Mitsubishi - History of Brand
Mitsubishi - History of Brand
The history of "Mitsubishi" begins in 1970, when a large industrial
group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries spun off and became an independent
company avtostroitelnaya Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
The first cars were produced machine-building post office shipping
company - Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Company, founded in 1873, which was a
Japanese businessman Yataro Iwasaki. Car Mitsubishi
Model-A stayed on the line for four years (from 1917 to 1921.),
After which the company from the issue of passenger cars declined due to
very low demand. Manufacturing changed its production of
buses and trucks. Since 1960, Japan's rapid economic growth begins,
significantly increased demand for vehicles, and the company
"Mitsubishi" begins to design and build a passenger
car.
The first post-war car company was a small car for the mass market
Mitsubishi 500, gained much popularity due to its low cost and
reliability. In the years 1961-65 produced consistently model
Mitsubishi 360, the first four-seater minicar Minica, then the
passenger Colt model 600, Debonair and Colt Model 800. It was more than
comfortable family cars. In 1969, the presentation of the
model Colt Galant, which has absorbed all of the most advanced
achievements in the field of art and design. In the same year the car
Colt F2-C won the race "JAF Grand Prix Formula Car Race".
Thus, in the 1960s in Japan, there are models, who later became the
founders of the popular families - Colt and Galant.
On the automotive brand Mitsubishi world learned in the early 1970s, when the company released the model Galant and Lancer
and entered the international market
with them. "Mitsubishi" greatly increased the distribution network,
and Mitsubishi automobiles are increasingly began to appear on roads
around the world. Mitsubishi Galant is available
Mitsubishi Motors since 1969. Created nine different generations of
this model, total sales now exceed five million cars. The model started
as a compact sedan, but over time has become a
medium-sized car. Since 1994, the cars assembled at the plant in
Illinois were sold in the US market. Initially Mitsubishi Galant was one
of the modifications of the Colt model, and was a small
car of classical configuration with a 1.5-liter engine and dependent
spring rear suspension.
The first generation of Mitsubishi Lancer (A70) was first released
in February 1973. In North America, this car called the Dodge Colt, and
in Europe - Colt Lancer. First Lancer had three types of
body: two-door sedan, five-door and four-door station wagon. Engines
in various embodiments, different volume: 1.2 liter, 1.4 liter and 1.6
liter. Sport model Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 1600
successfully participated in many sports competitions, winning the
Safari Rally twice and the Southern Cross Rally four times. In 1975, the
Lancer lineup was complemented by a compartment called
the Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste.
In 1978, the company "Mitsubishi" launches the second generation
Mitsubishi Colt, a compact city car mostly in the back of a hatchback.
The first generation, introduced in 1962 as a two-door
sedan Mitsubishi Colt 600, had a classic layout, but in 1978 changed
to the front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and later added
modifications. Cars Mitsubishi Colt completed with four-cylinder
engine capacity of 1.5 liters and 81 hp (60 kV). Under the brand
Mitsubishi Colt in different years were issued, sedans, station wagons,
fastback, however, the main body is still the hatchback.
In 1979 model Mitsubishi Colt 1400 GLX received the prize "Car of
the Year" in the class of medium-sized cars.
In 1979, to replace the first generation comes new car Mitsubishi
Lanser, and in the next, 1980, the company "Mitsubishi" is entering the
market with four-wheel drive off-road model pickup truck
Mitsubishi L 200 4WD. Modern model (2006) is implemented in a number
of countries under the name Mitsubishi Triton. Performed in versions
with two-door two-seat, two-door and four-door five-seat
four persons (Double Cab) cabin. Depending on the configuration, it
can be equipped with air conditioning, sound system, automatic or manual
transmission, four-wheel drive Easy Select, or Super
Select, electronic locking rear differential, ESP stability control.
The first SUV Pajero series (in Spanish-speaking
countries it is sold as Montero) was presented to the company
"Mitsubishi" in 1982. The first went on sale a short three-door
version with a petrol (2.6 liter) and diesel (2.3 liter) engines. In
June 1984 Pajero was further refined. Diesel engines with turbocharging
became even more powerful model with a longer
wheelbase got disc brakes on all wheels as standard equipment. In
January 1983, only a year after the start of production, the Pajero
entered the world of motorsport. Pajero cars won several
prizes at the Paris-Dakar rally, including the team cup. In Russia,
this SUV is more known for modifications in 1991 and 2000 (five-door
version) s. Pajero was awarded many prizes in many
countries of the world. In 1986, the Pajero named SUV of the year in
the UK (UK's What Car).
Since 1983, Mitsubishi cars were equipped with electronic suspension
system, and in the same year, the release of the versatile Spase Wagon
was launched. In 1984, Mitsubishi Corporation became
the official supplier of cars for the Olympic Games in Sarajevo, and
in 1987 - for the Universiade in Zagreb. 1988 - new model Colt and
Lancer won the race in Germany. Galant VR-4 model has been
recognized by the "Japan Car of the Year" in 1987-88. The 1980s were
a decade of Mitsubishi's global expansion in the world markets. In
addition, in this decade it has been created various
assembly plants outside of Japan, including a joint venture with
Chrysler Corporation in Bloomington, USA.
Car Mitsubishi Diamante (Sigma) off the line in 1989. It produces a
type of bodywork sedan and wagon, while already since the release of the
car is positioned as belonging to the business class.
Produced for the markets of different countries, including for
domestic.
Mitsubishi Eclipse - Quadruple (2 + 2) sports car
with coupe and convertible. Available since 1989, and only in the LHD
version. Named in honor of the English horse of the XVIII
century, winning 26 races. In the US, the same was sold under the
names Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. The car is equipped with an engine
Mitsubishi 6G75 (3,8 liters), allowing the car to
accelerate to 100 km / h in 6.2 seconds. and reach speeds of 200 km /
h (electronically limited).
