Mitsubishi Motors Europe @ 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show
Amsterdam, July 2nd 2007
Preview # 3
- 2008 Colt: fine-tuning -
Confirming its best-seller status for Mitsubishi Motors in the region, Colt has started its fourth year in the European market with some fine-tuning to be announced at the forthcoming 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show.
Success
With 205,561 cars (3-door, 5-door and coupé-cabriolet included) sold between the initial launch of Spring of 2004 and May 2007 - therefore covering three successive fiscal years – New Colt has successfully re-established the “Colt” nameplate in many a major European market, like Italy (9,122 units for CY2006 / + 8% in Europe’s largest B-segment market) or Germany (20,129 sales for CY2006 where it commands a 3.5% market share in the segment).
With most of these sales being conquest - since Mitsubishi Motors did not have any model in this sector before - Colt’s performance (81.504 sales for CY2006 or +12.7%) is even more remarkable. More so as the B-segment is one the toughest in Europe, involving all the mega-budget big players and driven by the introduction of new models.
As a further evidence, in B-segment-orientated Southern Europe, Colt sales increased in Spain by 24.3% during CY2006, with the sporty 3-door variant representing 45% of the total.
Mid-point
Representing nearly 30% of Mitsubishi Motors Europe sales, this CO² friendly range remains an essential pillar for the dealer network to attract newcomers to the Brand (over 70% conquest rate – 2006 data) and also to retain existing multi-motorized Mitsubishi customers looking for a smaller vehicle to second their Pajero, their L200 or their Grandis.
Action
Capitalizing on this success, Mitsubishi Motors has committed investment for short- and mid-term actions to enhance Colt’s appeal with (further) potential customers:
- Short-term:
The Colt family now benefits from several trim, equipment and color changes:
- New 15” and 16” alloy wheels*
- New metallic colors (Sparkling Black, Cranberry Red, Glamour Grey)
- New seat fabrics (black/red -3-door only-, grey -5-door only- or black*)
- New translucent elements colour (grey instead of blue)
- New shift boot colour (black instead of blue)
- Auto light and rain sensor available for high grades
At the same time, Colt will welcome a new pan-European special action model available with both the 3 door and 5 door bodystyle*. Sporty in spirit, as it suits Mitsubishi Motors products, these latest limited editions will feature:
- Black headlamps
- Darkened rear combination lamp reflectors
- Blacked-out A-, B- and C-pillars
- Privacy glass (5-door only)
- Black side sills and lower section of bumpers (5-door only)
- Rear roof spoiler (3-door only)
- New 16” alloy wheels
- Front fog lamps
- Rain sensor
- Auto headlamps
- MP3 functionality
- Unique seat fabric
- Black dashboard and door trim panels
- Black perforated leather for steering wheel and M/T shift knob
Available in the two new colors (metallic Cranberry Red and metallic Glamour Grey) as well as metallic Lunar Silver and solid Porcelaine White, these new variants will be offered with all Colt powertrains (1.1 / 75 ps, 1.3 / 95 ps, 1.5/109 ps, 1.5 DiD / 95 ps), except the 1.5 Turbo, and in both manual and Allshift automated manual** gearboxes.
As a reminder, such limited editions have been used pro-actively by all Mitsubishi distributors and dealers throughout Europe to create local special action models, accounting for over 20% of the Colt volume in average.
Mid-term lastly, a significant booster will be unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Stay tuned…
* Details and naming according to markets.
** Allshift is only offered in combination with the 1.3 engine
-MME
Ford Focus RS WRC07
In developing the Ford Focus RS WRC 07, BP-Ford World Rally Team's technical director Christian Loriaux and his team did not seek to take huge steps forward because such leaps are impossible under the regulations. Instead they concentrated on making minor, but significant, developments in several areas. Here are the key technical changes along with Loriaux's thoughts on the improvements that he and his team of engineers developed:
Engine
Although the Focus ST model on which the World Rally Car is based uses a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine, rallying rules do not permit an engine of that size. However, the regulations do allow teams to use another engine from elsewhere in the Ford Focus model range, so when designing the 2006-specifcation car M-Sport opted for the 2.0-litre Duratec unit, with the addition of a turbocharger and the mandatory 34mm inlet restrictor. That engine, which has an all-alloy block, remains in the 2007 car.
