2003 Mitsubishi Galant Es Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Sedan in Montreal could mean US debut soon

The official word on the North American plans for the Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Sedan is that the Japanese company wants to ask Canadians what they think of the four-door, three-cylinder before deciding if the car will go on sale here. There are hints, though, that the plan is a bit more set in stone than Mitsubishi is letting on. Speaking with AutoGuide, Mitsubishi manager of product communications, Roger Yasukawa, said that, "We are considering making it into a North American car but are still working on the timing of the launch." If they're already figuring out timing, it sounds like this is a question of when, not if. The Mirage G4 is built in Thailand and is sold throughout Asia as the Attrage. It just made its North American debut at the 2014 Montreal Motor Show, a move that could preview a US debut as well, since that's how the Mirage hatchback was introduced. We were not all that impressed with the hatch, but sometimes you just want a highly efficient car for not a lot of money. The car does get 37 miles per gallon in the city and 44 mpg on the highway, all for $12,995, after all. We'll see what the news is when the New York Auto Show starts up in April. Mitsubishi Reveals Mirage G4 Sedan Consumer Feedback to Influence Launch Plans Montreal, Quebec (Jan. 16, 2014) – Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN) will ask auto show visitors here and across Canada to offer opinions on the look, feel, cost and features of a new subcompact sedan before it gets the green-light for sale in Canada. The Mirage G4, Mitsubishi's Thailand-built four-door, three-cylinder sedan, will make its North American debut today at the 2014 Salon International de l'auto de Montreal. But company president and CEO, Kenichiro "Kenny" Yamamoto said its future availability in Canada will be based, in part, on consumer opinion. "Our plan is to showcase the Mirage G4 and gauge what Canadians think of it and what they expect from subcompact sedans in general," he said. "A solid business case for Mirage was confirmed by the successful 2013 launch of the Mirage hatchback model; with G4, we're indicating our intention to grow the Mirage line up in Canada." When it was launched last September, the 2014 Mirage hatchback became MMSCAN's first subcompact car. Since then, Mitsubishi dealerships have reported Mirage's top fuel economy, low entry price and leading warranty are resonating well with customers.

Renault invests in sailing ships to reduce its carbon footprint

Renault is taking a page from the golden age of sailing as the company looks towards reducing its carbon footprint through the use of cargo sailing ships. The French automaker recently announced its partnership with Neoline, a start-up enterprise based in the west of France. The firm specializes in reducing the cost and emissions of typical cargo ships, by reintroducing sailing into the transportation equation. Renault's goal is to reduce its global carbon footprint by 25 percent in 2022, as compared to where they were in 2010. This plan also includes a separate target, to lower supply chain emissions - which includes shipping methods such as trucks, trains, and cargo ships - by 6 percent, compared to levels in 2016. Two prototype cargo vessels, complete with a full set of sails, will be introduced by 2021-22. These two ships will travel between the U.S. eastern seaboard (exact locations are TBD) and the French port cities of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Pierre & Miquelon. Specifics about what exactly the ships will be carrying has not been released, though Renault is part of an extensive global auto alliance that includes Nissan and Mitsubishi. "For nearly 10 years, we have been working to identify the most environmentally sustainable solutions," said Jean-Francois Salles, Alliance global director, production control. "For example, optimizing the fill rates of the containers and trucks, producing eco-friendly packaging, and implementing a multi-modal system." The current demonstration vessel measures in at 446 feet in total length and has more than 45,000 square-feet of sail. For all you big ship fans out there, the Titanic was about double this size, stretching about 882-feet in length. When powered solely by the wind, Neoline CEO, Jean Zanuttini, says that total emissions drop by as much as 90 percent, versus the carbon footprint of a traditional cargo vessel. Related Video: Green Mitsubishi Nissan Renault Green Culture Technology renault-nissan greenhouse gases shipping ship cargo ship

Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru expand global Takata recalls by 715k [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Subaru of America spokesperson Michael McHale tells Autoblog that the company is recalling 78,000 Imprezas from the 2004 and 2005 model years in the US. This is a national expansion of the company's previous regional recall for the Impreza. The Takata airbag inflator recall just keeps growing. The latest expansion encompasses 715,000 vehicles from Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru. Many of the affected models are in Japan. The largest expansion from these three automakers comes from Mitsubishi. According to Reuters, the company is adding 100,000 vehicles in Japan and 412,000 outside of the country without identifying any specific regions. Mazda is issuing safety campaigns for 112,000 vehicles in Japan, and some of these include models that the company produces there for Mitsubishi and Nissan, according to Reuters. In statement to Autoblog (embedded below), Mazda said that it is still evaluating the situation in terms of a possible effect on the US. Finally, Subaru is calling in 91,000 Imprezas in Japan. At this time, it isn't clear whether Mitsubishi's or Subaru's expansions affect the United States, but Autoblog has reached out to them for more information. According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, exposure to moisture can cause the propellant in these inflators to ignite too quickly and cause these dangerous ruptures. Takata has also been investigating the problem. Related Video: Mazda statement "We are aware of the NHTSA/Takata announcement, and are evaluating the effects of it on Mazda. As soon as we have had a chance to fully evaluate the situation – number of vehicles affected, age of those vehicles, where they're located, etc. – we will be able to share those details."