2012 Mitsubishi Lancer: Car Seat Check

Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is a small sedan that takes an aggressive stance with its forward-leaning grille. For parents trying to hold onto their carefree past, the top-of-the-line Lancer Ralliart trim adds some excitement with a gaping grille, hood scoop and turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Lancer seats five.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver's seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row's middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there's a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.

Here's how the 2012 Lancer did in Cars.com's Car Seat Check:

Latch system: The Lancer's two sets of lower Latch anchors are easy to find in the outboard seats. They sit in large slits in the seat upholstery. Three tethers sit on the rear shelf behind the backseat's head restraints. They're easy to use and sit under plastic covers.

Booster seat: Our high-back booster seat fit well after we removed the head restraint. However, there's not a lot of legroom in the second row. The seat belt buckle is floppy and tends to fall behind the booster seat, making it difficult for young kids to buckle up independently.

Convertible seat: The forward-facing convertible seat fit well; we had to remove the head restraint with this car seat, too. The rear-facing convertible fit in the backseat without having to move the front passenger seat forward.

Infant-safety seat: With this rear-facing infant seat, we had to move the front passenger seat forward a couple of inches to create enough room for this car seat. The front passenger still had ample legroom, however.

How many car seats fit in the second row? Two

Editor's note: For three car seats — infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats — to fit in a car, our criterion is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.

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Monday Maintenance Tip! Running your Air Conditioner in the Winter

It's time for your Monday Maintenance Tip! Even though your car's air conditioner is probably the last thing on your mind during the winter, running your car’s air-conditioning system a few times throughout the winter will prevent moving parts in the compressor from seizing. Also, circulating the refrigerant will help keep the seals soft and pliant.

Mitsubishi Motors Makes Initial Delivery of 2012 Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicls to the Town of Normal

Courtesy of The Financial

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Mitsubishi Motors North America delivered six brand-new 2012 Mitsubishi i electric vehicles featuring Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle technology to the Town of Normal and Mayor Chris Koos in a ceremony held in the hometown of Mitsubishi Motors’ U.S. vehicle manufacturing plant,according to mitsubishi motor company.

In addition to Mayor Chris Koos, other speakers at the event included Jerry Berwanger, EVP & COO of MMNA Manufacturing Division and Ryan Gremore, General Manager of O’Brien Mitsubishi in Normal, Illinois.

Upon conclusion of their remarks, these dignitaries handed the keys to the new Mitsubishi EVs to six Normal Town Council members who then experienced the fun-to-drive 100% electric-powered vehicles for themselves by driving around Normal and visiting charming locales including the Normal Theater and Carl’s Ice Cream Store - settings featured in the Japanese auto manufacturer’s advertising campaign for the 2012 Mitsubishi i.

"Putting these six all-electric cars into our fleet is the next major step in the EVTown initiative, which has put Normal-Bloomington in the national spotlight as a forward-thinking community," said Normal Mayor Chris Koos. "The Town of Normal is eager to get these cars into service and to show our community how well EVs work for a variety of tasks, even in our cold January weather."

The event marked the first delivery of the all-electric 2012 Mitsubishi i to a customer outside the states of Hawaii, California, Oregon, or Washington.

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We really appreciate this positive review. Way to go Tank!

"Everyone we came in contact with at Carriage was very pleasant, knowledgeable and eager to assist. I would highly recommend Carriage Mitsubishi to friends and family."

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Mitsubishi Motors Makes Initial Delivery of 2012 Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicles to the Town of Normal, Illinois

Courtesy of Mitsubishi News

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA), today delivered six (6) brand-new 2012 Mitsubishi i electric vehicles (EVs) featuring Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology to the Town of Normal and Mayor Chris Koos in a ceremony held in the hometown of Mitsubishi Motors’ U.S. vehicle manufacturing plant.

In addition to Mayor Chris Koos, other speakers at the event included Jerry Berwanger, EVP & COO of MMNA Manufacturing Division and Ryan Gremore, General Manager of O’Brien Mitsubishi in Normal, Illinois.