- The changes on the new car are mainly to save weight and to improve efficiency, driveability and performance at the bottom end of the range, said Loriaux.
It has a lighter flywheel while further machining of the engine block has removed unnecessary parts and weight has also been saved by lightening some internal parts of the engine. The car also contains a new exhaust manifold, the former two-piece system replaced by a single-piece unit.
Engine specifications:
- Ford 1998cc Pipo built I4 Duratec WRC engine.
- Four cylinders, 16 valves.
- Bore: 85mm. Stroke: 88mm.
- Pi electronic engine management system.
- Turbo: Garrett turbocharger (with FIA required 34 mm inlet restrictor).
- Air intercooler. Catalytic converter.
- Power: 300 bhp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 550 Nm at 4000 rpm
Suspension
The Focus RS WRC 07’s suspension is virtually identical to that of the 2006 car. It continues to use Reiger dampers and the only change is a small weight reduction on various components.
Suspension specifications:
- Front and rear: MacPherson struts (front) and Trailing-Arm (rear)
- Reiger external reservoir dampers, adjustable in bump and rebound. Fully adjustable fabricated steel links.
- Front and rear anti-roll bars. Cast steel uprights. Ceramic wheel bearings.
Bodyshell
The bodyshell displays visible changes at both the front and the rear. The rear wing has been modified to improve the car's aerodynamic efficiency.
- It's a new wing and although it is not radically different from the 2006 car, it should reduce drag, said Loriaux.
At the front, the car sports a new bumper which has been raised to improve ground clearance.
- The previous bumper was too low, mainly because when we designed the previous car we didn't have enough time to test alternatives before homologation. As a result gravel was often scooped up onto the bonnet and windscreen which was irritating for the drivers. By raising the height we should eliminate this and also reduce the amount of damage we've suffered to the bumper, he added.
The other visible change is that the side exits to the front bumper for cooling are now vertical instead of horizontal. The shell has also been modified slightly to increase the protection offered to the co-driver.
- We've made a small change so that we can use a seat with safety ears for the co-driver. It adds a further degree of safety which has always had the highest priority in our design, explained Loriaux.
Transmission
The Ford Focus RS WRC 06 featured considerable changes to its gearbox from the previous model, not only in specification but also in layout. The original Focus WRC (introduced in 1999) mated a longitudinal gearbox to a transverse engine, an engineering feat in itself. But for the 06 car Loriaux used a transverse gearbox along with the transverse engine. He has made no alterations to that but has still achieved a weight reduction in the gearbox and more development is planned.
- We're working on trying to improve the gearchange speed. We have homologated new parts but have not done sufficient work to introduce them onto the car yet. That is for the future, said Loriaux.
Transmission specifications:
Permanent four-wheel drive with M-Sport designed active centre differential. Pi electronic differential control units. M-Sport / Ricardo five speed sequential gearbox with electro-hydraulically controlled shift. M-Sport / Sachs multi disc carbon clutch.
Weight distribution
Loriaux is renowned for his innovative design approach to lowering the centre of gravity in rally machinery. Many of the trends seen on today’s cars, such as the crew sitting particularly low in the cabin, can be attributed to his earlier designs. Having set new trends on the 06 car, Loriaux has continued to concentrate on saving weight and no element of the car has escaped intense scrutiny in this area. Weight has been saved in the engine, suspension and transmission.
- The engine is about 5kg lighter, which is a figure I'm really happy with. It's a lot to save. It's another 5kg that we can transfer to another area of the car to improve its balance and handling, told Loriaux.
Savings have also been made by redesigning the pedal box, the hydraulic jack and even the wheel brace.
Brakes:
- Gravel (front and rear): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four piston monoblock calipers.
- Asphalt (front and rear): 370mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo eight-piston monoblock calipers.
- Hydraulic handbrake; Adjustable front / rear bias.
