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#1 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Posts: 383
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Taken from GoAuto E-News
Mitsubishi releases fi rst details of its make-or-break Magna replacement By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS FIRST-RATE quality, an advanced V6 engine, improved transmissions, sophisticated suspension and a stiff body will help defi ne Mitsubishi’s crucial new Magna replacement as a dedicated driver’s car. This was the message Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) delivered this week in the fi rst of a series of briefi ngs to be held in the run up to the sedan’s launch at the Australian International Motor Show in October. While the new nameplate and a moniker for higherseries models (replacing Verada) are still to be confi rmed, MMAL management stressed the $600 million it has invested in the car, codenamed PS41, would ensure it was far removed from its left-hand drive North American donor car, the Galant. Indeed, 70 per cent of PS41 will be new and more than 2000 components unique to the Australian-made vehicle. This week’s briefi ng was held in conjunction with the opening of a new $40 million ‘AA Class Tandem Press Line’ which, as part of a wider $250m upgrade to Mitsubishi’s Tonsley Park assembly plant, is said to “guarantee” unprecedented levels of quality in an Australian vehicle. According to Mitsubishi, the ability to stamp one-piece body side mouldings, and increased accuracy stemming from new manufacturing processes like Mitsubishi’s ‘Toy- Tab’ panel-fi t system, will contribute to a signifi cantly stronger, smoother, quieter and more refi ned car, and one which is also easier to enter and egress. “Our mandate is to have our new car be the best-quality car ever built in Australia,” said MMAL President and CEO, Tom Phillips. The new processes will make for a stiffer body – thought to be almost double that of the current Magna – which in turn will aid handling, ride and refi nement qualities to the point where MMAL insists the PS41 will lead all locally produced vehicles in these areas. And most imports, too. This, in turn, fi ts neatly with fi ndings from the largest market research campaign Mitsubishi has ever undertaken in Australia, which indicates that Australian family car buyers now consider sportiness and power to be prime purchase considerations. To that end, the PS41 will use a variation of Mitsubishi’s venerable 3.8- litre 24-valve V6 engine that – backed by the company’s MIVEC variable valve technology and a new-generation Bosch engine management system – should boost power and torque to around 192kW and 335Nm respectively, as well as improve emissions and driveability. MMAL’s General Manager for Research and Development, Lee Kernich, said the company took the opportunity to improve the V6 – to be built in Japan – as it had to be re-engineered to meet the relevant Australian Design Rules. It has been calibrated “to suit Australian drivers”, and is part of what Mr Kernich referred to as “control tuning” and “optimising” of the entire PS41 drivetrain, including the drive-by-wire accelerator pedal and wheel/tyre combinations. A smoother, less-intrusive traction control system will also form part of the package, while Mr Kernich added further that the engine management system would be compatible with a turbocharger. He stopped short of saying there were plans for such a model, but take it as read that one is at least on the drawing board. Harnessing all this is an upgraded fi ve-speed automatic transmission with a Tiptronic-style shift and a new control unit featuring driver-adaptive hardware for increased response and greater effi ciency. A manual gearbox, believed to be a six-speed unit, will further enhance the PS41’s driver-orientated credentials. Questioned on possible enthusiast driver resistance to the car’s continuing front-wheel drive set-up, Mr Kernich pointed to research indicating 70 per cent of large-car buyers did not consider front-drive a disadvantage. Toyota could also attest to this with the success of its Camry Sportivo. All-wheel drive variants have been ruled out for now. A strut-based front suspension design with a fl at fabricated cross-member and low-mounted steering rack, and a similarly placed multi-link arrangement in the rear, are expected to reduce road noise as well as boot-space intrusion. Ultimately, “excellent roll control, fl at cornering feel and European handling characteristics” are all promised for the PS41. Body rigidity, already stiffened by the single-piece stamping system, will be bolstered by extra body bracing between the front suspension strut towers and rear-seat bracing – meaning the new car, like the current Magna, will eschew a split-fold rear seat. According to Mr Kernich, incorporating a split-fold mechanism compromises body strength and rigidity. However, he did indicate that a larger aperture than the Magna’s ski-port opening should be available. Braking will be by 16-inch ventilated discs up-front and 16-inch gridventilated discs at the rear, the latter a preferred option over the 14-inch solids used on the US Galant. It seems Mitsubishi has run out of time and resources to develop 17-inch wheels for the PS41, which must comply with the company’s extensive year-long wheel-testing regime before being signed off for production. Far from being a hindrance to the Australian team, the US Galant platform has provided substantial economies of scale in various development and engineering areas. “If we had to start with a clean sheet of paper we’d still pretty much end up with the vehicle we have now,” Mr Kernich said. The fi rst Australian prototype PS41 in right-hand drive form was developed in September 2003 and was tested extensively here, in Europe (mostly Germany) and Japan. Around August last year, the fi rst off-tool-parts prototype arrived. The car is now in the trial production phase, and will again repeat the vigorous testing leading up to Job Number One (to borrow a Ford phrase) in September. Confi rmation of the car’s name is expected next month, ahead of the unveiling of the PS41’s locally adapted exterior styling which should carry greater differentiation than ever between the main car and higher-series model. |
