Saar: Apart from increasing the dealership count from the current 38 to 45 by this year’s end, the Japanese carmaker will also be introducing two new models – the Eclipse Cross SUV and the Xpander MPV.
At the official launch event of the Mitsubishi Outlander, Uttam Bose, MD, Hindustan Motors Finance Corporation Ltd., confirmed that the Japanese carmaker is gearing up to expand its operations in the country. Apart from retailing the Pajero Sport and the Outlander, the company will be retailing two more products in India in a few years. The models in question are the Eclipse Cross SUV and the Xpander MPV.
Let’s unravel the SUV first. In Mitsubishi’s India portfolio, the Eclipse Cross will slot below the Outlander. Unlike the Outlander or the Pajero Sport, the Eclipse Cross is a five-seater high-riding SUV that, in international markets, is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 163PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The powerplant comes mated to an 8-Speed CVT (continuously variable transmission). The setup is enough for the Eclipse Cross to hit 100kmph from a standstill in 9.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 200kmph.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The one on sale in Singapore comes equipped with features like seven airbags, electric parking brake with brake auto hold, paddle shifters, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. For India, however, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will have a tweaked feature-list to keep the costs in check. Mitsubishi also has the support from its alliance partners Nissan and Renault. Based on the demand, the Eclipse Cross could very well borrow stuff, including a diesel mill, from the other two. Once launched, it will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass and the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Over to the Xpander. As you can see, it is an aggressive looking MPV and full marks for Mitsubishi to make it look that good. The seven-seater people carrier is on sale in several countries including Thailand. There, it gets the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as the Eclipse Cross but without the turbocharger. The result is a power output of 105PS and a maximum torque of 141Nm. Transmission duties are handled by a 4-speed automatic transmission. The setup should place the Mitsubishi Xpander right in line with the upcoming, second-gen Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. If need be, the Xpander could also get a diesel from its alliance partners. Expect Mitsubishi to equip the Xpander handsomely for India with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a multi-function steering wheel.
Mitsubishi Xpander
Apart from launching the above-mentioned products in a few years from now, Mitsubishi is also looking to expand its retail network in India. The company is looking to take dealership count from the current 38 to 45 by the end of the year. Mitsubishi is looking at selling 250-300 units of the Outlander in India this year. If the SUV gels well with the Indian customers, Mitsubishi might even consider assembling it locally rather than continuing to import it via the CBU route.
As for the new models, Bose said that they are both at least 2 years away from now. By then, he added, the uncertainties surrounding automobile policies in India will be much lesser in comparison.
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