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NuTonomy shows that people quickly relax in autonomous cars

For six weeks, nuTonomy has had a fleet of self-driving taxis on the streets of Singapore, and it seems the experiment is already yielding useful information based on rider surveys. CEO Dr. Karl Iagnemma revealed at UPSHIFT 2016 that despite most first-time riders initially being nervous about stepping into a self-driving vehicle, the anxiety quickly fades. In fact, after a minute or two in the car, riders will relax into near boredom. Customers who ride along in either a fully autonomous Renault Zoe or a Mitsuibshi i-MiEV have been providing valuable feedback to engineers pre- and post-ride. The research and data obtained from their self-driving taxi service and the riders who use it is already being integrated into their future, Level 4 autonomous products. The Cambridge, MA, based company has also found that riders are attributing human-like characteristics to the vehicles. It seems that riders prefer when the machines don't behave like machines but more like people. NuTonomoy is tailoring their future vehicles to be less trolly-like. Iagnemma revealed that the company is in talks with other global cities to bring their autonomous products to the roads. Related Video: Image Credit: Adam Whittaker Green Mitsubishi Renault Autonomous Vehicles Electric renault zoe nutonomy

Mitsubishi to offer new Galant, Montero in US?

We admit it - we've been skeptical about Mitsubishi's fortunes here in the US for a long time now, and this month's reveal of the 2014 Mirage subcompact at the New York Auto Show didn't do much to quell our consternation. Yes, the Mirage should attract a certain portion of the buying population based on what will likely be the best fuel economy figures in its segment and a low price, but the profitability of basic small cars is limited even under the best of circumstances. Mitsubishi is clearly going to need something meatier in its portfolio if it wants to get back on track financially.
Help appears to be on the way. According to The Detroit Free Press, Masatoshi Hasegawa, the company's executive vice president here in North America, has confirmed that at least two more models are destined for the company's US dealerships, and it looks like they're going to be entries into higher-volume, higher-margin segments. Hasegawa pledges that the company will overhaul its lineup over the next two to three years, and one of them will be a successor to the often-ignored Galant, a midsize sedan we last saw for the 2012 model year.
And what of the other model? Apparently it will be an unnamed "bigger brother" for the new 2014 Outlander, an acknowledgment that suggests Mitsubishi is considering bringing its Montero/Pajero SUV back to the States. Earlier this month, we heard a report that a next-generation model for the venerable off-roader remains a few years out, but it's possible Mitsubishi might import the current aging model before the new one is produced. A big shift is said to be in the works for the fifth-generation model, with a massive weight loss and possible plug-in hybrid variant tipped as top goals for the program.

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.