All-New Mitsubishi Pajero Still Three Years Away – Will Go Hybrid

The Mitsubishi Pajero (or Montero in the US) has been around in its current form since 1999. It did receive a major overhaul in 2006, which brought it up to date, with revised styling and new safety features, but the SUV was basically the same underneath. Even if you count the 2006 update as a new generation, it's still almost seven years old and in need of a rethink.

However, according to a report from GoAuto, which spoke to Mitsubishi's head of product and strategy development, Ryugo Nakao, at the Geneva Motor Show, an all-new Pajero is still at least two years away, if not three.

The new model will sit at the top of the Japanese automaker's range, so Mr. Nakao was keen to point out that the 2015 model would be considerably more refined and luxurious than what they are offering today - perhaps they want to challenge the Range Rover?

Yet, in spite of its upmarket push, the Pajero will still be able to cope with off-road driving, and be just as capable as the current model. It will be built on a new platform, which will also be compatible with the brand's P-HEV hybrid system, which has already made its commercial debut in the third generation of their Outlander crossover.

Mitsubishi Boss Says Next Pajero May be Sold in the U.S, Emphasis on SUVs and Not Sports Cars

There's good news and bad news for Mitsubishi's future in the States and it all comes straight from the mouth of the Japanese company's President Osamu Masuko, who was recently interviewed by Autonews Asia Editor Hans Greimel.

For starters, despite some rumors, Mitsubishi has no plans to withdraw from the U.S. market nor will it shut down its Illinois plant where 1,900 workers are employed manufacturing the Outlander Sport. In fact, according to the automaker's three-year business plan named "New Stage 2016", it aims to boost global sales 29 percent to 1.43 million vehicles and North American deliveries by more than a third to 150,000 units annually.

Masuko, 64, told the news agency that the key ingredient to pushing up sales will be a "back to basics" strategy that will improve the brand's foothold in SUV and crossover segments, and at the same time, place more focus on electrified and hybrid drive-trains, while also making the best of an agreement it has with the Nissan-Renault Alliance on the development of sedans, small cars and EVs.

As part of that plan, Mitsubishi is readying a new Pajero SUV (also known as the Montero and Shogun), which is the brand's equivalent to the Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser, that will be offered as a hybrid. The series was discontinued in the United States in 2006, but Masuko said the new model might return to the market.

"We would like to bring the next-generation version [of the Pajero] that we are developing, partly because it will have a plug-in hybrid version," said Masuko. The bad news is that Mitsubishi's new strategy doesn't give much love to the brand's livelier sporty side. Asked about what "happened to Mitsubishi's sporty cars such as the Eclipse or the Lancer Evolution", the 64-year old executive answered: "When you look at the global ranking of top-selling Mitsubishi vehicles, at the top are pickups, then the Pajero and Pajero Sport and then the Outlander and Outlander Sport," explained Masuko.

"We want to further enhance our strong suits. That will better secure the future of our brand. This is a simple strategy of back to basics. We have produced sports cars in the past. But we have to prioritize. When you consider Mitsubishi's size and management resources, we can't do everything on our own."

While the Mitsubishi boss didn't outright kill the brand's sports car future, his words are exactly promising, now, are they…

Mitsubishi to Build Pajero Sport Midsize SUV in Russia

While dash-cam videos are all the craze from Russia these days, the world's biggest country in terms of land mass is also a producer of cars – not only from its own brands, but from foreign automakers as well that expect Russian sales to keep rising in the future, even though this year, they're around 4 percent down.


Mitsubishi said that it has commenced local production of its Pajero Sport midsize SUV at the PCMA Rus factory in Kaluga, Russia, a joint-venture assembly plant owned by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).




The Japanese company said demand for SUVs "has been expected to steadily increase in the Russian market", where it initiated production of the previous generation Outlander in April 2010, followed by the all-new Outlander in November last year.