Upon conclusion of their remarks, these dignitaries handed the keys to the new Mitsubishi EVs to six Normal Town Council members who then experienced the fun-to-drive 100% electric-powered vehicles for themselves by driving around Normal and visiting charming locales including the Normal Theater and Carl’s Ice Cream Store - settings featured in the Japanese auto manufacturer’s advertising campaign for the 2012 Mitsubishi i. 

"Putting these six all-electric cars into our fleet is the next major step in the EVTown initiative, which has put Normal-Bloomington in the national spotlight as a forward-thinking community," said Normal Mayor Chris Koos. "The Town of Normal is eager to get these cars into service and to show our community how well EVs work for a variety of tasks, even in our cold January weather."
The event marked the first delivery of the all-electric 2012 Mitsubishi i to a customer outside the states of Hawaii, California, Oregon, or Washington.

“I would like to thank the Town of Normal, Mayor Chris Koos and the Normal Town Council members, the EV Task Force and the entire local community for all of the support they have provided to Mitsubishi Motors over the years,” said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa in a statement. “The Town of Normal is setting an excellent example for the rest of America to follow by embracing this exciting, environmentally-friendly and money-saving new form of transportation.”

Mitsubishi Motors and the State of Illinois announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last year that marked the start of a working relationship between both parties to help foster important initiatives that support electric vehicles like the 2012 Mitsubishi i.

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"Everyone at Carriage Mitsubishi was wonderful. They were able to get a new blue Evolution for my son, at a very reasonable price. They gave me a good value on my trade in. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a new Mitsubishi." - wrxdenise

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Teased: Is Mitsubishi’s Next Outlander Debuting in Geneva?

Courtesy of MotorTrend

Mitsubishi’s Outlander needs a bit of an update, but it looks like help is on the way. Mitsubishi is set to launch a new production vehicle – which may likely be the successor to the current Outlander — at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

There’s not much known about the car, other than a short release from Mitsubishi that claims that the car will be a “strategic and innovative premium vehicle,” and that it’ll make its March 2012 debut on stage at the Geneva show.

From the looks of things, however, we wouldn’t be surprised if the car in question is the replacement for the current Outlander. We’d heard before that the PX-MiEV and PX-MiEV II concepts would closely preview the next-gen Outlander; lo and behold, the fascia previewed here looks much like the aforementioned concepts. Gone is the Lancer Evolution-inspired front fascia; a new double bar grille, slender headlamos, and a rounded bumper fascia appear to lend the crossover a cleaner look than before. Mitsubishi says this look previews the future of its corporate design language.

This vehicle might also preview the future of the marque’s powertrain strategy. In keeping with its corporate mantra to increase the number of electric or hybrid offerings available around the world, the next-gen Outlander will ultimately be offered as a plug-in hybrid (like the PX-MiEV itself), although we’re unsure if that system will debut immediately at launch.

Expect more details on the next-generation Outlander – assuming the name remains intact – to emerge closer to its show debut in March. Mitsubishi plans on rolling out the vehicle in markets around the world throughout the course 2012, starting with the European market.

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Mitsubishi Motors Makes First Deliveries of the 2012 Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicle to Retail

Courtesy of Mitsubishi News

           Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA), has commenced delivery of the company’s all-new 100% electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i featuring Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology to the first retail customers in the continental United States.

John and Jean Malanaphy of Santa Monica, California; Paul Wasson of Tigard, Oregon; and Roger Saint John of Lake Tapps, Washington are the fortunate early adopters in each of their respective states to benefit from Mitsubishi Motors’ highly advanced, economical and efficient all-electric production vehicle: Not only is the 2012 Mitsubishi i the most affordably-priced mass-market EV available in the United States but it was recently named the #1 vehicle on the EPA’s list of “Fuel Economy Leaders: 2012 Model Year” in the governmental agency’s annual Fuel Economy Guide.

