Mitsubishi Express slammed in crash test

Japanese make’s version of French model first to earn a ‘zero’ score from NZ-accredited ANCAP procedure.

HAVING a swag of safety ingredients has not kept a Mitsubishi van selling here from achieving the poorest outcome ever from a crash test funded by New Zealand agencies.

The damning ‘zero star’ assessment of the Express has come from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme.

The announcement from Melbourne-based ANCAP, whose funders on this side of the Tasman include Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Automobile Association, has caused controversy in Australia.

Critics there have pointed out that the Renault Trafic that is identical to the Mitsubishi save for minor details that have no bearing on crash testing has a three star rating, issued by ANCAP’s European equivalent, NCAP, in 2015. 

ANCAP, in turn, has said the Express, a popular choice for commercial fleets and private tradespeople, was unable to qualify for a rating higher than zero due to the absence of active safety systems.  

“The Express also delivered marginal performance in physical crash tests and lacks basic safety features that consumers have come to expect in a newly released model.” 

Mitsubishi Motors NZ has offered no comment about the ANCAP rating and neither has the Motor Industry Association, which acts for new vehicle distributors.

When Express was announced last year there was clear confidence from within Porirua-based MMNZ that it would prove to be far more robust than the its forebear, the L300 discontinued in 2015.

The Mitsubishi-designed and built L300 had only basic safety features and that showed in its rating. 

The Express matches its Renault counterpart in having six airbags, roll over mitigation, stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).

Both versions fall behind some category players in lacking automated emergency braking. Blind spot detection and driver fatigue monitoring are also absent.

The Express would have only been eligible to share the Trafic’s NCAP rating had it introduced within two years of the original model.

Though the agencies are linked and work to common protocols, the testing process has toughened. Express was tested to 2020 ANCAP protocols, involving a series of crash tests against moving and fixed barriers – conducted in Australia from October 2020 to January 2021.

These showed the adult occupant protection offered by the Express had  ‘marginal’ protection for the driver’s chest and upper legs and ‘adequate’ protection for the lower legs. Protection was rated as ‘good’ for other critical body regions.

ANCAP noted ‘a high risk of neck injury was recorded for the driver in the whiplash test.’

 In a side impact pole test, chest protection for the driver was rated as ‘marginal’ and a penalty was applied because the latch on the cargo sliding door disengaged on impact. In another side impact test, the cargo sliding door deformed and created a large opening.

New Outlander fully revealed

Alliance co-sharing means the gen four car is a Nis-subishi.

 REVEALED today and set to land locally later this year, the new generation of the popular Outlander sports utility is set to be the first Mitsubishi here with Nissan DNA.

The shared bloodline with a make that has historically been a corporate foe arises from Mitsubishi and Nissan being in an alliance that also involves Renault. 

For Outlander, one of the more popular SUVs with Kiwis with 2424 registrations last year and 2838 in 2019, it means an interesting blend for Kiwis to consider when the car arrives.

Which is when, exactly? “We’re very excited about the launch of the all-new Outlander, which is due to hit our shores later in the year,” says Reece Congdon, head of marketing and communications for Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand.

As for what variants we can expect to see? “Our local line-up will be announced in the coming months.”

Back to the car. External styling is by its actual maker, taking cues from a 2019 concept called the Engelberg Tourer. Likeswise, there’s continuation of core elements such as seven seats and the make’s Super Select all-wheel-drive system. However, the engine, transmission and platform are already used by the Nissan X-Trail.

The platform change to the first all-new Outlander in nine years, and the fourth generation to hold that nameplate, enhances the general dimension and likely will deliver dynamic and safety benefit.

Featuring ultra-high tensile steel for the first time, Mitsubishi claims the new platform offers greater body stiffness, while saving weight thanks to an aluminium bonnet and plastic front quarterpanels.

Measuring 4709mm long, 1862mm wide and 1748mm high, with a 2705mm wheelbase, the new family SUV is 15mm longer in overall length, 51mm wider, 38mm taller and 36mm longer in overall wheelbase – translating into 25mm of additional front and 28mm of rear legroom, and 35mm of additional shoulder room.

