Mirage guns for the 1,450 km to a full tank feat

After setting a 33.6 kilometers per liter fuel-efficiency record, the Mirage will be up for a new challenge

MANILA, Philippines–Drive 1,450 kilometers from Laoag in Ilocos Norte to General Santos City in South Cotabato with one full tank of gasoline.

This will be the mission of the drivers of three Mitsubishi Mirage (stock) models—manual G4, continuously variable transmission or CVT-equipped G4, and manual hatchback—that will attempt this historic feat while traversing the western nautical highway route.

“Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is very confident its vehicles will reach this distance on one full tank. Besides, we will be the first automotive manufacturer here to conduct such a fuel economy test that will traverse several provinces of Luzon, the island of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol and finally to the provinces of Mindanao, starting from Misamis Oriental (Cagayan de Oro),” said MMPC VP for marketing services Froy Dytianquin as he formally announced last Monday the “Mitsibishi Mirage G4 Eco Drive Marathon: Luzon to Mindanao on One Full Tank” event.

The flag-off of the event happens on Dec. 2, at the Mitsubishi dealership in Laoag, Ilocos Sur.

MMPC has commissioned professional race and rally drivers George Ramirez, Robbie Hermoso, Louis Ramirez, George Apacible, Raul Asuncion, Steve Acayen, Barry Ortiz and Ivan Isada, who will get behind the wheel or navigate for the driver. The rest, as well as others not mentioned, will serve in the support crew for the three vehicles.

To ensure accurate, reliable and unbiased information, the event will be supervised by the Automotive Association of the Philippines. Representatives will be sent to inspect if fuel lines remain untouched and will put seals on several parts of the vehicle to ensure no tampering is made.

“MMPC is delighted to have Pilipinas Shell aboard as main sponsor and Bridgestone (tires) and AVT Navigation as our partners in this event,” said Dytianquin.

The best record so far was set in 2008 when a CVT-equipped 1.3-liter Honda Jazz logged in a total distance of 1,402.4 kilometers on one full tank of gasoline after traversing the length of Luzon from Bangui (a town next to Pagudpud) in Ilocos Norte all the way down to the southernmost tip in Matnog, Sorsogon, and then turning around until the vehicle sipped its last drop of gasoline in the town of San Fernando, Camarines Sur.

“We are putting the fuel economy of the Mirage G4 and Mirage to extreme test and we are confident that with its highly efficient 1.2-liter and 3-cylinder engine it will be able to reach the target 1,450 km from Ilocos Norte down to General Santos City in Mindanao,” said Dytianquin of the car that in January this year set a record 33.6 kilometers per liter fuel efficiency (the car was a manual Mirage GLX).

Interestingly, the best record for those who drove the CVT-equipped G4 in that same media event attained a 26 KPL fuel efficiency.

“The success of this event will prove that ownership of the Mirage is the economical choice and evidently a best-value car,” added Dytianquin.