Mitsubishi Motors rolls out Mirage G4 at SMX Convention Center Taguig

THE MIRAGE G4 is positioned to fit the needs of emerging markets.

It is interesting to note that before the Mirage G4’s official launch Thursday night at SMX Convention Center Taguig, dozens of Mitsubishi’s next-generation global subcompact sedans have already been delivered to their excited owners.

They were among the more than 1,000 who reserved as early as September and were able to enjoy the P40,000 discount.

Indeed, the arrival of the Mirage G4 is one big event that Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) has been preparing for some time now, considering that no less than the president of Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Osamu Masuko, will grace tomorrow’s official launch.

THE MIRAGE G4 has a longer wheelbase and heavier in weight. Photos by Charles E. Buban

“We at  MMPC are excited in officially launching the Mirage G4. Like the Mirage hatchback, the Mirage G4 will be another game changer as it also offers the best value for money,” said MMPC president and CEO Hikosaburo Shibata during last month’s simultaneous dealership sneak preview.

Priced at P578,000 (for the manual GLX variant), P628,000 (continuously variable transmission-equipped GLX), P668,000 (manual GLS) and P718,000 (CVT-equipped GLS), the Mirage G4 is positioned to fit the  needs of emerging markets that include the Philippines.

More than just a sedan

Masuko in an earlier statement suggested that the Mirage G4 is more than just a four-door version of the Mirage hatchback. Even if both models are powered by the same 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder MIVEC gasoline engine (that generates 77 horsepower and 100 Newton-meters of torque), the Mirage G4 sports a wheelbase that is 10 centimeters longer (at 2.55 meters). While this added length as well as the rear cargo compartment do equate to additional weight of 65 kilograms—with the heaviest variant tipping the scales at 930 kg—the Mirage G4 is still among the lightest cars in its class.

Nearly comparable

Despite the extra weight, Mitsubishi engineers were able to make the sedan’s coefficient of drag (Cd) nearly comparable to the hatch variant—0.29Cd versus the hatch’s 0.28Cd. This means despite the additional weight, the Mirage G4 still registers an impressive fuel economy mark of 22 kilometers per liter as reflected in  its claimed New European Driving Cycle fuel-consumption figure.

Considering that the Mirage G4 has a longer wheelbase and is heavier in weight, it should also mean that it is slightly better in terms of ride stability and comfort when compared to the hatchback version.

More supple

During a test drive, this writer found that the Mirage G4’s ride quality is more supple. Even high-speed stability has improved somewhat.

Most notable was the fact that the Mirage G4’s cabin noise is a bit hushed. We were informed that Mitsubishi engineers employed a thicker windshield, used more insulation as well as sound dampeners to minimize noise that enters the cabin. On top of that, they also used upgraded engine and CVT mounts and a larger muffler for better sound and vibration control.

Indeed, the Mirage G4 as well as its sibling, the Mirage hatchback, are just two examples that point where car trend is headed.

Small, low-cost cars have suddenly become the next frontier for the global auto industry as rising fuel prices drive consumer taste around the world toward greater fuel efficiency. And according to Masuko, Mitsubishi is just glad that the company is among the first to meet the challenge.