The only engine at launch is a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol, developing 135kW of power and 245Nm of torque – a lift of 9kW and 9Nm over cited outputs for the X-Trail version. The current Outlander makes 124kW and 220Nm.

A plug-in hybrid model is expected to debut later in 2021 or early in 2022, expected to mate a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an array of electric motors. No outputs are given, but the current one generates 94kW and 199Nm.

The new engine is mated to a CVT automatic transmission as standard – with eight stepped 'ratios' and a shift-by-wire set-up – sending drive to either the front or all four wheels.

The all-wheel-drive is Mitsubishi's latest Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), with improved torque vectoring and a new clutch-based centre coupling.

Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Snow and Gravel modes feature with front- and AWD models, but the latter also has a Mud mode.

The styling delivers Mitsubishi's 'Dynamic Shield' corporate face with split LED headlights containing upper daytime-running lights plus LED tail-lights.

 The primary feature of the interior is a tablet-style 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation. This restricts to the high grades and overseas’ media say it’s identical to a display used by the Nissan. They also believe the 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster and 10.8-inch head-up display – the latter pair both firsts for the Mitsubishi brand – are lifted from the X-Trail.

Lower grades lack the head-up display and have 8.0-inch infotainment and 7.0-inch instrument cluster screens.

Available active safety technologies include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, traffic-sign recognition, auto high-beam, forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, hill descent control and driver attention alert.

There's also blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – both capable of detecting and braking for obstacles – plus a 360-degree camera on higher grades. 

Upholstery options comprise fabric, suede, semi-aniline leather and quilted genuine leather depending on variant.

Equipment at flagship level includes a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, heated seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass sunroof, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, 15-watt wireless smartphone charging, first- and second-row USB-A and USB-C ports, and rear window sun blinds.

The first market for Outlander is the United States.

More dirt on new Outlander

Video of car undergoing off-road testing reminds that this family model has serious beyond-seal mettle.

 ANOTHER teaser has come from Mitsubishi in respect to the next Outlander, a car that has already been spotted in uncovered format.

This time the brand has issued a video showing the new model being put through its paces off-road; the primary objective being to show the abilities delivered by the latest version of the brand’s Super-All Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system.

The maker promises the latest generation of the S-AWC provides “driver confidence and security in all weather and road conditions.”

The movie follows last month’s release of photographs hinting at the car’s design – images that, unfortunately for Mitsubishi, were issued several days after a Japanese web site shared photos of the model without any of the camouflage it wears in the video.

Knowing that the car’s cover has been blown has apparently not dissuaded Mitsubishi Japan from continuing with a pre-release media campaign that culminates with the car’s global unveiling, timed for midday NZT on February 17.

The current Outlander sells mainly as a family on-road runabout but the gist of information released by the brand seems to suggest restricting to that role will be selling the new one seriously short.

The make says the video reminds that the incoming car has “serious” off-road abilities. It says the S-AWC’s final calibrations were developed in severe weather and road conditions. So Outlander is now actually more like an Outback?

Apparently so. It also reinforces that this Outlander’s development is affected by a knowledge base proven over years of competitions in the deserts of Dakar and on the slippery dirt-covered and snow-packed roads of the world’s rally circuits.

According to Mitsubishi: “ … the all-new Outlander builds on a heritage forged by the Pajero/ Pajero Sport cross-country SUV.”

It says engineers focused on building a crossover SUV that embodies the Mitsubishi Motors DNA and the product concept “I-Fu-Do-Do”, which means authentic and majestic. The all-new Outlander is set to deliver the highest level of maneuverability and superb driving performance.

“We took everything we know about on- and off-road driving from the rally experiences to apply the latest Super All-Wheel Control technology in our newly developed platform,” says Kentaro Honda, the lead engineer for the car.