The Pajero Sport was first introduced in Russia in 2008 as an import model, with Mitsubishi having sold 24,000 units through May of 2013. The automaker said it plans to build and sell around 10,000 units of the locally built Pajero Sport and 25,000 of the Outlander annually.

Lamborghini Urus Could Bring Turbocharging to Sant’Agata Bolognese for the First Time

Lamborghini's upcoming Urus SUV, scheduled to launch in 2017, may be the first ever turbocharged model from the Italian sports car manufacturer. As emissions regulations are more stringent around the world, the Urus may be powered by a turbocharged V8 instead of the brand’s traditional naturally-aspirated V10 or V12 engines.

“An SUV could be a turbo engine for the first time for us,” Stephan Winkelmann told Auto Express at the launch of the Huracan. It’s not the first official hint at possible turbocharged Lamborghini engines, as R&D head Maurizio Reggiani earlier said the company would be forced to use turbocharged engines in the next three to four years.

There are no details about the V8 engine, but the most logical option would be the 552hp 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 unit used by parent company Audi AG in the RS6 and RS7. Since the Urus will share the MLB platform with the new Audi Q7 and Bentley SUV, sharing powertrains is a vital prerequisite for profitability.

Design-wise, the production Urus SUV will stay close to the 2012 concept vehicle (pictured), as Lamborghini chief designer Felipo Perini revealed. “In this moment it is very close [to the Urus concept]. We try to avoid concepts that are not feasible – we can’t afford it. The Urus is amazing, the way it moves. Our goal is to preserve this with the production car,” Perini said.

The Urus will feature an aggressive tuning for the suspension, steering and gearbox in order to be the sportiest SUV on the market.

Lamborghini Urus SUV will Reportedly Be Built in Slovakia from 2017

The Lamborghini Urus SUV will be built at VW Group’s factory in Slovakia starting in 2017, according to sources from within the company. The vehicle will be based on a modified version of VW Group’s MLB platform that will also underpin the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, the same sources told German publication Automobilwoche.

The Lamborghini Urus will be built at the Bratislava plant alongside the Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and bodies of the forthcoming Bentley SUV. To prepare for increased SUV production at the plant, VW is said to have installed the group’s largest metal press in Bratislava, which is capable of producing steel and aluminum body panels.

According to the same report, the automaker will increase the use of reinforced aluminum in future SUVs in order to reduce weight and fuel consumption.

The Urus will be Lamborghini’s first SUV since the LM002 of the 1990s. Popularly known as the Rambo Lambo, the Lamborghini LM002 was discontinued in 1993 after a failed effort to make military vehicles.

It is not just VW Group’s luxury brands adding new SUVs to meet demand from wealthy customers from China, Russia and the Middle East; Maserati also plans to introduce the Levante SUV next year, while Rolls-Royce is getting closer to making a decision on whether to enter the segment.

Lamborghini forecasts record global sales in 2015 because of strong demand for the recently launched Huracan. In 2013, Lamborghini delivered 2,121 supercars, up from 2,083 in 2012. The best ever sales year for the Italian brand was 2008 when it sold 2,430 supercars

Lamborghini's Outlandish Egoista Concept Flies Back Home and Goes on Display

Made by Lamborghini as a birthday present to itself and unveiled during the Italian brand's private 50th anniversary party last year, the one-off Egoista is by far the most exotic and radical model to wear the Raging Bull badge of recent memory.

Now, a year later, the Egoista is returning home in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, where it will be permanently displayed at Lamborghini's headquarters, initially in the showroom, and then in the firm's Museum where the general public will have its first opportunity to see the concept up close and in person.

Developed by Walter De Silva, head of Volkswagen Group Design, the mad single-seater (hence the Italian name Egoista that translates to "selfish") supercar takes Lamborghini's aeronautic theme to the extremes, with inspiration coming from the Apache attack helicopter and jet fighters.

