2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Oz Rally Sedan 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Mitsubishi Motors to relocate North America HQ to Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mitsubishi Motors announced on Tuesday that it is relocating its North America headquarters from California to Tennessee, a move that will bring the Japanese automaker closer to its sister company Nissan and strengthen Tennessee's growing reputation as an epicenter of the automotive sector. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe — who made the announcement with Mitsubishi Motors North America — say the headquarters move from Cypress, California, to Franklin, Tennessee, will result in an $18.25 million investment in the region and approximately 200 jobs. Lee and Rolfe added that they met with Mitsubishi's global executives last week to convince them to move to Tennessee while in Japan during the Republican governor's first trade mission. It is unclear what financial incentives state officials offered Mitsubishi to move to Tennessee. "As we drive toward the future, this is the perfect time for us to move to a new home. While we say farewell to the Golden State with a heavy heart, we're excited to say hello to Music City," Fred Diaz, Mitsubishi Motors North America's president and CEO, said in a statement. Franklin is located just south of Nashville, also known as "Music City," and is home to the state's most powerful Republicans, ranging from Gov. Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and House Speaker Glen Casada. "Over the years, Tennessee has become the epicenter of the Southeast's thriving automotive sector, and I'm proud Mitsubishi Motors will call Franklin its U.S. home and bring 200 high-quality jobs to Middle Tennessee," Lee, who took over the office this year, said in a statement. Mitsubishi Motors' North America headquarters has been located in California since 1988. The company expects the relocation will begin in August and will be completed by the end of the year. Initially, a temporary office will handle operations to allow the company time to identify a permanent office. Company officials say the move is part an ongoing effort to "reinvent every aspect of Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S.," as well as strengthen the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Nissan has a production plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and owns a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors. Last week, Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Mitsubishi denies plans for Toyota/Subaru rival sports coupe

Forgive us for being wistful, but there was a time when Mitsubishi coupes and sports cars were the downright awesome. The 1990s brought us the all-wheel drive, turbocharged Eclipse GSX and the twin-turbocharged 3000GT VR-4 (seen here). The times, they were good.
Fast-forward to today, and the Lancer Evolution exists as Mitsubishi's sole, true performance offering. Mitsubishi killed off the Eclipse last year, by which time it had lost much the luster of its predecessors. With an affordable Japanese sports car fomenting underway thanks to Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, one may think that it's an ideal time for a brand like Mitsubishi to jump back into the performance coupe game. A rear-drive Mitsubishi sports car to take on the Toyobaru twins could be just what the brand needs to gain some mindshare among consumers.
Not so, says Osamu Masuko. The president and executive director of Mitsubishi told reporters at the Sydney Motor Show, "Our engineers are very prominent to investigate new technologies, but to use that technology they are not that good to bring the revenue to make that money." Read: the engineers want to do it, but the company does not find it to be financially responsible.

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport an even better value for 2021

Mitsubishi released pricing information for the 2021 Outlander Sport, its best-selling model in the United States. Redesigned for 2020, the crossover enters the new year with a cheaper base price thanks to a new trim. Pricing for the 2021 Outlander Sport starts at $22,090, including a mandatory $1,095 destination charge. For context, the 2020 model started at $23,690 once the same destination charge was added to the bottom line.  While the 2020 range started at the ES trim, the 2021 lineup begins with the S, which is only offered with front-wheel-drive. Every trim level gains an array of standard safety features for 2021, including forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Motorists who want rain-sensing wipers, LED fog lights, and automatic headlights will need to step up to the ES trim priced at $24,090 including destination. At the other end of the spectrum, the all-wheel-drive-only GT starts at $28,090. Mitsubishi gave buyers looking for something in between the bottom- and top-end trims an additional option by releasing a new trim called Limited Edition for 2021. Based on the ES trim, and priced at $25,090 when ordered with front-wheel-drive, it gains a black grille, black mirror caps, black 18-inch wheels, plus red accent stitching on the inside. It's limited in name only; don't expect to find a numbered plaque on the dashboard and a certificate of authenticity in the glovebox.  Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel-drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) come standard, and all-wheel-drive is available at an extra cost on most trim levels. Buyers who select the GT are rewarded with a 2.4-liter four rated at 168 horses and 167 pound-feet of twist. It's exclusively offered with all-wheel-drive, and it's also bolted to a CVT. According to the EPA, combined fuel economy checks in at 27 mpg for the 2.0, and 26 mpg for the 2.4. Mitsubishi stores across the nation will begin receiving the 2021 Outlander Sport in February. While it won't be joined by the i-MiEV, it's part of a broad model offensive that also includes the redesigned 2022 Eclipse Cross.