“We also specifically developed a new drive mode selector to provide confident driving at all times and in all weather conditions. We hope that many customers will have great experiences with the enhanced driving performance of the all-new Outlander.” 

Outlander’s official unveiling less revealing

Days after images of the next-gen edition without disguise hit the internet, Mitsubishi sends out a shadowy sneak preview that reveals little.

This and other images of what appears to be the next Outlander were posted on the web days ago.

INTENT by Mitsubishi to maintain an air of mystery with the next Outlander that is expected to come on sale here in 2021 seems set to proceed, regardless that unexpurgated images of the model have already hit the web.

Today distributors, included Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, sent out an official shadowy image, that of course discloses little detail, as part of a build-up to the car’s full official unveiling, timed for February.

There’s just one catch to keeping the suspense up – the cover asppears to have been completely blown.

Images of a car without any camouflage have been racing around the internet for most of this week.

Mitsubishi distributors sent this extremely shadowy image out today.

Those pictures, seen here, purport to show a car in a public area and were posted first on Instagram account @allcarnews, then subsequently picked up by other websites, including Australia’s CarAdvice.

 The account claims the car was snapped while sitting in an open car park.

The new Outlander looks to share the bulk of its design with the Engelberg Tourer, a concept that was revealed at the 2019 Geneva motor show.

The ‘caught-out’ car carries the brand's current design language, showcasing slim headlights and pointed front facia.

It's expected the vehicle will share its underpinnings with the upcoming Nissan X-Trail, a result of platform-sharing within the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance. Some sites suggest an uncanny resemblance to the Nissan at the D-pillar.

According to a report from a US website, CarBuzz, the new Outlander will be powered by the X-Trail's 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, producing 135kW and 245Nm in its American tuning.

There will also be a replacement for the Outlander PHEV, but that comes later. The present model uses a 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder mated to two electric motors mounted on each axle, with 60kW at the front and 70kW at the rear, and powered by a 13.8kWh battery pack.

Last year’s Engelberg Tourer concept

Updated Eclipse Cross here soon

A bigger boot is among interesting changes.

THE updated Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross medium crossover becomes available at the end of the month, the local distributor has announced.

The vehicle achieves fresh looks, a revised chassis, new suspension – with a new rear shock to improve handling characteristics - and some specification alterations.

One intriguing alteration affects boot space; a redesign has added 140mm length to the rear, meaning it now has a 405-litre boot. While the body is longer than before, the wheelbase remains the same (at 2670mm) with the additional space eked out of a reconfigured cabin.

The model’s exterior lines and details have also altered, to attune to the brand’s latest design language. 

A new alternating-pattern mesh grille design is featured up front, flanked by slender new LED daytime lamps that replace the larger headlights of the outgoing model – leaving the lower lighting assembly to act as driving lights. 

The car also gets a redesigned hatch and rear window for improved visibility, integrating with updated tail-lights.

The interior revision includes a new touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and achieves additional driver assist technologies. Once again, there are two specification levels, XLS and VRX. 

Forward Collision Mitigation remains standard across the range, however blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist – fundamental elements in most cars now – are introduced to the XLS. 

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine remains standard, with unchanged 110kW and 250Nm outputs, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

However, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has confirmed it will deliver a plug-in hybrid next year.

This comprises a 2.4-litre non-turbo petrol four-cylinder mated to electric motors mounted on each axle; so, a similar – if not the same – drivetrain as that featuring in the next size up Outlander PHEV, which is also about to undergo change.

With no major structural changes involved in the facelift, the new Eclipse Cross retains its five-star ANCAP rating, achieved before the test was toughened up at the start of this year.

Eclipse Cross updates revealed

A battery-assisted drivetrain is among extra features coming for Mitsubishi’s compact crossover.

INCORPORATION of a hybrid powertrain – but not straight away - is a core change with an update to Mitsubishi’s compact sports utility, the Eclipse Cross.

 Detail of this inclusion has been aired with the brand having now unveiled the refresh, which is thought to be close to introduction to New Zealand, though no exact date has been announced.

