News comes in from Nikkei that Mitsubishi will begin supplying sedans for Fiat Chrysler in Asia. The sedan that has been identified is the Mitsubishi Attrage, which was revealed at about the same time last year in Thailand.
Based on the Mirage hatchback, the Attrage is a 'Global Compact Sedan' primarily targeting Asian markets. The car is made at the company's Thailand plant. The report states that the Thai-made Attrage will be sold under the Chrysler nameplate in China and Asian markets later this year. The partnership will be formally announced early next week.
Fiat Chrysler has a market share of only 0.6 percent in China and in the Asia-Pacific region. The cheaper and fuel efficient Attrage is expected to increase the brand's presence in this area.
The sedan is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder MIVEC engine (same as the Mirage hatchback) producing 76 bhp and 100 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual or a CVT are the gearbox choices. With a drag coefficient of 0.29, the Attrage achieves 22 km/l under Thai test conditions, and is classified as an 'Eco Car' in its home market.
Mitsubishi said earlier this year that it has a new plan for India, wherein entry-level cars such as the Mirage and Attrage factor in the product lineup, which until now has included only premium sedans (like the Lancer) or SUVs (like the Pajero Sport). Reports suggest that the company will launch 5 new products in India by 2016.
[Source - Economic Times]