Steering:
Power-assisted high-ratio (12:1) rack and pinion. One and a half turns lock to lock.
Wheels:
- Gravel: 7in x 15in (magnesium) wheels with BF Goodrich 650mm tyres.
- Asphalt: 8in x 18in (magnesium) wheels with BF Goodrich 650mm tyres.
Electronics:
Full Pi chassis and engine data acquisition for on-event diagnostics and performance development.
Fuel tank:
FIA FT3 tank, 94 litre capacity, located centrally.
Dimensions:
Length: 4362mm. Width: 1800mm. Wheelbase: 2640mm. Weight: 1230kg minimum.
Finland tests with Mikko Hirvonen
-Mikko Hirvonen/BP Ford World Rally Team
Dealer Commitment Results in Big Customer Service Gain -- Mitsubishi CEO
July 19, 2007 -- CYPRESS, Calif. --
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) President & CEO Hiroshi Harunari today cited the commitment of its dealers as the main contributor to the automaker's dramatic jump in a customer satisfaction study.
J.D. Power and Associates' annual Customer Service Index (CSI) study, released today, showed MMNA made the largest year over year improvement of any automaker in customer satisfaction with service at its dealerships, although MMNA ranked 22nd overall in the study.
"Customer Service and CSI improvement was a priority of our business plan this year and our dealers embraced the challenge," said Harunari. "While we are not content if we have even one customer who is not satisfied, our gains this year show we have the ability to further improve to join the elite of our industry in customer service."
The annual J.D. Power and Associates study noted that MMNA improved in all six Maintenance Index factors, with the largest improvements in User-Friendly Service and Service Delivery. "We believe that Mitsubishi's revitalization plan, which involves placing the customer first from marketing to after-sales service, is beginning to have a measurable impact."
-MMNA
S-AWC Super All Wheel Control - ACD (Active Center Differential)
July 12, 2007 -- Cypress, Calif. --
* Outline
A hydraulic multi-plate clutch inside the ACD transfer regulates the differential limiting action between free and locked states to optimize front/rear wheel torque split and thereby produce the best balance between traction and steering response. MMC first used ACD in a production model in January 2001.
-MMNA
S-AWC Super All Wheel Control - AYC (Active Yaw Control)
July 12, 2007 -- Cypress, Calif. --
* Outline
AYC is a component system that enhances cornering performance and vehicle stability by controlling the rear wheel torque differential using a torque transfer mechanism in the rear differential.
MMC introduced AYC, the first component system of its type in a production car, in August 1996. Switching from a bevel gear to a planetary gear differential in January 2003 doubled the amount of torque AYC was able to transfer.
-MMNA
S-AWC Super All Wheel Control - S-AWC Systematic
July 12, 2007 -- Cypress, Calif. --
* What S-AWC aims to achieve
To reflect driver intent when accelerating, decelerating, or cornering under all driving conditions using integrated management of brake force and drive torque at each of the four wheels.
* Features (Steps beyond the Lancer Evolution IX MR)
1. Addition of ASC (Active Stability Control) to ACD, AYC, and ABS components and integrated management of all four systems.
2. Addition of yaw rate feedback control.
3. Addition of brake force control to AYC system.
* S-AWC systematic (click to enlarge)
* S-AWC benefits (click to enlarge)
-MMNA
S-AWC Super All Wheel Control - S-AWC Management
July 12, 2007 -- Cypress, Calif. --
* What S-AWC aims to achieve
To reflect driver intent when accelerating, decelerating, or cornering under all driving conditions using integrated management of brake force and drive torque at each of the four wheels.
* Features
1. Fully integrated management of ACD, AYC, ABS, and ASC component systems.
2. Addition of engine torque, brake pressure, and yaw rate data allows S-AWC to more accurately determine whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating.
3. Adoption of yaw rate feedback control realizes vehicle behavior that allows driver inputs more faithfully.
4. Incorporation of brake force control in the AYC system assists control of vehicle behavior in on-the-limit driving situations.
* S-AWC system configuration (click picture to enlarge)
* Graphic representation of benefits (click picture to enlarge)
-MMNA
