I am delighted to see the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage make an appearance at the 2013 New York International Auto Show and so are you. Mitsubishi managed to defy a harsh market and stay in business with a nearly empty (new) product portfolio in the United States. As I reported in (this) post, the new Mitsubishi Mirage has some serious potential.
Good news, the Mitsubishi Mirage’s transmissions will consist of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) AND a five-speed manual transmission. Either transmission will be connected to a 74 horsepower, 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 74 lbs-feet of torque. That may not sound like a ton (it isn’t), but the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage weighs as much as a flea.
Mitsubishi added three-inches to the wheelbase of the Mitsubishi Mirage over the home-market’s version. I guess we Americans are a funky, chunky bunch. This added length should make it a hair longer than the Chevrolet Spark, which is its main competitor. It will also be a tiptoe away from the Mazda2’s length.
Here’s Mitsubishi’s take on what we can expect with the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage:
“The affordable 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage boasts a number of welcome standard and available features including:
- Estimated 40 mpg combined fuel economy (37 mpg city/44 mpg highway; pending EPA fuel mileage rating)
- 7 air bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
- 4 speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system with USB/iPod® input
- 60/40 split folding rear seat
- Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL)
- Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist (HSA) (CVT-equipped models)
- 4-wheel Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
- Power windows with driver’s side auto-up/down
- RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) safety cell body/chassis technology
- Rear Spoiler
- Automatic Climate Control
- Electric Power Steering (EPS)
- Available options include Navigation with Rearview Camera, Parking Assist and LED Interior Illumination Packages” – – Mitsubishi Media USA
Mitsubishi is keeping pricing and an official release date mum. Being that the Chevy Spark starts at just over $12,000 – it’s not a stretch to see Mitsubishi’s prices for the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage follow suit.
One thing is for sure, I love tiny cars and I can’t wait to play with this one!
Check out this video with the Mitsubishi Mirage’s main rival in the USA – the Chevrolet Spark.
I know that gear-heads will poo-poo small, rodent-powered cars like these. The way I look at it, if it makes you smile, it’s a good car. Who knows? Maybe the Mitsubishi Mirage will make people smile.
