2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Gts Paddle Shifters Cruise Control Bluetooth One 1 Owner on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mitsubishi celebrates 40 years in the U.S. with special-edition Outlander

Mitsubishi's North American division is celebrating its 40th birthday by releasing a special-edition Outlander called the Anniversary Edition. The commemorative SUV receives a specific two-tone paint job, "40th Anniversary" emblems, and more equipment and features. Dodge and Plymouth sold Mitsubishi models as captive imports for over a decade before the Japanese company established an American division in Fountain Valley, California, in 1981. Sales started in 1982 for the 1983 model year with a range that consisted of the Cordia, the Tredia, and the Starion. Fast-forward to 2023 and the Outlander gets the honor of celebrating 40 years of Mitsubishi in the United States. You don't need to be a seasoned car-spotter to tell the Outlander 40th Anniversary Edition apart from the regular-production model. Visually, it stands out with Black Diamond paint, a bronze-painted roof, a bright "OUTLANDER" emblem on the hood, and a rear bumper protector. Inside, it offers scuff plates on the door sills and an illuminated center console. It's based on the range-topping SEL Premium Package trim, so it's relatively highly-equipped: The list of standard features includes leather upholstery, a Bose sound system, and a head-up display. On sale now across the nation, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander 40th Anniversary Edition carries a base price of $41,340 including a $1,345 destination charge. For context, the Outlander SEL Premium Package that the Anniversary Edition is based on costs $38,190. The plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander 40th Anniversary Edition offers the exact same list of equipment and edition-specific features but costs $51,340. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

The 100,000th EV sold in the US is... a Mitsubishi i-MiEV

The news here isn't that 100,000 EVs have been sold in the US, although that's quite the accomplishment. It's that the 100,000th car is a Mitsubishi i-MiEV - a car that takes nearly a full day to recharge on a standard outlet and can only travel about 62 miles per charge (according to the car's Monroney).
Jabs at the Mitsubishi aside, the fact that US dealers have moved 100,000 electric cars is made more impressive in that it's only been done since the latest generation of EVs arrived, typified by the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric and aforementioned i-MiEV. Chronologically, that means roughly the last two years. It's a number that we can only expect to climb, as EVs gain a stronger foothold among manufacturers and consumers.
Plug In America, an EV advocacy group, crunched the numbers for a contest called #PIA100K, to find the lucky buyer, who would be given a ClipperCreek Level 2 charger (which takes the i-MiEV's recharge time down to just seven hours). The winner, Rich Salmon of Grand Bay, Alabama, picked up his i-MiEV from Pete Moore Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi NA gets new president and CEO

Last week, we told you that Mitsubishi will be getting a new global president, with Osamu Masuko stepping aside in favor of Tesuro Aikawa. The executive changes at the Japanese automaker are hitting closer to home, now, with official word that Mitsubishi Motors North America is getting a new president and CEO, as well. Effective March 1, Ryujiro Kobashi will take over for Yoichi Yokozawa, 49, who has been in charge since April of 2011. Yokozawa is headed back to Japan, where he will assume a spot in the company's corporate planning offices.
Kobashi, 53, has been with Mitsubishi since 1983 when he was fresh out of college. Previous to taking the top job in North America, he was installed as corporate general manager of the NA office at Mitsubishi's headquarters in Japan, where he coordinated regional operations for the US, Canada and Mexico. Before that, he held posts in planning, marketing, advertising and public relations for the company.
Kobashi takes over the company's North American operations at a pivotal time, when the region is finally showing signs of life after a prolonged period of stagnation. As Automotive News notes, Mitsubishi only sold 62,227 vehicles in the US in 2013, but that figure still represents an eight-percent increase. Its crossovers, the new-for-2014 Outlander and the two-year-old Outlander Sport have been selling relatively well, and the affordable Mirage subcompact is a new arrival at dealers.