The very first Hawaii retail delivery of the 2012 Mitsubishi i occurred last month in a formal ceremony at the Hawaii State Capitol Building in Honolulu that included representatives from Mitsubishi Motors and Cutter Mitsubishi of Aiea, Hawaii; the Honorable Neil Abercrombie, Governor of Hawaii; and Bryson and Bridget Nishimura of Waipahu, Hawaii, who were presented with the keys to their new state-of-the-art Mitsubishi electric vehicle.

   Currently available in the aforementioned Western states and Hawaii, the 2012 Mitsubishi i will be available across much of the United Sates by this summer. With a starting net value of $21,625* for the well-equipped entry-level ES model (the premium-grade SE version begins at $23,625*), the 2012 Mitsubishi i is the first of several new advanced, alternative-fuel production vehicles that the Japanese auto manufacturer plans on bringing to the North American market in the next few years.

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Mitsubishi i tops 2012 EPA Fuel Economy Guide

Courtesy of Autoblog

What's the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States? Well, for 2012 it's the Mitsubishi i, at least according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

The federal agencies have issued the latest edition of their Fuel Economy Guide, and Mitsubishi's subcompact electric leads all vehicles with a combined rating of 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The Nissan Leaf is second at 99 MPGe, the Ford Transit Connect Electric is third at 62, and the Chevrolet Volt ranks fourth at 60 MPGe.

Of course, they're all electric vehicles (well, in the case of the Volt, a part-time EV), which is why their mileage numbers are listed as MPGe. The highest-rated vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine continues to be the Toyota Prius, at 50 miles per gallon combined.

Mitsubishi i tops 2012 EPA Fuel Economy Guide

Courtesy of Autoblog

What's the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States? Well, for 2012 it's the Mitsubishi i, at least according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

The federal agencies have issued the latest edition of their Fuel Economy Guide, and Mitsubishi's subcompact electric leads all vehicles with a combined rating of 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The Nissan Leaf is second at 99 MPGe, the Ford Transit Connect Electric is third at 62, and the Chevrolet Volt ranks fourth at 60 MPGe.

Of course, they're all electric vehicles (well, in the case of the Volt, a part-time EV), which is why their mileage numbers are listed as MPGe. The highest-rated vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine continues to be the Toyota Prius, at 50 miles per gallon combined.

Haywire [2012] trailer with extra Lancer Evolution footage

 

The Lancer Evolution puts on a pretty impressive performance in this movie trailer.

Thank you for your kind words.

"I would recommend Carriage Mitsubishi to my friends and family. The sales team was amazing. They worked hard to find me financing and a car that I am very please with. Josh was in charge of showing me all of the cars functions, answering questions about the vehicle and special feature setup. He did an amazing job." - treedoles

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Quick Takes: Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWD vs Midsize Crossovers

Many midsize crossover buyers probably don't even realize that Mitsubishi still sells its Outlander SUV, the model that preceeded the compact Outlander Sport. This week, we've been in the driver's seat of the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWD, a crossover on the small end of the $30,000-$35,000 midsize class. The SUV proved to be a credible player, but that's in a crowded field.

What helps the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT distinguish itself includes the cool dual-folding liftgate, magnesium paddle shifters, and an infotainment screen that includes an altimeter, barometer, and lap timer. Yes, that's right, you could have had a lap timer in your all-wheel-drive V-6 crossover.

$35,300 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWD: The $35,300 price for this V-6, AWD, three-row crossover included a navigation system/rear-view camera package, leather seats, a sunroof, a 710-watt sound system, and an entertainment package (rear seat DVD player, wireless headphones) we tested but would gladly skip to save more than $1500.

Against the $34,425 Dodge Journey R/T: At that price, a Dodge Journey has a more modern navigation system than inside the Mitsubishi, a third row seat, sunroof, and a much less expensive rear seat entertainment system. Would you go for the value of the Journey or the more exclusive appeal of the Mitsubishi?

 

Against the $36,520 Hyundai Veracruz Limited AWD V-6: Yes, the Veracruz is nearly 7 inches longer than the Outlander GT, but it's also priced similarly. Both crossovers have long generous basic warranties and are nearing the end of their production lives. The third row of the Veracruz is more hospitable than that of the Outlander GT. Would that sway you toward the Hyundai?

