2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 Ct9a on 2040-cars

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Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan

Like the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal, news about Mitsubishi's lies over fuel-economy ratings for its Japanese market vehicles is going from bad to worse. First, it was just a few kei cars. Then it was vehicles made as far back as 1991. Now Mitsubishi has admitted deceptive mileage test data could affect every vehicle it has sold in Japan, but not vehicles sold elsewhere. We suspect that this will not cause the EPA to relax its request for more information from the Japanese automaker to see if any vehicles sold in the US are affected. Mitsubishi Motors North America has said its US numbers are legit. In a letter to the Japanese government, Mitsubishi said that even though its managers knew getting good fuel economy ratings was a difficult task, they didn't ask too many questions of the engineers actually doing the tests. That allowed those employees to fake some of the numbers. Exactly what the repercussions will be in Japan is not known, CBS News says, both in terms of fines or penalties and how to compensate people who bought these vehicles. Reports are also just coming in that the fuel scandal might lead to Nissan taking control of Mitsubishi. More on this as it develops. Related Video: News Source: CBS Government/Legal Green Mitsubishi Fuel Efficiency vw diesel scandal kei car scandal

Mitsubishi's first US chairman since 2007 charged with revitalizing brand

Have a look at Mitsubishi North America's vehicle page and you'll find seven cars in four model lines: i-MiEV electric hatch, Lancer sedan, Lancer Evolution and Sportback, Outlander and Outlander Sport, and Galant sedan. The Galant has 3.9 tires in the automotive grave, and the only hope for mainstream excitement, the Eclipse coupe and Spyder, had hemlock poured down their crankcases last year. Increasing the quotient of bleak, the Lancer isn't due for a refresh until 2014, the coming Outlander PHEV will sell in miniscule numbers when it does arrive, a little sports car has been nixed and the only other Mitsu being considered for our landmass is the Colt, which, for its stellar fuel economy numbers, looks like a car designed by Pikachu. There's also that matter of declining NA market share in a rising overall market, Mitsubishi's piece of the total pie currently hovering around the 0.4-percent mark according to Automotive News.
The company has decided to do more about it, reassigning Executive Vice President and Head Officer of the Headquarters Product Projects & Strategy Group Gayu Uesugi to be the new chairman of Mitsubishi Motors North America. It will be the first time in five years that someone has filled the chairman position at MMNA.
The hope is that with Uesugi's 35 years with the company, his experience in the company's global product plan and his success in emerging market strategy, he's the man to "[develop] a product plan and growth strategy for the US market" that will put things right. Or at least better. He will work with Yoichi Yokozawa, who has been CEO of MMNA since last year. There are more details on the move in the press release below.

Spectator killed in seventh stage of Dakar Rally

Not surprisingly, tragedy has struck at the Dakar Rally this year. A vehicle hit a spectator in the seventh stage of the rally on Saturday, along the stretch between Uyuni, Bolivia, and Salta, Argentina. Running in 52nd place, the Mitsubishi Lancer driven by French contestant Lionel Baud hit a 63-year-old spectator. Emergency medical personnel responded to the accident, only to declare the man dead on the scene. This was the second time a competing vehicle collided with spectators in this year's event. During the Prologue stage a week ago, Guo Meiling drove her Mini into a crowd of spectators, injuring eleven – including a father and son who were hospitalized in critical condition. This is the first time, however, that a death occurred as part of the rally since 2013, when a support vehicle collided with two taxis in Peru and killed two. Though still in progress, this year's rally has been dominated thus far by the Peugeot team. All but the opening Prologue stage have been won by the French team, with Sebastien Loeb winning three out of six full stages run so far. His teammate Stephane Peterhansel has won another two, while Carlos Sainz won the tragic seventh stage on Saturday. Following Sunday's rest day, there remain another six stages before the rally concludes in Rosario on January 16.