The Egoista's body is made from lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum finished in a military-grade, radar-resistant paint to highlight the vehicle's stealth capabilities, while power comes from a tuned version of the Gallardo Mk1's 5.2-liter V10 churning out 600PS (592hp).

Even more impressive is the Egoista's cockpit that features a removable survival cell made of carbon fiber and aluminum along with anti-glare windows in an orange hue.

According to Lamborghini, "in order to leave the vehicle, the driver must remove the steering wheel and leave it on the dashboard, open the dome by actuating an electronic control and climb out of the cockpit with a specific series of movements, as required in fighter jet aircrafts." Not the most practical thing in the world, but just imagine yourself seeing, or better yet, being the one to perform it.

Porsche's New Flat Four Turbo Engines Said to be Offered in 1.6, 2.0 and 2.5 Liter Displacements

The new Macan may have the distinction of offering the first four-cylinder engine in Porsche's range in more than two decades, but the VW Group-sourced 2.0-liter turbo'd unit that is shared with the likes of Seat, Skoda and Audi, is a temporary solution as the Stuttgart carmaker is preparing its very own four-cylinder boxer engines.

The modern turbocharged flat-four will help Porsche go with the times while keeping a distinct character for its powertrains and providing a link with the larger horizontally opposed engines used in the 911.

UK's Car Magazine says it has seen the spec sheet on Porsche's flat-four project that proposes three different versions of the engine:

Porsche 1.6 flat four with 210bhp / ?
Porsche 2.0 flat four with 286bhp / 295lb ft
Porsche 2.5 flat four with 360bhp /347lb ft

The publication, however, notes that there's some uncertainty surrounding the smaller 1.6-liter unit, as the original plan was to use it on the a new ‘baby Boxster’ model, which has reportedly been canned.

The first Porsche models to get the new flat-fours are said to be the (next?) Boxster/Cayman and Cayenne.

*Note: Porsche 911's flat-six pictured

Mazda Confirms 105PS Skyactiv-D 1.5-Liter Diesel Engine for Upcoming Mazda2

Mazda has announced that the next generation Mazda2 (known as the Demio in Japan) will be equipped with the Skyactiv-D 1.5, a new 1.5-liter clean diesel engine that uses the company’s next-generation Skyactiv technology.

The new engine follows the same principles as the Skyactiv-D 2.2 unit available in models such as the Mazda CX-5, more specifically achieving the ideal combustion despite a very low compression ratio - 14.8:1, the lowest compression ratio of any small displacement diesel engine. The four-cylinder mill produces 105PS (104hp) at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm.

Mazda says the engine boasts “outstanding dynamic performance” and linear acceleration all the way up to the rpm range. Although no fuel economy figures were disclosed, the Japanese automaker says the engine features “excellent environmental performance without resorting to expensive NOx aftertreatment systems.”

Mazda reckons the new Mazda2 with the Skyactiv-D 1.5 will “achieve among the highest level test mode fuel economy figures for a vehicle powered solely by combustion engine in registered vehicles excluding hybrid and micro-mini vehicles in Japan, as well as drastically improved practical fuel economy.”

That is also due to Mazda’s i-stop idling stop technology, i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system, and high-efficiency Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission or Skyactiv-MT manual transmission. Compared with the Skyactiv-D 2.2, additional technologies include expanded homogenous lean burn range, further reduction in mechanical resistance, and insulation technology that curbs the increase in cooling loss associated with a smaller engine size.

Thanks to all these technologies, Mazda says the new engine will meet Japan’s Post New Long-term regulations and Euro6 emission standards without having to resort to an expensive NOx aftertreatment system.

Mazda RX-7 Revival Rumors Resurface Again; Could get a 250HP Rotary Engine

The strenuous back and forth on the resurrection tale of Mazda's much-missed Mazda RX-7 series continues with a fresh report from Autoweek magazine.

