As we all know, Mitsubishi is in a bit of trouble these days. I also hope we all know that is very possible for Mitsubishi to turn things around (have we all forgoten Nissan's flirting with bankruptcy 5 years ago). Ho do you think Mitsubishi can turn things around? I believe Mitsubishi should concentrate or focus their attention on certain areas. I think Mitsubishi should focus on building performance vehicles. Why? Because that is what they do best. So no more Lancer Ralliart Editions, no more Galants (unless we are talking VR4), no more Diamante, and no more SUVs. I know people are gonna say, those are the hottest markets, that is where Mitsubishi well make the most money. Well the fact remains that Mitsubishi simply isn't making a profit in those hot markets, it's losing money big time. Mitsubishi has never really ever made big profit in those Markets regardless. The only vehicles that really always seem to turn a profit (even if it's a small profit) is Mitsubishi performance cars.

For example the EVO, as of now is the ONLY Mitsubishi automobile actually making a profit for the company. Sadly the EVO is limited edition and doesn't make enough of a profit to really impact the company. Still the EVO has been a success for Mitsubishi, a success amongst many failures.

The Eclipse for a long time was the best selling sport sub compact. Out selling competition such as the Prelude, the Integra, MX-6, Probe, and Celica to name a few. Sales for the 3G Eclipse have slowed, but the legacy of the Eclipse for Mitsubishi has been a success.

The 3000GT was actually a success for Mitsubishi especially when compared to the last generations of the RX-7, 300ZX, and Supra. While so many talk about how great those cars were, they forget that the 3000GT outlasted all of them 1991-1999 (RX-7 1993-1995, 300ZX 1990-1996, and Supra 1994-1998). The 3000GT actually outsold the RX-7, 300ZX, and Supra combined in the 90s.

My point is that Mitsubishi should for now turn it's focus to the one area where it has consistently been successful and that is with performance. Performance cars is a smaller market and it would mean that Mitsubishi would have to downsize, but if it could save the company that would be great. Mitsubishi should become the Japanese equivelent of Porsche (just more affordable)

My suggestions are-

-Downsize and focus attention onto the area at which Mitsubishi has always been successful (Performance).

-Get rid of the Diamante, the SUVs, the economy cars, and the family version of the Galant.

-Re-introduce the Galant, but only in one version and that's the VR4 version. MIVEC Turbocharged V6/AWD/$30,000-$40,000/300HP+/5-Speed Automatic and 6-Speed Manual/Aggressive styling andawesome interior/Updated Interior/Competition- G35, 3 Series, and IS350

-Re-introduce the 3000GT (Most likely a new name). V8 Power/AWD/$40,000-$50,000/400HP+/6-Speed Manual/Aggresive styling/3400-3500Lbs/Competition- C6 Corvette and Porsche 911.

-Continue to build and improve the EVO

 

you got a point but I wouldn't hold your breathe.

 

To increase their market share in the US they are going to have to do what they have always been capable of doing- building quality instead of concentrating soley on an image.

Image is fine but people want something that will be relatively trouble free and reliable also. With gas prices going through the roof hybrid vehicles are also something Mitsu needs to introduce to the US market. Companies have gotten so complacement towards quality in an effort to cut costs they have lost buyers to other companies who have been increasing their product value Such as Toyota, BMW, Nissan....Think about what Nissan has done...they have introduced a 3.5L V6 of very high quality (10 best engines) that can be used in the Altima, Maxima, 350Z, Murano and even some their trucks. This does help cut costs, but in a way that will still deliver a quality product to the consumer.

In Motor Trend recently, they said GM is predicted to lose their dominant market share within the next 10 years to Toyota. They have had the highest market share for the past 73 years. What is happening is Toyota's quality and vision (hybrid and electric vehicles) is surpassing GM's cost cutting, low rent, sub-par vehicle manufacturing and engineering philosophies. Also on the radio I heard Wall Street now considers GM and Ford black stocks and is very skeptical in recommending them to any strategic portfolio. What that means is, don't excpet to see anything but losses in the future.

Mitsubishi is going to have to revamp their product line and starting with the Eclipse and the new MIVEC 3.8L engine was an excellent idea. Hopefully they are on their way back up after a wake up call nearly meant their demise.

Jesse

 

good start

 

It seems like they know what they're doing for now, but there's a few things that need to be said. Nissan changed their direction and hired Carlos Ghosn, one of the best turn-around CEOs (I know MMNA has sort of done the same). Mitsubishi needs to help their image to sell more. They lost a lot of confidence with the whole scandal in Japan and have to somehow make it up. In order to sell a lot of cars (which they need to do to maintain size) they can't only introduce more enthusiast models, hence the new Eclipse. They should probably introduce more Ralliart varients, such as the Galant Ralliart and maybe a Ralliart version of the Endeavor. The Lancer Ralliart should probably be furthered as well, perhaps to be competitive with the SRT-4 and Cobalt SS/Ion Redline. They also need to help the quality of the Lancer, at it's present state, I don't believe it can compete with the Civic or Corolla. In order to sell more, Mitsubishi needs to sell more of their base models. The best way to do this is come up with some kind of schtick. Mazda, for example, has "Zoom Zoom", they basically try and create fun to drive cars with good handling. Mitsubishi might be able to pull that off. Perhaps they need to make more cars with low fuel consumption. One thing is for sure, customer service and warranty work needs to be overhauled. The network of very small dealerships isn't working for Mitsubishi, they should try and create a system like Honda, which is incredibly good. Speaking from experience, the people at Honda/Acura will take care of you, Mitsubishi should do the same.

