Mitsubishi News from Japan: GDI Production and the Winterized Pajero

09/30/96

Mitsubishi Motors to Up Production on Direct Injection Engine

Kyodo reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation plans to increase the output of its new GDI engines more than twice over by the end of the year. The company has predicted that strong demand for the fuel efficient new direct injection powerplants will continue, due to the surprisingly quick sales of two new cars that feature engines with the new in-cylinder direct injection technology. Mitsubishi says that the new technology reduces energy consumption by 35% and boosts power output by about 10%.

A company spokesman said, "We will be boosting manufacturing capacity at our Kyoto factory by the end of the year," but also said the company has not decided on the scale of expansion. One Japanese automotive industry newspaper (Nihhon Kogyo Shimbun), said that Mitsubishi will try to raise engine production from the current level of 3,000 units annually to 7,500 a year.

Combined orders for Mitsubishi's new Galant sedan car and its Legnum station wagon hit 8,300 in the first 10 days on the market; the company had set its sales goals for the car had been 7,000.

Mitsubishi Pajero Outfitted for Japanese Winter

Nikkei English News reported that Mitsubishi Motors launched a winter edition of its popular Pajero sport utility vehicle in Japan last Wednesday. The new model comes equipped with a ski rack, heated outside mirrors and windshield wiper de-icers. Additionally, the vehicle's third row of seats has been removed for extra gear.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel