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WM Motors releases renderings based on Mitsubishi photos

An interesting gaffe has reared its head as WM Motors has published the first images depicting its new car portfolio. The renders showing Chinese electric vehicle startup's future cars appear to have been based on Mitsubishi Outlander press photos, as discovered by Electrek's Fred Lambert. It is one thing to show mere renders of future cars – that is certainly widely accepted, as the cars are planned to be launched in 2018 at the earliest – but it's the background that gives away how the renders are based on doctored Mitsubishi shots. Details are shared between the Outlander and WM Motors' rendering, with wheels, mirrors and doorhandles directly lifted off the Mitsu; in practice, the comparison shots become a pastime of "spot the similarities." The SUV is said to be designed by a former Bentley and Volkswagen designer, Sam Sun, but it is not yet clear whether he meant the production vehicle to share its decorative rear diffuser panel with a Mitsubishi. Perhaps these were work images never really meant for official publication, as they handily show the SUV's dimensions on the road. In addition to Electrek, Google seems to also be on the game, as a reverse image search on the VM Motor shots produces Mitsubishi suggestions. According to Car News China, which circulated the images, WM stands for either Weltmeister (world champion in German), or weima in Chinese, which means a powerful horse. The company is spearheaded by Freeman Shen, formerly of Geely, and the Suzhou factory is planned to produce 50,000 cars per year starting in 2018. There is talk of the cars featuring Huawei connectivity technology, with the hardware being produced together with the German companies Bosch and Siemens. Related Video: Featured Gallery VW Motor Mitsubishi News Source: Electrek Green Weird Car News Mitsubishi Green Automakers SUV Electric

Mitsubishi mulling Mirage sedan for US [w/videos]

Mitsubishi is bringing the Mirage hatchback to the US this fall, carrying a price tag of $12,995, not including the $725 destination charge. Mitsunori Kitao, COO of Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Co., says that the Japanese automaker might consider releasing the sedan version of the Thailand-built compact - called the Attrage in Thailand and the Mirage G4 in the Phillipines - if the little hatchback takes off in the US market, Automotive News reports.
Weight is a key concern with importing the sedan. The non-US Mirage hatchback weighs just 1,900 pounds, but its naturally aspirated 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine makes just 79 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque, which can only manage a 0-62 miles-per-hour time of 11.2 seconds. The heavier sedan would take even longer.

Not a dry eye in the house for last Mitsubishi Evo X video

Say what you will about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution; we're going to miss this one when it's gone. Japan's rally car for the street is officially being phased out, and production is ending in Japan. But not before one Final Edition, and a final video showing the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive wonder being built. In Japan, the Final Edition is limited to a run of just 1,000 units. It's based on the GSR model with the five-speed manual transmission, but comes with performance goodies like Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs, Recaro seats, Brembo brakes, and more. See it for yourself in the gallery, below. Over the course of 23 years, there have been 10 generations of the Lancer Evolution. And while Evo X might not be our favorite (this author much prefers Evo IX, for what it's worth), it's still sad to see Mitsubishi's iconic, winged sedan head to the grave. A sign of the times, Mitsubishi says the Evo "will be replaced in spirit" by a high-power, hybrid SUV. That's a tall order, and doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense, but we'll see. For now, say goodbye to the Evo X by watching the final production video, above. And just be thankful Subaru still makes its lovely WRX STI.