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Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida rules out closer capital ties with Renault

YOKOHAMA — Nissan is committed to its automaking alliance with Renault but will not look to deepen its capital ties with the French automaker any time soon, its new CEO said on Monday. On his first day in the new position, chief executive Makoto Uchida also pledged to repair profitability at Japan's No. 2 automaker and said setting realistic targets would be key toward that goal, as it tries to make a clean break from the leadership of former chairman Carlos Ghosn. "Closer capital ties with Renault are not a focus in the short term," he told reporters. Uchida became CEO of Nissan on Dec. 1, as the car maker tries to recover from a profit slump and draw a line under a year of turmoil after the Ghosn scandal. The ousted chairman is fighting financial misconduct charges in Japan. One of the new CEO's big tasks is to salvage ties with Renault, which have deteriorated since Ghosn's ouster as chairman of both companies. Renault holds a 43.4% stake in Nissan after it saved the Japanese automaker from financial ruin two decades ago, and has pushed for the two companies to merge. In rejecting a notion of a merger with Renault, Uchida, 53, echoes his predecessor Hiroto Saikawa, who stepped down in September. He added that the alliance must re-think how it can serve all of its three members, which also includes Mitsubishi Motors. "The alliance has to benefit each of its partners in terms of revenue and profit," he said. "We need to re-evaluate what has worked and what hasn't worked in the alliance in the past few years." The CEO called for Nissan to set "challenging but achievable" targets, adding that this and the launch of more new car models and vehicle technologies would be key to its financial recovery. Nissan is bracing for its lowest annual profit in 11 years and has slashed its dividend by 65%. Its struggles come at a time when car companies desperately need scale to keep up with sweeping technological changes like electric vehicles and ride-hailing. "Somewhere along the way we created a culture of setting targets which could not be achieved," Uchida said, adding that this had resulted in a focus on short-term results. "Years of this had led Nissan to its current "difficult situation," he said, using heavy vehicle discounting in the U.S. market as an example of how aggressive sales targets to grow market share had deteriorated the company's brand.

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage gets updated styling and equipment

There's a brand-new Mirage, you guys. For the 2017 model year, the budget-friendly little hatchback features updated styling and equipment inside and out. And it still promises to be one of the cheapest cars on the market. The changes start on the outside, where the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage greets the world with a new hood, grille, bumpers, lighting, wheels, and rear spoiler. The updates continue inside, where you'll find new fabrics, instruments, and controls. New options include a Rockford-Fosgate audio system and – for the first time in a Mitsu – Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The 1.2-liter inline-three carries over, but with a new camshaft to produce 78 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. Modest as those figures are, power is up by four horses for the new model year. The front brake discs are larger, as are the rear drums. And the suspension has been retuned as well. Mitsubishi hasn't announced pricing for the updated Mirage. We'd expect a small bump in price to accompany the upgrades, but the Japanese automaker would be wise not to veer to far north of the current model's $12,995 sticker price. Because while it may be one of the cheapest new cars available, alternatives like the Nissan Versa, Chevy Spark, and Kia Rio all hover in the same territory. THE 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE: NEW EXTERIOR DESIGN AND ADDED PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS - The new Mitsubishi Mirage continues to deliver outstanding fuel economy - 2017 Mirage will feature Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ - Attractive pricing and 10-year warranty distances the competition CYPRESS, Calif. Nov. 18, 2015 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced details for the fuel-efficient 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage featuring a new exterior design, improved performance and enhanced interior appeal. Despite all that is new for Mirage in 2017, a few things didn't change at all—Mirage still offers impressive fuel economy, attractive pricing and industry leading new vehicle and powertrain warranties. The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback will be available at dealers in spring 2016. "Mirage has gained popularity with its affordable and practical appeal," said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MNNA. "Mirage owners are looking for a vehicle that does its job well and is reliable.

2023 Mitsubishi Triton coming after the Ford Ranger overseas

The next-generation Mitsubishi Triton is coming soon to a trail near you — assuming you live outside of the United States. Known as the L200 in some global markets, the truck was shaped by a new, more rugged-looking design language that Mitsubishi calls "Beast Mode." Dark preview images published by the Japanese brand depict a pickup that has been reinvented from the ground up. While the current Triton features rather unusual proportions characterized by a slanted shut line and a super-sized rear overhang, its successor looks a little more conventional, though we'll make the final call when we see it in the metal. We spot a tall, upright front end with LED accents that Mitsubishi describes as "resembling the sharp gaze of a hawk" and a rectangular grille with both "Mitsubishi" lettering and the company's emblem. 2023 Mitsubishi Triton View 4 Photos We're curious to find out what's under the sheet metal. Mitsubishi recently expanded its European range with badge-engineered Renault models, such as the Clio-based Colt. Nothing suggests that the Triton is a badge-engineered version of another truck, and the current-generation Nissan Navara (which is unrelated to our Frontier) is likely too old to provide its platform. Could it be the other way around? Mitsubishi is part of the Renault-Nissan alliance, and the group strives to achieve economies of scale, so the Triton could also preview the next Navara. Of course, this is pure speculation. Nothing is official at this stage, and Mitsubishi isn't ready to release technical details. It hasn't published images of the interior yet, but a preview video embedded above suggests that upmarket models will receive a free-standing touchscreen for the infotainment system and a dial to select one of the transfer case's different options. Broadly speaking, we're expecting that the next Triton will offer a more SUV-like interior to reflect the fact that, even outside of America, buyers are increasingly using pickups as daily drivers. Mitsubishi will unveil the next-generation Triton in Thailand, where the model will be built, on July 26. The truck will be sold in a long list of nations, including several countries in Latin America and in the Middle East, but it doesn't sound like it will be offered in the United States. Elsewhere, the Triton will compete in an increasingly crowded ring against the Ford Ranger, the Volkswagen Amarok, and the Toyota Hilux. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party.