Swiftly bypassing the misleading title "Is this the new Mazda RX-7?" positioned above a photo under which there's a caption in a tiny font size that reads, "The next Mazda RX-7 could resemble this artist's rendering", the publications mentions that the coupe is still on the cards (and if you must know, the above photo is a rendering from Carscoops' Josh Byrnes).

It says that, while Mazda bosses are officially stating there are "no concrete" plans for a new RX-7, in private conversations executives have admitted that a new coupe with a new rotary engine is on its way and could go on sale by 2016.

The project is reportedly "planned as the MX-5's platform mate", with the roadster model believed to debut at next year's Chicago Auto Show.

And whereas new Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai recently told reporters that a rotary engine is not viable due to low sales numbers, the magazine says the automaker is developing a new generation, naturally-aspirated rotary unit with some 250hp for the next RX-7, which it says, should weigh around 2,800 pounds / 1,270kg, or about the same as the Scion FR-S (2,758 lbs).

Marchionne States that Roadster Produced with Mazda May Not Necessarily Wear Alfa's Badge

We told you about the rumors regarding the Fiat Group having second thoughts on placing an Alfa Romeo badge on the roadster that Fiat and Mazda are jointly developing, with Mazda’s version to be badged as the next-generation MX-5. Now, we have the official word on the matter from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne.

“The brand that we use will be chosen in due time. I don’t believe there was an irrevocable obligation to use an Alfa architecture,” Marchionne said at a press conference at the Geneva auto show. “Maybe we will, maybe we won’t. The important thing is that industrially the project is moving forward,” the executive added.

This latest statement seems to support an earlier declaration from September 2013, when Marchionne said there won’t be any Alfa Romeos built outside of Italy as long as he is boss.

Under the initial January 2013 announcement, the Alfa Romeo roadster was supposed to be built together with the next-gen MX-5 at Mazda’s plant in Hiroshima, Japan, with each car to sport different styling and engines. However, a report from Automotive News Europe said Fiat may consider giving the roadster to the Fiat brand or Abarth performance sub-brand.

Despite uncertainty regarding the brand Fiat will choose to put on the roadster, Marchionne said the Italian carmaker will go forward with the project and that it is currently in discussions with Mazda. “We remain committed to using that architecture with our powertrains,” the executive said.

Mazda Has the Secret to Make Petrol Engines Emit Less CO2 than it Takes to Charge EVs

While it may sound hard to believe, there’s actually some sense to be made in what was said by Mazda, when they announced that next-gen SKYACTIV engines will be so green that they will emit less CO2 than what is emitted in order to charge an electric vehicle.

As you’d imagine, the statement itself is so vague that it could be made to sound true, even if it wasn’t. However, we don’t need to do that, because it can be backed up with actual arguments, according to GreenCarReports.

They explain that if these new engines really do emit 30 percent less than what we’re measuring now, then in some cases, where the local power grid is run by burning coal, for instance, then yes, the statements holds true.

It all depends on how the power is produced, and it should be something to be considered if you want to go out and buy an EV. If all you’re doing is simply moving the source of the pollution to the power plant, that’s obviously not really what the dictionary would call a solution.

However, making such statements official is a bit too much, and Mazda should concentrate on actually reaching its efficiency and emissions goals, instead of telling us that they’re aiming for them years in advance. It plans to increase the current compression ratio of its SKYACTIV engines from 14:1 to 18:1 and try to make the unit run more like a diesel by incorporating elements of homogenous charge-compression ignition (HCCI).

These new SKYACTIV units will make their global debut around the year 2020.

Gasoline-Sniffing Spiders Strike Back, Mazda Recalls 42,000 Mazda6 Sedans in the U.S.

Remember Mazda’s 2011 recall caused by gasoline-sniffing spiders? Well, despite the automaker’s efforts to solve the problem, spiders have still found a way to get into the Mazda6’s fuel tank vent line.