In addition to the powertrain revision, the vehicle achieves fresh looks, a revised chassis, new suspension – with a new rear shock to improve handling characteristics - and some specification alterations.

The model’s exterior lines and details have also altered, to attune to the brand’s latest design language.

A new alternating-pattern mesh grille design is featured up front, flanked by slender new LED daytime lamps that replace the larger headlights of the outgoing model – leaving the lower lighting assembly to act as driving lights.

The cat also gets a redesigned hatch and rear window for improved visibility, integrating with updated tail-lights. 

The interior has not altered much, save that the centre display housing an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability has become more prominent and the previous model's touchpad has been discarded.

The car initially continues to represent with a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine matched to a CVT gearbox with all-wheel drive. 

The plug-in hybrid powertrain is reportedly coming in late 2021. This comprises a 2.4-litre non-turbo petrol four-cylinder mated to electric motors mounted on each axle; so, a similar – if not the same – drivetrain as that featuring in the next size up Outlander PHEV, which is also about to undergo change.

A new Outlander is set to launch in 2021, with a PHEV variant coming in 2022.

Meantime, Mitsubishi is also looking to replace the ASX, which is the oldest of its crossovers by some margin.

 Images released by Mitsubishi Japan seem to suggest the Eclipse Cross might include a sporty GSR appearance.

Comment about the Eclipse Cross has yet to come from Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand.

New Outlander in 2021

Change is coming for Mitsubishi’s core sports utilities.

CONFIRMATION that an all-new Outlander will be out in 2021 and that the smaller Eclipse Cross will under significant change in the last part of this year has come from Mitsubishi.

However the brand still has no news about another generation of its smallest crossover, the ASX, which has been in production since 2010 and has just undergone four facelifts in a bid to keep it fresh. 

The news was not imparted by the national distributor but its equivalent in Australia.

Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand head of marketing and corporate affairs, Reece Congdon, has been approached for comment.

According to Mitsubishi Australia, the Eclipse Cross will achieve major front and rear design enhancements, “taking cues from Mitsubishi’s next-generation design language”. It will also have a revised interior including a new infotainment system.

As for Outlander? The design is still under wraps, but the brand has confirmed the next car will be larger than the current offer, though not significantly so. It is also confirmed that it will be the first Mitsubishi to fully benefit from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in that it will place on the same platform as the next generation Nissan X-Trail. 

Conceivably, then, new drivetrain options will also feature. Mitsubishi is expected to contribute a revised petrol electric powertrain for the plug-in hybrid that is now a mainstay in New Zealand, but the car will also like achieve a 2.0-litre variable compression petrol turbo engine developed by Nissan. 

Timing for the model looks set to be around mid-2021 or soon after, following the timeline set out for the model launch in North America. 

According to Mitsubishi Australia chief executive Shaun Westcott: “The all-new next generation Outlander will be bigger, bolder and better than ever before, and will be the quietest and best-equipped Mitsubishi ever sold. 

“Completely redesigned and reimagined in every way, the new Outlander will incorporate the latest Mitsubishi design language, with a bold, aggressive, and distinctive appearance. Loaded with technology and significant interior refinements, this game-changing vehicle will surprise many.”

Express RRPs fuel price intrigue

 Might the recommended retail prices for Mitsubishi’s returnee to the commercial van sector simply be conversation-starters?

 INTENT to uphold status as a value brand has influenced Mitsubishi here to mull a pricing strategy for the Express van that is potentially more aggressive than the stated stickers suggest.

This allowance comes from the brand in signalling the prospect of recommended retails announced for this version of the Renault Trafic will likely allow enough flexibility to present potential for a significant price advantage over the donor that doesn’t show in the cited RRP.

As reported last week, conjecture of Mitsubishi’s first offer in van-dom since it lost the ancient L300 in 2015 being a Trafic clone in all but name and badging doesn’t quite bear out.