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#2 | ||
I am The Brain!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 648
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A little bit hard to read....but the information is there. Hopefully for Mitsu's sake it doesn't look as horrendous as it has been.
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Long Live Cricket - Australia's favourite sport Woohoo 1.6L 1999 Toyota Corolla....feel the power! I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant. |
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#3 | ||
Well hello Mr Fancypants
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,066
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all they really need to do is change that front end and sales will double. are they really that out of touch?
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#4 | ||
Bear with a sore head
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 3,701
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All the really need is RWD and a 6.1L hemi V8.
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#5 | ||
Low and Loud
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,273
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I think the latest Magna is great, Id rather it anyday over a crappy commo
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1993 Ford Fairlane NC3 Silver - LTD mockup, Worked V8 & Auto, Fully Optioned, Half of my Audio department at work installed in the car 1993 Ford Falcon XR6 Poly Green Stationwagon - 4.0 I6, Auto, 3:45LSD, All the usual XR6 Stuff but in a wagon ![]() |
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#6 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 558
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There are Magna sketches in John Mellor's GoAuto e-news, the rear angle especially looks rather sporty.
http://mellor.carsales.com.au/mellor/enews.nsf/edition/$first |
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,521
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man that was hard to read...
Lets just hope (for mitsubishi's sake) that they dont end up with another abortion of a car like their last one (style wise). Would be interesting to see how they fair with a turbo though (that is if they actually end up going down that path).
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Me fail English? That's unpossible.
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#8 | ||
Formerly ST170ish
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Down south
Posts: 1,670
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Whats so hard about reading that?
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#9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,521
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Quote:
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Me fail English? That's unpossible.
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#10 | ||
SiX_iN_a_RoW
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Capalaba Brisbane
Posts: 770
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Change the magna to a RWD format ( too large to be a FWD imo ) or just go AWD on all models, completely revamp the front end styling and they might have a car worth buying
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#11 | ||
Moderator Ford Coupe Club
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Vic
Posts: 3,905
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Sounds great from Mitsubishi but they have overlooked one vital detail. This car needs to be RWD!!!
Fafuxsakes, when are these clowns going to learn?? Instead they continue to push onto the Aussie motorist a configuration that has been overwhelmingly rejected. "FWD not a hinderance to enthusiasts" they say? "Attest to the success of the Toyota Camry Sportivo" Success?? At what?? I see two-thirds of f*ck all of them on the road. Huge success......... With Mitsubishi persisting with the large car FWD configuration it is ensuring it will only ever be a bit player in this market and will never be competitive with Ford or Holden
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#12 | ||
XB in parts...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,890
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RWD or 4WD would be good.
The series prior to the current one looked sweet. The US one I've seen pics of looks fugly.
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#13 | ||
turboute
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 502
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So who would consider the Magna a worthy rival to either the Falcon or Commodore if it was RWD? (compared to stock 6 cyl variants of each)
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#14 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Not suffering Fools Gladly!!