According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Mazda North America Operations is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, through May 2, 2011, and equipped with 2.5L engine. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount of negative pressure.”

If that happens, the emission control system will have a hard time purging the vapors from the canister, with repeated purges causing a stress on the fuel tank that may result in a crack, “potentially leading to fuel leakage and an increased risk of fire.”

Mazda said it is not aware of any fires related to this condition. The recall includes 42,000 Mazda6 sedans with 2.5-liter engines from the 2010-2012 model years.

Following the 2011 recall, Mazda attempted to remedy the problem by adding a spring to the canister vent line to prevent spiders from crawling inside. However, even after the fix, there were nine cases in which tanks were damaged.

The solution engineers have come up with now is a change in the car’s software that would keep tanks from cracking even if a spider web blocks a vent. In other words, the score in the Mazda - spiders match is now 0-2.

Mazda Expects European Sales to Exceed Target in 2014

Mazda expects to beat its sales target for Europe this year as the car market in the region has been seeing a revival in recent months. Mazda’s European deliveries rose 24 percent in the first five months of 2014, more than triple the 6.9 percent full-year growth rate that the Japanese automaker plans in the region. For this year, Mazda is targeting sales of 170,000 vehicles in the region.

In 2013, Mazda’s deliveries rose 18 percent in Europe, in contrast to the market’s 1.8 percent decline, after the introduction of the all-new Mazda6 sedan in late 2012. This year the European car market is recovering from a six-year contraction that culminated in 2013 with the lowest sales in two decades.

Jeff Guyton, head of Mazda’s operations in the region, expects the European car market to grow modestly this year, by about 3 percent. “The industry has bottomed out and, hopefully from next year forward, we get a little bit more constant growth,” Guyton told Bloomberg.

The executive said he wants the Mazda6 to play a more important role in the company’s lineup, which in Europe is dominated by the CX-5 crossover and the Mazda3 compact car. Mazda is also looking into expanding its customer base to increase sales, with additional opportunities for the Mazda6 seen in company car fleets.

2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition Sold Out in 10 Minutes in the U.S.

At the New York Auto Show last month, Mazda launched the MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition and announced that only 100 units would be available in the States. Those were obviously not enough for the big fan base that the little roadster has in the country, as the limited run was sold out in just 10 minutes.

“It is no secret the MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition is a specially-crafted ‘Thank you’ to every MX-5 fan – former, current and hopefully future,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).

“The enthusiasm surrounding the MX-5 since its debut in 1989 has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we sincerely appreciate every single person that has experienced the absolute joy of driving in an MX-5 – whether behind the wheel or as a passenger. Since day one, this vehicle has been a true driver’s car and we hope to continue to build upon its dynamic legacy for generations to come,” he added.

250 registrants accessed the 25th anniversary pre-order microsite, only the first 100 of which were given the opportunity to pre-order an anniversary model. The MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition will arrive in dealerships beginning late summer, as will the rest of the 2015 model-year lineup.

Pricing for the limited edition model starts at $32,205 (excluding a $795 destination charge) for vehicles equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Automatic models start at $32,655. All anniversary models are equipped with a Power-Retractable Hard Top and owners will each receive a custom-crafted Tourneau watch and display winder box with MX-5 and 25th Anniversary logos.

Future Mazda CX-9 to Ditch Current V6 for Turbo, Not Diesel

The only visually unattractive vehicle in the Mazda range, the CX-9 SUV, is thankfully going to go away by 2016, to be replaced by an all-new model that adheres to the brand’s current engineering and design ideals.

It got its power from a Ford-sourced V6 engine, which they’re still using today ever since in-house production of similar units was stopped in the late 1990s. The next-gen model will ditch these altogether, getting its power most likely from “a downsized turbocharged solution,” Masahiro Moro, Mazda’s global head of sales and marketing, told Australia's Caradvice.