The models head in different directions in terms of variant count and Renault also offers a lengthened wheelbase alternate to the standard 3098mm wheelbase format it and Mitsubishi offer.

Yet when wheelbase commonality is considered, the models are close enough in core attribute, have identical drivetrains - with identical outputs, economies and performances - and payloads, are sister ships in styling and sourcing, to the point of being built on a common line in France.

The two versions of Express coming on sale in September are a manual 103kW/340Nm 1.6-litre and a 125kW/380Nm 2.0-litre dual clutch automatic, both on a standard (so, 3098mm) wheelbase.

The respective recommended retail pricing for these, announced today by Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, is $47,990 and $52,990.

However, in discussing those, the distributor has offered concession that the models seem set to be subject to ‘transaction pricing’ – a practice that allows for more favourable stickers when deemed appropriate. Thought that, it might, in this instance, allow for a reduction of up to $7000 has not been denied. 

MMNZ has historically had enthusiasm for special pricing programmes to invigorate consumer interest. The ‘transaction pricing’ model is an alternate to the more open practice of advertising special limited-time prices that attach to specific models. Most recently, for instance, the Pajero Sport sports utility has been selling for $10,000 less than the RRP in its highest specification.

When asked about reports that his brand has just advised dealers that the vans could be sold for as little as $40,000 in 1.6 form and $45,000 in the 2.0-litre guised, MMNZ marketing and communications manager, Reece Congdon, said he could not “comment on that at this point.”

When asked to give insight into what factors weigh into his brand’s pricing strategies, he said the Mitsubishi brand was known for having a focus “on delivering the best value possible for our customers.”

As to any disparity that might arise in respect to Trafic and Express stickers. 

He offered this: “We have no knowledge of how an independent importer (presumably, that’s Renault NZ) chooses to price their product in New Zealand.”

MMNZ makes no bones that it wants to act swiftly and decisively to imprint itself as a serious volume player in the commercial van sector, where it was previously a kingpin during the L300 period.

Says Congdon: “We are thrilled to be adding the Express to our line up and be able to provide a compelling new option for light commercial operators.

““This highly specced van is a different proposition and a worthy successor to our popular L300 model, which sold 38,806 units from 1980 to 2015. We strongly believe that operators looking for function and flexibility, at exceptional value, will welcome the opportunity to get the Express van working for their bottom line.”

“Backed by our 50-strong dealer network and factory-trained technicians, we expect interest to be high.”

If the full transaction opportunities do exist – and there’s no absolute deniability on that from MMNZ - then the entry Express would potentially achieve a $1990 positioning below its only direct equivalent in the Trafic lineup, a version on the 3098mm wheelbase and with the 1.6 turbodiesel and six-speed manual.

The brands’ 2.0-litre models cannot fairly be considered equals. Renault doesn’t provision that drivetrain in the standard wheelbase, whereas Mitsubishi does. Trafic 2.0-litres are a LWB (3498mm) wheelbase that Mitsubishi could yet offer, but presently chooses not to.

The cheapest LWB Trafic is the Trader, which has the manual and 1.6-litre powertrain. That costs $43,990.

Otherwise Renault foots a more fulsomely furnished 1.6 LWB for $50,990 and a pair of 2.0-litre ‘Auto’ variants, in the same specification level, at $53,990 and $55,990.

Other factors? The Trafic and Express don’t wholly replicate for features, and it appears MMNZ’s warranty equals Renault’s in being for a three-year term, the mileage allowance for Express is less fulsome.

Express has halogen headlights rather than the Renault’s LED units and its digital radio, Bluetooth phone (and the same fancy dash-mounted cell phone holder as Trafic) and audio streaming is through a less upmarket display than the Renault gets. Absent in Express is the Renault 7.0-inch touchscreen that allows Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operability and delivers sat nav functionality. 

The automatics in either guise add a rear-view camera with in-mirror display, rain sensing wipers, front fog lights, self-dimming interior mirror and auto headlights, but the Renault steering wheel is a bit fancier, being leather-wrapped.