 

Bow down puny mash-up-bishi owners, for I am your leader ... in customer satisfaction!

... thanks Carlos Ghosn for turning Nissan around and fellow Evo owner VwRyder for finding this teriffic article.

3000ways - if you really want to know what needs to do now to survive - look for any articles you can find on "the man" - Carlos Ghosn and stop fantasizing!

I guarantee you is doing just that ... but who knows, write em a letter, maybe they'll want to hear some of your ideas too!

 

The famous one-liner!!

I agree with the above ideas, also I think Mitsu might want to get back into talks with Chrysler again, to get some of those deep pockets vested in the Mitsu company. Anyone remember a car called the Dodge Stealth?

Also I think they need a new marketing team. Over the past 2 years, Nissan has done so will with there ads and TV commericals.

 

Nissan went back to basics

Cost cutting in various ways including renegotiating cost of raw materials and supplies.

Use of economies of scale - fewer different engines = reduced costs. less parts to stock.

#1 delivery of good looking quality products across the board - at a reasonable price.

 

What those foos really need is to stop shortchanging their US market from their overseas products. They already have the answers in Japan but water down product when it comes here. In my opinion these cars would've done extremely well here:

Mirage Asti Coupe: DOHC MIVEC
Mirage Cyborg R: DOHC MIVEC Hatch
Lancer GSR: DOHC 1.8L Turbo
Lancer Cedia Ralliart: GDI DOHC 1.8L Turbo
FTO
(Notice all these vehicles are DOHC)

All I gotta say is forget this Mitsu/Chrysler partnership. They also gotta axe their automotive design firm in the U.S. Not only will this save open resources for future R/D but also save them from their biggest downfall; the hideous cars that come out of the drawing boards. Let's face it, the new Eclipse even though is ho hum for them right now falls short of what they originally intended. Instead of really capturing the true essence of the earlier Eclipse, to me, its a 3rd gen that is having a mid-life crisis. Picture someone in their 50's trying to wear his clothes from back when he was 20 and on a daily grind. Allright, I'm getting off to another subject here.

Mitsu cars are expensive compared to competitors. The Lancer ralliart is selling for as much as $19k to $20k when you can pick up a Mazda 3 with the same options for around $17k to $18k.

 

The old design team at Mitsubishi did a horrible job on the new generation 03 & up cars.

They ruined a lot of good looking cars with that new hideous front end styling. The old 99-03 Galant was a good looking car, the current generation is terrible. The concept outlander several years back was a great looking car, but they put a pontiac front end on it and made it look like ***.

Mitsu has done quite well with the new Eclipse, so that's a bright spot in an otherwise very weak line-up. But in order to be profitable, you NEED to have a good looking mid-size sedan to compete with Honda Accords, Toyota Camrys, and the Nissan Altima.

The Endeavor is quite a fine vehicle, and I drove one as a company demo for over a year when I worked for Mitsu. It's very reliable, roomy, got plenty of power, and I actually like the aggressive styling on it. But it's the Mitsu name that keeps the Endeavor at the back of the pack. If the Endeavor had a Toyota or Honda nameplate on it, they would sell 100,000 a year of those just like the Pilot and Highlander.

I love the styling direction of the new EVO X. But they need to put some of those chiseled good looks on a car they volume produce. Not just a low volume specialty car.

 

Where do you get your facts from? The Evo is NOT limited edition. Sure, there's a production capacity limit, but that isn't the same thing. The supply of Evo's varies with demand.

Also, the Evo IX is certainly _not_ the only profitable automobile in the mitsu line.



d

EDIT: Oops, I just saw that this thread a year old. It should be closed, methinks.

 

I just saw that, too. I didn't realize somebody picked up a year old thread.

they must have been really bored

 

Regardless of the fact that this thread is a year old, you are still right. His "facts" are pulled straight out of fantasy.

 

nah man, race-mobile/wannabe-racer can never be the most profitable market. That's why toyota cutted Supra. The most profitable will be SUV/Minivan and it will stay that way for a long time. Majority of people drives, to go to work, pick up their kids, grocery shopping, they care mostly about safety and convinence. That's why there are more automatic sold than manual. (obviously)

 

the new eclipse is so fuggin ugly.......................................
honestly anyone driving it will be seen as bubble boy or bubble girl