 

Against the $35,650 Kia Sorento SX AWD V-6: The Kia Sorento SX has far less attitude than the Mitsubishi Outlander GT, but it also offers a panoramic sunroof for extra money. The Kia has a power passenger seat unlike the Mitsubishi yet both cars have a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. Where the Mitsubishi excels ahead of the Kia is in rear visibility. Which would you choose between these two SUVs?

Against the $32,425 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD V-6: The RAV4 V-6s extra horsepower serves it well here. We've tested a 2011 model sprinting from 0-60 mph in an impressive 6.3 seconds. The last 230-hp Outlander GT we tested ran from 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds. The RAV4 may be quicker, but it's also a bit soft compared to the rougher riding Mitsubishi, which also has magnesium paddle shifters and HID headlights that are unavailable on the 2011 RAV4 at any price. This decision really depends on a buyer's priorities: better acceleration and comfort or sportiness?

Summed up: The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWD has an appreciable dose of attitude, but could use tuning and volume knobs on the entertainment system plus more low-end power. After a tank consisting of mostly city driving, we got 18.0 mpg, below the Mitsubishi's 19/25 mpg city/highway rating. Which of these mid-$30,000 crossovers would you choose?

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The United States boasts the most motor vehicles per person, with 765 cars for every 1,000 people in the country. Can you guess which other countries can claim a spot in the top five cars per capita?

2012 Lancer

Be sure to stop by Carriage Mitsubishi to take advantage of our latest incentives, including 0.0% APR for 36 months (36 monthly payments of $27.78 per $1,000 financed at 0.0% APR) on select 2012 Mitsubishi Lancers.

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EV-Happy Mitsubishi Adds Electric Minicab

Courtesy of Earth Techling

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Mitsubishi is on a roll. After already selling some 17,000 electric vehicles worldwide and a successful North American launch of its stripped down “i-MiEV” model this fall, the Japanese automaker is following up with the introduction of an all-electric, light commercial van for its domestic market.

The new Minicab-MiEV has already hit the streets in Japan and Mitsubishi hopes that the larger capacity of the electric vehicle will continue the automaker’s success with bare-bones, utilitarian and affordable EVs. The two-wheel drive Minicab is based on the a gas version of the mini truck that Mitsubishi has had in production since 1966. The electric version, however, features the same battery, motor and other major components featured in the i-MiEV, which has been in production since 2009.

The new mini truck features two lithium ion battery options. The 10.5-kilowatt-hour (kWh) version offers a 62-mile range on a full charge while the 16-kWh version delivers 93 miles of driving. A full charge using a 200-volt pipe will take 4.5 hours for the smaller battery and up to seven hours for the large juice box. Mitsubishi’s regenerative braking system uses the motor as a generator during braking and stores the recovered kinetic energy as electricity in the battery. Mitsubishi also offers its MiEV OS vehicle management system as a standard feature. The OS monitors the state of the drive battery and the event of a collision, electricity leak or a fault occurring, the system cuts off the high-voltage circuitry from the drive battery to protect the safety of occupants and rescue teams.

Inside the cockpit, the Minicab-MiEV uses the i-MiEV’s instrument cluster, which includes a digital speedometer, power meter, charge indicator and available range displays. Also similar to the i-MiEV, the Minicab features three drive options for normal operation, lower output/energy-saving operation, and operation in which the regenerative brake effect is increased.

Though it’s only available in Japan for the time being, Mitsubishi hopes to move 4,000 of the minicabs by March 2012. At today’s exchange rates, the car will retail at $30,870 for the lower capacity battery version and $38,210 for the larger battery. After Japanese eco-car subsidies, those prices shrink to $22,260 and $25,990.

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"The service was overwhelmingly pleasant as soon as we talked in the door. We had visited other Mitsubishi places in Atlanta, which made us appreciate the good service and friendly atmosphere. I would recommend Carriage Mitsubishi to anyone who wants to buy a new or used car at a great price." - ahaver12

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