With six airbags, roll over mitigation, stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) Express and Trafic are ticking boxes positively, but they fall behind some category players in lacking automated emergency braking. Blind spot detection and driver fatigue monitoring are also absent.

Express delivery from France

Mitsubishi’s new van is en route from Europe … because it’s a Renault Trafic. But not in every sense.

Mitsubishi Express will arrive in a standard wheelbase format, whereas donor Renault Trafic (below) also avails in a long wheelbase format.

CONJECTURE the Mitsubishi Express van soon on sale here is a Renault Trafic clone in all but name and badging doesn’t bear out.

 The first van Mitsubishi has had since the 1980s’ era L300 was retired seven years ago runs identical engines to those in the French original, and also sources from the same factory in France.

 However, the lines head in different directions in terms of variant count and Renault also offers a lengthened wheelbase alternate to the standard format it and Mitsubishi offer.

 This all unfolds from dissection of information sent out yesterday by the Japanese marque’s distributor.

 The story is incomplete because Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has yet to release the most crucial single element about the two models it intends to put into showrooms in July: Their price.

 Those stickers won’t be announced for at least another fortnight, the brand’s marketing and communications manager says.

 Reece Congdon says the vehicles have yet to arrive and there’s reluctance to absolutely sign off on the RRPs under consideration until they do.

 “I think it will be before the end of the month … it could be a matter of two weeks or so. There have been some hold-ups due to Covid-19 and we’re just awaiting their arrival.”

 Express will launch in a 3098mm wheelbase form, the first with a 1.6 turbodiesel with a manual transmission and the other with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel and wet dual clutch transmission, also a six-speed.

 Engine outputs are rated as per Renault’s application, so 103kW and 340Nm from the 1.6 and 125kW and 380Nm out of the bigger capacity engine. Optimal economies of 6.2 and 7.3 litres per 100km are suggested and emissions run between 164 and 191 grams per kilometre. The 1.6 is Euro 5 and the 2.0-litre meets Euro 6 d standard.

 Trafic offers in this standard wheelbase form - designated ‘SWB’ – with those drivetrains. But it also has ‘LWB’ editions, with a 3498mm wheelbase, also with those powertrains.

 Mitsubishi has developed an Express in the longer wheelbase format, and it has gone on sale in Australia, with the 2.0-litre drivetrain (that only came to Trafic in NZ in March). But this model has not been chosen for New Zealand. 

Why? “That was an opportunity decision,” explains Congdon. “The volume of van sales in NZ are SWB models so we decided to launch with a SWB range for the time being. Obviously we will review that over time and assess if there is any market demand for a LWB Express.”

Express went on sale across the water last week; there it costs $1070 less than the equivalent Trafic. Even though there are spec and sales offer differences that likely account for this, that placement perhaps gives some idea of what MMNZ will aim to achieve.

The Trafic line-up here starts with 1.6-litres in $41,990 SWB and $43,990 LWB Trader trim. There is also a more fulsomely furnished 1.6 LWB for $50,990.  Above this are 2.0-litre ‘Auto’ variants in the same specification level costs $53,990 and $55,990 

When wheelbase commonality is considered, the models are sister ships in styling, engineering and drivetrains – not to mention performances, economy and load-carrying abilities, the payloads being 1150kg (1.6) and 1116kg.

Yet they don’t wholly replicate for driver features. Express has digital radio, Bluetooth phone (and the same fancy dash-mounted cell phone holder as Trafic) and audio streaming, but absent is Trafic’s 7.0-inch touchscreen, needed run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and its latest sat nav application.

The automatics in either guise add a rear-view camera with in-mirror display, rain sensing wipers, front fog lights, self-dimming interior mirror and auto headlights, but the Renault steering wheel is a bit fancier, being leather-wrapped.

The safety story is aligned and any embarrassment MMNZ felt back in the day about selling the L300 with poor occupant protection features – the issue that ultimately forced it out of the market – can be put to bed now.