Sports car class GT Mitsubishi 3000GT was produced from 1990 to
2000. In the domestic market of Japan it has been known as the
Mitsubishi GTO. For North America, the car was going to Chrysler
Corporation under the name Dodge Stealth. This car company
Mitsubishi used its most advanced technologies, such as four-wheel
drive, four-wheel active, active aerodynamics featuring automatic
adjustment of the front and rear spoilers and electronic control
suspension (ECS). On the machine was installed engine DOHC 24v V6 power
of 164 kW (223 hp) at 6000 rev / min. Mitsubishi 3000GT
comes in two body styles - a 2-door coupe and convertible.
In 1991 he began production of the second generation Mitsubishi
Pajero II, it first appeared in the transmission Super Select 4WD, which
made it possible to move to all-wheel drive on dry coating
by the presence of a center differential. It established two engines
- petrol (3.0 liter) and diesel (2.5 liter). The five-door version has a
third row of seats, and the body with a soft roof got
the drive. In the second generation there was equipment with
adjustable shock absorbers of the car interior, as well as a hydraulic
system changes the clearance. Mitsubishi Pajero II were
produced until 1999, and in 2000 these machines replaced the third
generation of the highly popular SUV. In 1998, the production version
went to the rally-raids (with moldings) and a road version
of the Pajero - Pajero Evolution with an engine capacity of 3.5 hp
MIVEC system (variable valve timing), power - 288 hp
In March 1995, he debuted Mitsubishi Lancer VIII (eighth
generation). From the available body was only a sedan, coupe, and even
offered in some markets. Standard equipment was the driver airbag,
passenger airbag and offered for a fee. In Europe, the "eighth" the
Lancer forced to compete with slightly larger sedan Mitsubishi Carisma
(joint model "Mitsubishi" and "for sale" companies),
whose production at a plant in the Netherlands was established in
the same year. European buyers were offered two petrol motors in volume
of 1,3 and 1,6 l. In other countries, the choice of
powertrains has been much wider.
In the same 1995 it was released a representative of "Lancer" series
of sports options - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III. Third Evolution
made in the same package as the first two the Evo, but
has improved aerodynamics, increased engine power to 270 hp at 6250
rev / min. And for acceleration to 100 km / h it took only 4.9 seconds.
All these improvements have allowed Evolution III to
achieve great success in the World Rally Championship. In 1996 Tommi
Mäkinen at the wheel of Evolution III became the champion of WRC and
Mitsubishi secured the second place in the constructors'
championship.
In August 1996, there was "Galant" in the eighth generation,
characterized by predatory, sporty design. The appearance and the
direction of the contours of the body parts have earned the model
the nickname "Shark". He offered in sedan and station wagon. In
Japan, the wagon was sold under the brand Mitsubishi Legnum. Updated
Mitsubishi Galant VIII won again in Japan 1996-1997, the title
of Car of the Year. VR-4 version is equipped with a 2.5 liter V6
engine with two turbochargers, developing 280 hp Since 1998, "Galante"
were equipped with engines with direct petrol injection
GDI.
Sports Mitsubishi Lancer once again was upgraded in 1999. The
updated Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI changed body dimensions fog
lamps, cooling system (there was a large oil cooler) and the
piston of the engine group, as well as other vehicle mechanisms. As a
result, the engine power increased to 330 hp (246 kW), enabling the
Finnish rally driver Tommi Mäkinen win for Mitsubishi
four WRC racing championship.
In the first years of the new millennium (2002) started the
production of current Mitsubishi Colt hatchback sixth generation, which
is going in the Netherlands and Japan. Mitsubishi Colt VI
refers to the B-segment on the European classification and features a
large five-seater saloon height. The standard hatchback boot volume is
220 liters (VDA standard) when shifted forward rear
seat space increases to 315 liters and with full remote second row
seats luggage compartment volume of up to 645 liters.
Mitsubishi Colt sixth generation in the different markets offered
from 1,1-, 1,3-, and 1,5-liter petrol engine. These motors are
manufactured in the factory MDC Power (Germany), belonging to the
corporation DaimlerChrysler. Also, in some countries, there are
commercially available versions of a diesel motor. The most common
version of the modern Mitsubishi Colt in the European market is
a car with a 1.3-liter 95-horsepower 16-valve petrol engine.
Transmission 5-speed or robotised 6-speed (developed by Getrag).
All-wheel drive modification exist in the Japanese market.
Also in the new century it began the production of a mid-sized
crossover Mitsubishi Outlander, which in 2005 acquired a modern look.
Outlander name means "journey to the distant unexplored lands
in search of adventure." The second-generation Mitsubishi Outlander
platform based on the new GS, and had several engines, not only from of
Mitsubishi, but also from Volkswagen and PSA Peugeot
Citroën. Automobiles Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 are
rebedzhirovannymi versions of Mitsubishi Outlander (replacing the
brand). From the iconic cars of "Mitsubishi", created in the new
century, it is worth noting minivan Mitsubishi Grandis, manufactured
in 6- and 7-seater versions.
December 28, 2007 the company Mitsubishi Motors signed an agreement
on the conditions of the industrial assembly of cars in Russia. In 2010,
production was started at the plant, which was built
near Kaluga in cooperation Mitsubishi Motors and France's PSA
Peugeot Citroën. By the fall of 2010 the company produced models such as
the Citroen C4, the crossover Mitsubishi Outlander and his counterpart titled Citroen C-Crosser.
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