paint with a black camo pattern – a treatment which continues inside. Here the Outlander features a new body kit, adjustable suspension, a roof box, and 1,500 watts of auxiliary power. The Delica version features a sportier grille, brush guards, and a convertible cabin space with room for two. They'll be displayed alongside a replica of the Outlander PHEV rally machine which Mitsubishi is fielding at the Baja Portalegre 500. But these are just some of the goodies in store for the Tokyo Auto Salon this year, which promises all the JDM action you could shake a carbon-fiber stick at. The doors open at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City on Friday and will stay open through the weekend. Featured Gallery Mitsubishi at 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon News Source: Mitsubishi Tokyo Auto Salon Mitsubishi Crossover Minivan/Van Concept Cars Off-Road Vehicles mitsubishi delica

Only a few cars in America are selling for less than $20,000

Last week, data begin filtering into the blogosphere suggesting that $20,000 is no longer an adequate sum to park a nice late-model used vehicle in your driveway. Some numbers: in 2019, the average cost of a used vehicle in America stood at $23,351. Just four years later, that number rocketed to $34,491 in 2023. So you won't be surprised by the next piece of info, either. There are only three new vehicles in 2023 with an average transaction price less than $20,000: the Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa and Kia Rio. According to numbers we sourced from Truecar, last month the average buyer paid $17,099 for a new 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage. That represents a discount of a couple hundred bucks off the price listed on the car's window sticker. The next cheapest car on the list is the 2023 Nissan Versa. With an average transaction price of $17,597 the Versa joins the Mirage as the only cars selling for less than $18,000. Next is the 2023 Kia Rio, which, at $18,069 is actually selling for a few hundred dollars over sticker. And then there's the 2022 Nissan Sentra. Notice that's last year's model, meaning these Sentras have been sitting on the lot for a while, and they still managed to sell, on average, for $22,227 (around $218 under MSRP). Fourth on the list is even older, as leftover 2021 stock of Ford EcoSport crossovers had an average transaction price of $22,407 (that's around $1,600 off for a new but two-year-old car). Here are last month's top 10 cheapest vehicles, listed by average transaction price: 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage — $17,099 2023 Nissan Versa — $17,597 2023 Kia Rio — $18,069 2022 Nissan Sentra — 22,227 2021 Ford EcoSport — $22,407 2023 Subaru Impreza — $22,814 2023 Nissan Kicks — $23,061 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — $23,490 2022 Ford EcoSport — $24,681 2023 Hyundai Elantra — $25,351 The first piece of advice we'd offer to prospective buyers looking for a decent car at a decent price is to take a good long look at the Subaru Impreza. It's a nice little machine that's a lot more rewarding to drive than anything on the list that's cheaper, and it boasts standard all-wheel drive, too. The 2023 Hyundai Elantra stands out on that list, too. Our second piece of advice is to consider something off this list of low-mileage used vehicles that we've highlighted as better options than anything you'll find new with a sticker that's less than $20,000. And considering the subject of this article, that means the Mitsubishi Mirage.

Question of the Day: Most heinous act of badge engineering?

Badge engineering, in which one company slaps its emblems on another company's product and sells it, has a long history in the automotive industry. When Sears wanted to sell cars, a deal was made with Kaiser-Frazer and the Sears Allstate was born. Iranians wanted new cars in the 1960s, and the Rootes Group was happy to offer Hillman Hunters for sale as Iran Khodro Paykans. Sometimes, though, certain badge-engineered vehicles made sense only in the 26th hour of negotiations between companies. The Suzuki Equator, say, which was a puzzling rebadge job of the Nissan Frontier. How did that happen? My personal favorite what-the-heck-were-they-thinking example of badge engineering is the 1971-1973 Plymouth Cricket. Chrysler Europe, through its ownership of the Rootes Group, was able to ship over Hillman Avanger subcompacts for sale in the US market. This would have made sense... if Chrysler hadn't already been selling rebadged Mitsubishi Colt Galants (as Dodge Colts) and Simca 1100s as (Simca 1204s) in its American showrooms. Few bought the Cricket, despite its cheery ad campaign. So, what's the badge-engineered car you find most confounding? Chrysler Dodge Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Suzuki Automotive History question of the day badge engineering question