With six airbags, roll over mitigation, stability and traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) Express and Trafic are ticking boxes postively.

Yet they could be better. Growing insistence from safety organisations for vans to follow passenger models in taking autonomous emergency braking has yet to influence Renault, so Mitsubishi misses out as well in opportunity to join a club that locally started with Volkswagen Transporter and now includes the Ford Transit and Toyota HiAce. Blind spot detection and driver fatigue monitoring are also absent.

More differences? Aside from having a different grille and bonnet design, the Express has halogen headlights instead of the newer LED units Renault introduced with a 2020 update.

The Express’ standard features include a three-seat interior and driver’s seat with armrest, height and lumbar adjustment, fabric seat trim, rubber flooring and urethane steering wheel, left and right sliding doors, 180-degree rear barn doors, cruise control with speed limiter, manual air conditioning control, power mirrors, remote central locking and keyless entry.

The models have unpainted bumpers, 16-inch steel wheels rear park sensors and a rear step bumper. A step-through interior (from cabin to cargo bay) is also set as the standard layout.

Standard driver deliveries across both Express and Trafic include cruise control with speed limiter, stop and start (with manual off switch), and hill start assist. Also standard are reversing sensor and a ‘dead angle’ (wide view) vision with a mirror in the passenger sun visor.

Space and load capacities - a generous 5.2 cubic metres and up to 1150kg payload – are mirrored.

In Australia the models have different warranty structures (advantage Mitsubishi over there) and servicing conditions (advantage Renault). Whether that will also be the case here has yet to be explained. 

MMNZ is certainly keen to see a replacement for L300, which sold 38,806 units from 1980 to 2015, and is also noting that the Express stands as the first product it has offered that comes from another Alliance member brand.

Congdon says the Express’s appeal will be “function and flexibility.”

“Dual sliding doors and a number of accessories ensure easy configuration of the Express van for different business requirements. We believe these practical features – along with a strong value proposition – will attract transport operators and delivery drivers back to Mitsubishi.”

And why not keep the L300 badge?Good question, Congdon says. " It was agreed the van would share the same name across both markets in Oceania. Obviously the Express badge has a long history in Australia so we settled on that.”

Ute outlook: Part 2 – the big team

Our national obsession for utilities, especially family-minded dual-cabs, knows no bounds. The market is booming at the moment, and filled with plenty of strong options. Yet surely you’re also keen to know something about what’s coming up next, when and from whom? Here’s part two of our three-part analysis.

Are you ready for Renaut’s Oroch Duster?

THE Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is a massive strategic partnership that currently produces better than 10 per cent of all the world’s new vehicles.

That’s a lot of vehicles – close to 11 million a year, in fact – so it makes sense that the alliance has various technology-sharing agreements in place to take advantage of economies of scale. Such as sharing platforms and powertrains for its next generation of vehicles, for instance.

When it comes to one-tonne utes, the first brand-new model to emerge from the Alliance is going to be the Mitsubishi Triton. And a likely special feature of the model, which will probably be launched in 2022, will that it will be electrified.

Probably not pure electric though – that would be a step too far, given the traditional towing and 4WD rock-hopping needs of utes.  But it is known that research is progressing into whether the Triton will become available as a petrol-electric hybrid or as a PHEV.

Triton is a vitally important model for Mitsubishi. It’s the brand’s second-biggest selling vehicle worldwide behind the Outlander, with close to 200,000 annual sales. In New Zealand it is the biggest-selling Mitsubishi by a country mile – last year 5319 of them were registered, close to double the number of Outlander sales.

Current generation Triton has done Mitsubishi proud.

So in every respect it is important that the new Triton continues the model’s great reputation – and potentially  enhance it via the Mitsubishi becoming the first ute manufacturer to add electrification to its lineup.

Mitsubishi has been investigating the feasibility of a hybrid ute for some years now, and in fact it revealed such a vehicle – a diesel-electric concept called GR-HEV – back in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show.

