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10 automakers shack up in Detroit hotel to talk Takata airbags

Since Takata has decided not to take the lead concerning potential issues with its airbag inflators, the automakers have. Perhaps that's unsurprising, since it's the automakers, not Takata, that will take a beating on the dealership floor if consumers decide its models are a health hazards. The Detroit News reports that Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru met in a hotel conference room near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport last week to sort out a way to understand the technical issues involved. So far, faulty airbag inflators have been ruled the cause of five deaths and 50 injuries around the world, but neither Takata nor investigators understands exactly why the inflators are malfunctioning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently asked Takata to issue a national recall, Takata declined, citing a minuscule failure rate and the fact that it's still investigating the issue. Toyota and Honda then made an industry-wide appeal for "a coordinated, comprehensive testing program" that would pinpoint the problem inflators and get them replaced, and that's what the Detroit meeting was about. Numerous issues, however, will make this a long row to hoe: simply getting the parts to replace the nearly 20 million inflators in cars recalled around the world so far - even working with other suppliers - will take a years, but more importantly, no one knows if the replacement inflators currently being installed will suffer the same issue. Answers will hopefully come quickly with Takata, the ten automakers and NHTSA all independently investigating the problem.

Mitsubishi ready to pull Evo's plug

We have all manner of unofficial metrics in the auto industry. No doubt you've heard some of them, like the butt dyno. Another popular measure is the smiles-per-dollar index - how entertaining is a car versus its price. Cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Scion FR-S and Mini Cooper S, for example, score quite highly, while vehicles like the BMW M5 or Audi RS7 are great to drive, but score lower because of their much higher price tags. For a long time, the king of the smiles-per-dollar index was arguably the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, which blended hair-raising thrills for the price of a well-equipped Ford Fusion Titanium.
Now, it looks like the Evo will need to hand over its title, as this generation of the rally-derived rocket is likely to be Mitsubishi's last - at least for a while. There's been no mention of just when production of the current car will end, so if you're in the market, we'd suggest trying to find a dealer with inventory ASAP. The news comes from the automaker's Japanese mothership, which says the brand will instead focus on utility vehicles and EVs. While there are no direct plans for a successor, an Evo XI as it were, the door remains open for a different kind of beast, according to Mitsubishi.
"Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to design a successor with the current concept, as a high-performance four-wheel drive gasoline-powered sedan," said Namie Koketsu, a spokesperson for Mitsubishi, according to Automotive News. "Mitsubishi Motors will explore the possibilities of high-performance models that incorporate electric vehicle technology."

2017 Mitsubishi Model Year Preview and Updates

This ain't your father's Mitsubishi. And for those focused more on 'economy' than 'Evo', that's probably a good thing. The Evolution is no more, Mitsubishi's truck-tough Montero is no longer sold in the States, and the Mirage sedan and hatch serve as little more than price holders in a constricted lineup. With that, sales are up and Mitsubishi is working hard on a revamp of its entire lineup. The newest addition comes this fall in the form of a small crossover, the 2018 Eclipse Cross, pictured above. MITSUBISHI i-MIEV: The least expensive EV available in the US market obtains an optional navigation package. The nav unit includes a seven-inch touch screen, Fuse hands-free link, USB port, rearview camera and steering wheel controls. LANCER: The Lancer lives, albeit without the mojo intrinsic to the high-performance Evo, now discontinued. For '17 a rear camera is standard on the small four door, along with new wheels and an optional Sun and Sound package. MIRAGE: Mitsu's entry-level hatch and sedan receive an aggressive refresh for 2017, with an enhanced exterior (new front fascia, hood, grille and wheels), a bump in horsepower and improved suspension. Also, two new colors are added: Wine Red and Sunrise Orange. OUTLANDER SPORT: While awaiting an all-new Sport, Mitsubishi's compact crossover adds automatic climate control, upgraded seat fabric and – as announced at this year's Chicago Auto Show – a Limited Edition trim. OUTLANDER: Mitsubishi's large three-row crossover receives a new, entry-level All-Wheel Control 4WD system and enhanced technology.