1988 Mitsubishi Montero Base Sport Utility 2-door 2.6l on 2040-cars

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Macron and Abe seek to avert messy Renault-Nissan breakup

TOKYO/PARIS – France and Japan's leaders met for bilateral talks to avert a diplomatic row over the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance on Friday following the surprise arrest of its Chairman Carlos Ghosn in Japan. With the carmaking alliance facing its biggest test after the ousting of Ghosn at Nissan and affiliate Mitsubishi over financial misconduct allegations, President Emmanuel Macron sat down with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. Ghosn's arrest to face accusations including the under-reporting of income has triggered new attempts by Nissan to weaken Renault's control of the Franco-Japanese alliance, adding to challenges facing Macron at home. Macron, whose government has repeatedly pressed Japan to share evidence unearthed by Nissan's internal investigation into Ghosn, "restated his firm wish that the alliance should be preserved, along with the stability of the group," an Elysee official said after Friday's meeting with Abe. Abe said it was important to "maintain a stable relationship," according to a spokesman for the Japanese leader. "However, he said the future of the alliance is up to the private-sector shareholders. The government of Japan does not prejudge the future of the alliance," the spokesman said. The French official quoted Abe as telling Macron that "the legal process must be allowed to take its course." LEADERLESS Tokyo authorities on Friday extended Ghosn's detention for a second time, by the maximum-allowed 10 days, local media reported. Prosecutors must file charges by Dec. 10 or arrest Ghosn for new crimes to hold him beyond that date. Tokyo prosecutors declined to comment. Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ghosn's detention has left the global auto alliance without its leader and main interlocutor with the French government, which owns 15 percent of Renault and wants to maintain the ownership structure enshrining its control of the partnership. But Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa has made clear that Nissan wants to weaken the control of its smaller parent as it carries out a governance review. Renault's 43.4 percent Nissan stake ensures an effective voting majority at shareholder meetings, while Nissan's reciprocal 15 percent Renault holding carries no voting rights.

2023 Mitsubishi Triton pickup unveiled, rally-bound model announced

Developed for global markets, the new Mitsubishi Triton made its debut with a rugged-looking exterior design, a more modern interior and a new frame, among other improvements. The brand will show off just how tough its new truck is by entering it in a grueling rally later in 2023. Sold as the L200 in some markets, the sixth-generation Triton is new from the ground up. It's bigger than its predecessor, built on a beefier frame, and it wears a more angular design characterized by a tall, upright front end, a boxier cab, and squared-off wheel arches. Buyers can select a single, club or double cab, and the truck's exterior appearance varies significantly depending on the trim level selected. Mitsubishi's press images show a nicely-equipped trim level aimed at private users; more basic trucks designed for commercial buyers are available, too. The same applies to the interior; what you get largely depends on what you paid for. Upmarket trim levels benefit from an almost SUV-like interior with a wireless device charger, USB-C outlets, a touchscreen-based infotainment system and Mitsubishi Connect compatibility. The truck hasn't forgotten its roots, however: all of the switches and knobs were designed to be comfortably used while wearing gloves. Power for the Triton comes from a new, 2.4-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine called 4N16 internally. It's offered in several states of tune. The base engine develops 146 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the mid-range version posts figures of 181 and 317, respectively, while the range-topping variant puts 201 horses and 347 pound-feet of twist under the driver's right foot. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission come standard, while four-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission, or both can be added at an extra cost. Mitsubishi redesigned the suspension system with an eye on on-road comfort, though it stresses that its engineers didn't sacrifice the truck's off-road capacity. The front end carries on with double wishbones, while the back end gets lighter leaf springs and thicker shock absorbers. Several small but important changes round out the updates, including wider side steps and a repositioned engine oil pan drain plug. On sale now in Thailand, where it's manufactured, the new Mitsubishi Triton will gradually be launched in numerous global markets over the next few months. It will notably be available on the Japanese market for the first time in 12 years starting in early 2024.

Even Ferrari swept up in latest Takata recall expansion

The scope of Takata's deadly airbag problems continues to widen. Eight manufacturers announced recalls Friday that affect more than 12 million vehicles, according to documents filed with federal regulators. The automakers include Honda, which is recalling 4.5 million units, Fiat Chrysler with 4.3 million, Toyota with 1.65 million, and Subaru, which is recalling almost 400,000. Some of these cars include the Saab 9-2x and Pontiac Vibe that Toyota and Subaru made for General Motors. Mazda will recall 730,000 vehicles and Nissan has 400,000 affected units. The smallest numbers were posted by Mitsubishi, with 38,000 Lancers manufactured from 2006 to 2007, and as a noteworthy high-end manufacturer, Ferrari is calling back 2,800 vehicles. These are all US-market cars. Beyond America, the Japanese Transport Ministry has announced seven million additional vehicles will be recalled, which means 19.6 million vehicles across the globe are affected by recalls announced. The defects have been traced to an insufficiently manufactured airbag inflator, which lacks a drying agent that would prevent the inflators from deteriorating over time. Thirteen deaths have been linked to the faulty airbags, which have become unstable and are prone to exploding and showering vehicle occupants with lethal amounts of metal shrapnel. A private equity firm, KKR & Co., has been named in a possible buyout of the struggling Takata. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Honda Mazda Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Pontiac Subaru Toyota Saab Safety