While there was no updated concept ute at the Tokyo Motor Show late last year, it was made clear a brand-new Triton is under development – and that Mitsubishi will be the first member of the Alliance to produce it.

Said the company’s chief operating officer Ashwai Gupta at a media briefing: “It’s a matter of each brand’s business decision as to when they will launch (a new ute), but as far as Mitsubishi is concerned...we are going ahead with development of a Triton successor.”

Mitsubishi has already achieve big sales success with its Outlander PHEV, so it is obvious that this plug-in technology is one that the brand is now considering for light commercial use. But it may well be that a more traditional series or parallel hybrid system will be chosen.

Next ute off the Alliance rank will be the Nissan Navara, which is also likely to be offered with the choice of an electrified version. But as with Mitsubishi, no decision has been made on which direction this electrification will take.

The new Navara will probably arrive in 2022. The current model has already received a final refresh, and the New Zealand lineup has just been bolstered via arrival of a version called N-Trek Warrior which was developed by Australian firm Premcar.

N-Trek edition is expected to lift current Navara’s status

In New Zealand, Navara is the most popular Nissan, with its 3305 sales last year beating both the Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs.

At Tokyo last year, the brand’s global head of light commercial vehicles Francois Bailley said for Nissan to consider any form of electrified power, a ute must be able to deliver power, torque and towing abilities.

“We’re looking at different technologies, from full EV to PHEV and so on. But we don’t think our customers will tolerate any compromise in terms of towing, payload, range. We must supply the same capabilities as the internal combustion models.”

Interestingly though, Nissan has already produced an electric ute.  Nissan-Dongfeng, which is a 50:50 joint venture in China, last year launch a new ute called Rich 6, which is based on the Navara and offers the equivalent of about 120kW and 420Nm.

Renault, the third member of the Alliance, already sells two utes on various interenational markets – the Navara-based Alaskan, and a small half-tonne ute called Oroch that is built off a compact SUV called Duster.

Renault New Zealand has been banging on for some years now that it intends importing the Alaskan, but it’s never happened.  Now it is more likely that if a Renault one-tonne ute does enter the Kiwi market, it will now be a brand-new model based off the new Triton.

It also seems likely the Oroch will get here before that. Renault NZ has confirmed that the Duster will arrive in New Zealand during the fourth quarter of this year, and there is talk that the ute version will arrive soon after.

And what about the Mercedes-Benz X-Class? Will a second generation of that ute, which is currently built off the Navara and assembled alongside Navara and Alaskan in Spain, also be built off the new Triton? Or will there be another X-Class at all?

The answer is no.  Mercedes-Benz has been badly burned by being the first luxury manufacturer to enter the world of the one-tonne ute – and as a result ithas announced that X-Class will be axed from the end of this month.

In a statement, the brand simply said: “In our global product portfolio, the X-Class is a niche product which plays a great role in a few markets.” In other words, It hasn’t been selling in anywhere near sufficient numbers – so is being dumped.

New kit, cachet for baby Mitsi

Seven years into its production run, Mitsubishi’s offer in the microcar sector has received its second refresh.

An attractive facelift, additional technology and extra comfort and safety features have brought the Mitsubishi Mirage into its second decade.

Interior refinements also impart and it catches up with other family members in achieving Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new look incorporates the sharp, modern design of the Dynamic Shield that is now a distinctive trait of the Mitsubishi family and is more chirpy than the original styling, which dates back to 2013. Larger bumpers and a painted rear spoiler also arrive with the upgrade.

Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation and a reversing camera now also incorporate. The car has a five star ANCAP rating, based on a test conducted in 2013.

A 7.0-inch touch-screen is the big design change for the interior but the sharp-eyed (or comfort-obsessed) will also doubtless figure out it has redesigned front seats, with different armrests. Cruise control is now standard. 

It has the same 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the old model, meaning power and torque are still pegged at 57kW and 100Nm respectively. Drive as ever is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic.

The model will cost $19,990 and there’s an introductory finance offer.