Posts: 2,864
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Quote:
Mitsubishi should take a look at Subaru, they build great cars that never pretend to be anything other than Subarus. And that is why they are successful. If Magna had concentrated on being a better medium class car it may have stood a chance. :gren: |
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#15 | |||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northern Sydney
Posts: 1,908
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Quote:
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I don't think its as crap as your suggesting. Quote:
Mitsubishi is basically in the same position that Ford would be in right now had they not spent the money on the BA or if the BA failed. Who cares whether its FWD, RWD, AWD 6WD - so long as it works. Realistically how many people on the roads seriously drive their cars to such a limit that a distinction between RWD and FWD is needed? Maybe towing, thats about it. You can only drive up to 110km/h anyway, and you can't say any engine over 2.2L these days wouldnt have highway overtaking performance. What matters is that competition is always good and its important that Mitsubishi have some success with this model otherwise quite a few aussies will be on the dole que and South Australia will lose a major industry. Its bad enough the engine plant has closed. |
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#16 | ||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,566
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I think the magna would sell alot better if it was RWD, but exports are high on their list aswell remember and teh US and where ever else it goes want FWD for safety reasons. In other words they cant drive for Sh!t, but to be fair they drive in ice/snow alot more than we do.
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#17 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Its weird that the biggest wheel size they have is 16 inch. Are these guys stupid or what. Who will buy the sports version when the biggest wheels available are the same size fitted to a BA XT. The BA upgrade will be launched around the same time and will crap on it from great heights although the new V6 seems like it will go pretty well.
How are they going to recoup the 600 million dollars they spent when they will probably sell less than 2000 a month. Will it be like the current model Magna and still be on sale in mildly updated form 10 years from now? I think its the only way they can. |
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#18 | ||
not here much anymore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sthn NSW
Posts: 22,918
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In regards to the wheels - not everybody wants to have 17 or 18" wheels, and pay for them as well as the tyres. Fleet cars etc, cars with older owners, are usually the ones who will stick with the basic options of a 15 or 16" wheel.
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#19 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
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#20 | |||
Rocket Fuel Anyone?
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide, S.A.
Posts: 1,099
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Quote:
Export is only GCC, as in countries like Iraq, Iran, Kuweit etc.. We have send a tiny amount to Canada, but. |
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#21 | ||
Eat more peanuts....
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kingaroy, Qld
Posts: 502
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umm if i read it correctly it says 16" BRAKE DISCS not rims.. The rims would have to be bigger..
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#22 | |||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Quote:
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#23 | ||
Right out sideways
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Coffs Harbour NSW
Posts: 5,304
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crap torque for a 3.8litre
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#24 | ||
buickman
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: eastern suburbs Melb Vic
Posts: 1,462
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I think it might look a bit like the one's for sale in the US.
Here is a site that the car might look like. www.mitsucars.com/galant/index.html buickman |
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#25 | ||
RDP #181
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 438
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Galants are much nicer than magnas IMO, and come in awd turbo format, it is slightly smaller than the magna and it probably would have landed them more sales.
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#26 | ||
Guest
Posts: n/a
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I think it has nothing to do with RWD for the market Mitsu is in. Lets wait and see what the car will be like before we pass judgement.
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#27 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northern Sydney
Posts: 1,908
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The TJ VRX did sit on 17s.
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#28 | ||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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I could be way off the mark here, but I beleive this spy shot that appears to have been taken in outback Oz to be the next Magna.
![]() Seems very close to the "official sketch" from GoAuto ![]()
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer Last edited by FFOracing; 27-02-2005 at 11:08 AM. |
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#29 | ||
Automotive Designer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 751
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[QUOTE=FFOracing]I could be way off the mark here, but I beleive this spy shot that appears to have been taken in outback Oz to be the next Magna.
I don't think it is the next Magna. The new Magna will share the same basic hard-points as the U.S. market Galant, such as the roof line/glass area and the doors - which look very different compared to that spy shot. Brave money would label the spy pic as the VE Commodore or the next Falcon or even the next Camry. But is likely a U.S. market car. |
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#30 | |||
RAGE Engineering
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 651
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Quote:
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If it doesn't fit, use a BIGGER hammer |
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