In this week’s post:
- Will the Mitsubishi PHEV pickup truck be here soon?
- Is Audi love waning?
The first question comes from fan who wants to know how close are we to getting a Mitsubishi PHEV pickup truck.
Q (AskNathan@TFL.com) RE: Mitsubishi PHEV Pickup truck coming stateside.
You answered my question (last week) which is amazing! Thank you! Now I wanted to see if you have an update of the Mitsubishi PHEV pickup truck. I know people give Mitsubishi a lot of hell in the United States, which isn’t fair. My brother has very good luck with his and has had a Mitsubishi car like the Lancer, Eclipse and now his Outlander PHEV last for a long time.
I think they give people a good bang for the buck and I know you agree with me. I like that you have owned many inexpensive cars and many Mitsubishis. What was the last one you owned?
Can you give us more information about the Mitsubishi PHEV pickup truck?
Thanks for keeping it real!
– All_Hike98
A: Hi! Another great question,
There hasn’t been much stated since Nissan and Mitsubishi have agreed to work together on updated their fleets (together) co-developing EVs and PHEV (plugin hybrid electric vehicles). Yes, they did indicate that pickup trucks were part of the plan, but neglected to mention any details whatsoever. We’re pretty sure the PHEV (be it Nissan, Mitsubishi or both) will be built in Mexico. It could be an affordable alternative that can bring the trucks to a worldwide market.
Here are some quotes:
Makoto Uchida, Nissan president and CEO said: “Through exciting vehicles and technologies, Nissan is building a smart ecosystem that expands both the possibilities of mobility for people and the potential of society. We want to help solve regional issues and create future-centered cities through new mobility services and energy management. MC shares our motivation, and together we will study a robust and sustainable business model.”
Katsuya Nakanishi, Mitsubishi Corporation president and CEO said: “As the mobility sector undergoes significant transformation due to technological innovation and decarbonization, MC, through its EX-DX integrated approach outlined in its mid-term management strategy, MC Shared Value 2024, aims to work with Nissan to explore the creation of sustainable business models that address Japan’s societal challenges.”
I think we’re going to see concepts within the year, before a production vehicle in the next two or three years. We know that Mitsubishi has experience with hybrid technology, and Nissan has experience with EVs. This combination could become a serious challenge throughout the industry. Considering the recent push to build more hybrids and PHEVs, this partnership makes sense.
Honestly, it’s hard to say what type of powertrain(s) the automakers are considering for a pickup truck. Some insiders say they the new pickup may replace the Nissan Frontier, but I’m not so sure. It’s possible that this pickup could be a smaller, Ford Maverick-sized vehicle that’s based on a lightweight platform.
We should have more news soon!
— N
The next question comes from a viewer who thinks people are shunning the Audi brand.
Q: (Via: NathanAdlen@Twitter/X) Taking all things into consideration, I think Audi’s image is in trouble in the United States.
It’s kind of a sad day for me. I just sold my 2009 A5 Quattro. After 157,000 miles, it was time. It hurts. What a beautiful car.
Living in Texas for four decades, I drove all over the state opting to use my personal car for my job rather than the dreary Altimas and Sonatas my employer offered. In exchange, they paid for my fuel, insurance and basic upkeep. They acted like they made bank on my decision. I was the one who reaped the benefits because I enjoyed every minute behind the wheel.
I remember you said you would own a 2.0 Quattro with a manual, if you lived in California. Well now you do and I’m wondering if it’s something you would still consider? Even though I had the V6, I still averaged about 24 mpg with all the highway driving I did. Reliability was good with only a few visits to the dealership.
Here’s my question: do you think Americans are falling out of love with Audi? You and Roman rightfully called BS on Audi for fake exhaust ports and design. Even though I bought a new Q5, I think the design is kind of boring. It’s a good car. I needed something new and better passenger space. It’s not that exciting externally. Do you think Audi’s are still beautiful?
Do you think people are getting sick of Audi in general? This is where people stand at my office. They are mostly all in on Tesla. And many have Mercedes and BMWs. I’m one of the few with an Audi and it got me thinking about how they are perceived here.
All the best to you and the team. I love watching your videos and reading your posts!
- J.D.
A: Thanks for your patronage, and for the thoughtful question!
Actually, Audi sales have been pretty strong over the past few years. The Q5 and Q7 have been a hit for them, and the e-Tron sales are getting stronger as well. Like everything in this industry, it’s all a question of optics. There are issues with some of Audi’s design choices, but they are staying with something they consider to be successful.
I think Audi-tech has a ton of potential, and they know how to assemble a quality vehicle. Their interiors are top-shelf, and their drivetrains are well sorted. They can perform with the best of them, and set a pretty high bar for many to follow. On the other hand, I find their lack of progress (with design) a bit of a bummer.
Innovative design, like the sexy-as-hell e-Tron GT is kind of a one-off in my book. It kind of points the way back to vehicles like the R8, rather than pointing the way forward. I hope I’m wrong – Audi has so much potential.
As for rocking a 2.0-liter A5 here in L.A… oh hell yes. Maybe a used one, after I mentally graduate to adulthood.
All in all, I think they are doing well, but they could be doing better. Some of their cars are attractive, but the beautification of past designs has mellowed. I am rather curious about their future offerings. We’ll see which direction they go soon enough!
- N
