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Mitsubishi Lancer, Outlander Sport named 2013 IIHS Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has added a pair of Mitsubishi models to its ever-growing list of 2013 Top Safety Picks, giving the prestigious safety award to the 2013 Outlander Sport and Lancer (sedan and Sportback). Both models make a return visit to the list, but with 117 cars now on the list and IIHS crash standards getting tougher just about every, this is big news for the small Japanese automaker.
Among small SUVs, the Outlander Sport is just one of nine vehicles in this segment to be named a Top Safety Pick, while the Lancer's name is surrounded by 28 other compact coupes, sedans and hatchbacks in the highly competitive small car segment. The Top Safety Pick status does not apply to the Lancer's Ralliart or Evolution variants, and neither the Outlander Sport nor the Lancer were subjected to the new small frontal offset crash test that would have resulted in the new Top Safety Pick+.
Scroll down for Mitsubishi's press release.

F1 champ Nigel Mansell is selling Mitsubishis in Jersey

Formula One drivers have a pretty short shelf life, so when they're done racing in grands prix, retired pilots can have a whole second career ahead of them. Jody Scheckter, for example, runs an organic farm. Niki Lauda started an airline. Most move on to other racing series, provide television commentary during race broadcasts, or start their own racing teams. But not Nigel Mansell: he's got a Mitsubishi dealership. Situated on Jersey – not New Jersey, but the British channel island – Mansell Mitsubishi is run by Nigel and his son Leo. It grew out of the service station the Mansells opened fourteen years ago, and out of the Mansell Collection, a used car dealership based in an old Art Deco movie theater, but recently expanded into selling new cars recently with the acquisition of a franchise. The Japanese brand may seem a bit of an odd choice, especially now that it's getting away from performance models and putting more emphasis on plug-in electrics. After all, Nigel won his 1992 Formula One World Championship in a Renault-powered Williams, before that raced for the likes of Ferrari and Lotus, and won the CART title on his debut season in a Lola-Ford. But the Mansells are adamant that they wanted a volume brand, not to deal with the high-priced exotics with which the name might be more readily associated. After all, there are only 100,000 or so people residing on the isle of Jersey, which wouldn't make for a very big customer base for high-end machinery. He and Leo (with whom he raced at Le Mans a few years back) even participated in a two-day training session for new franchisees, where few initially recognized the former champ. And they've got plans to expand as well. But the biggest draw may very well be the star factor, and the Mansells haven't shied away from playing it up, displaying memorabilia from Nigel's racing career around the showroom. After all, the prospect of being taken on a test drive by a former F1 champion may be enough to bring new customers into the showroom who might not have otherwise.

Mitsubishi off-road concepts head to Tokyo Auto Salon

While the focus on this side of the Pacific has been on CES and the Detroit Auto Show, over in Japan they're gearing up for the Tokyo Auto Salon. Most of the other Japanese automakers have already shown us what they have in store for the tuner expo, and now it's Mitsubishi's turn. This year, Mitsubishi will showcase two pairs of custom creations. They're all focused on the great outdoors, but two take more of an adventuring approach while the other two are geared towards camping. Two are based on the Outlander PHEV and the other two on the Delica D5 minivan. The Outdoor Gear concepts feature matte pearl white paintjobs with orange trim, black interiors with orange trim, and mesh fabric seats with grippy suede trim. The Outlander version rides on 20-inch wheels with off-road tires, a spoiler, and a bike rack on the roof. The Delica gets a carbon-style front bumper, LED daytime running lights, brush guards, and 16-inch wheels. The Active Camper concepts feature 20-inch wheels and matte silver paint with a black camo pattern – a treatment which continues inside. Here the Outlander features a new body kit, adjustable suspension, a roof box, and 1,500 watts of auxiliary power. The Delica version features a sportier grille, brush guards, and a convertible cabin space with room for two. They'll be displayed alongside a replica of the Outlander PHEV rally machine which Mitsubishi is fielding at the Baja Portalegre 500. But these are just some of the goodies in store for the Tokyo Auto Salon this year, which promises all the JDM action you could shake a carbon-fiber stick at. The doors open at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City on Friday and will stay open through the weekend. Featured Gallery Mitsubishi at 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon News Source: Mitsubishi Tokyo Auto Salon Mitsubishi Crossover Minivan/Van Concept Cars Off-Road Vehicles mitsubishi delica