Mitsubishi Motors Lineup at 2007 NAIAS
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and its manufacturing and sales unit in the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA, based in Cypress, California) are giving the new North American Lancer and the Prototype X concept their world premieres at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (Detroit Motor Show). In preparation for the new U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions regulations, MMC has also announced a project to develop a next generation diesel engine, to be launched in the new Lancer in 2010. The 2007 NAIAS runs from January 7 to 21 at the Cobo Center in Detroit and is open to the general public from January 13.
Speaking at the MMC press conference (13:55 on January 8 in Detroit, 03:55 on January 9 in Japan) MMC Chairman of the Board Takashi Nishioka commented, "With strong support from the Mitsubishi Group, Mitsubishi Motors is now in the middle of implementing the 3-year business plan that started in fiscal 2005. Under the plan, we are beefing up the management setup of our U.S. operations and reviewing our sales policies and strategies here. We are now in a situation where we can project that fiscal 2006 will produce our first operating profit in four years. Together with all the other Mitsubishi Group companies, we are also working on environmental initiatives, using Mitsubishi Group resources to maximum effect. As part of that process, we are collaborating with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a next generation diesel engine that will be launched in the North American market in 2010."
The project to develop a next generation diesel engine for the North American market will be based on the diesel engine that MMC is developing together with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for European export models. The new engine incorporates a DPF + NOx trap catalyst to ensure compliance with U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions regulations that require NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions to be as low as similar emissions from gasoline engines. It will also be compliant with the Japanese post-new long term emissions regulations. Features of this engine will include a lightweight aluminum block, a common rail system with piezo injectors to provide good responsiveness, and a VG/VD turbocharger with boost pressure controllable over a particularly wide range by combining a variable geometry (VG) that enables turbine flow to be varied, with a variable diffuser (VD) that enables compressor flow to be varied. This combination of features will produce an engine that is both very powerful and efficient.
MMC and MMNA are displaying the world premiers for the new North American Lancer, Prototype X concept show car, the Outlander SUV launched in October 2006, and the Raider pick-up, winner of the 2006 Baja 1000 (Stock Mini class), at the Detroit Motor Show.
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