He explained that the automaker is shifting its attitude towards turbocharged petrol engines because the technology has improved, though because the CX-9 is mostly a US market model, the chances of also seeing a diesel under its hood are quite slim.

Moro added that, “as Mazda is moving up towards premium territory, at some point in time we will need a six-cylinder,” though “it’s too early, we don’t have a car yet. But we are collecting advice as to V6 or straight six.”

Mazda Has Built More than 1 Million Skyactiv Vehicles Since November 2011

Mazda announced that it has built more than one million units of its three full-Skyactiv vehicles, the CX-5, Mazda6/Atenza and Mazda3/Axela. Production of the three models reached 1,040,000 units at the end of March 2014, two years and four months after production of the first Skyactiv vehicle, the CX-5, began in November 2011.

All three models adopt the full range of Mazda’s Skyactiv technologies which are aimed at improving the efficiency of the base components that dictate the fundamental performance of the automobile, such as the engine and transmission, while reducing vehicle weight.

“At Mazda we put everything into developing our Skyactiv vehicles, and it is because these models have struck a chord with a wide range of customers all over the world that we have reached the one million-unit landmark,” said Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO, Masamichi Kogai.

Mazda is currently building its three full-Skyactiv models in Japan, Mexico, Thailand and China, and selling them in over 100 different countries and regions. By March 2016, the company plans to introduce another five all-new models with improved SkyactivTechnology.

The new generation vehicles that feature Skyactiv Technology also adopt Mazda’s KODO - Soul of Motion design philosophy, which aims to express the strength, beauty and tension, found in the movements of untamed animals.

Porsche Plans to Increase Workforce by 24 Percent in 5 Years

Porsche plans to increase its workforce by about 24 percent in order to support its growth ambitions, with the German automaker unveiling plans to hire about 1,000 employees annually over the next five years. The new employees will be hired primarily outside the automaker’s home market of Germany, said Thomas Edig, Porsche’s head of personnel. At the end of May, the workforce totaled 21,100 people worldwide.

The company’s announcement contrasts with the European auto industry’s reductions in personnel as manufacturers streamline operations following a six-year sales slump. Porsche has hired about 8,400 people since 2010 and has a target to sell a record 200,000 cars in 2015 after launching the Macan compact SUV in April. “We won’t continue to grow along the lines of the past four years, but we do need to expand on the personnel side,” Edig told Bloomberg, adding that new jobs will be in model development, production, sales and servicing.

Following the addition of the Macan compact crossover, the fifth model line in the automaker’s lineup, Porsche may shift its attention to a new model, a supercar to take on Ferrari’s 458 Italia. Porsche CEO Matthias Müller said in February that the company might take a decision on the supercar by mid-2014.

Porsche remains one of the most profitable automaker in the world, with an 18 percent profit margin posted in the first quarter this year, significantly above the company’s target of 15 percent. Porsche was the second-biggest contributor to VW’s earnings, after Audi.

Mazda RX-7/RX-8 Rumored to Arrive in 2017 with All-New 300HP Rotary Engine

Mazda is said to bring back the rotary engine to the global automotive stage when a successor for the RX-7 and RX-8 sports cars launches in 2017. The timing is not random, as in 2017, Mazda will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first car powered by a Wankel rotary engine, the Cosmo Sport.

According to an Autoexpress report, just like the RX-7 and RX-8 before it, the new Mazda sports car will be bigger and more powerful than the Mazda MX-5 roadster. More importantly, it should be more fuel-efficient and reliable than its predecessors, with engineers working to solve the Wankel’s engine typical flaws, high fuel and oil consumption and low torque, without going the turbocharged route.

Engineers are said to be using Mazda’s Skyactiv technology, which favors shedding weight and using high compression ratios to boost power and efficiency from naturally aspirated engines. The new rotary engine is rumored to produce around 300 hp, up from 238 hp in the most powerful RX-8. The RX-8’s engine is expected to be mated to six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions.

In order to save weight, Mazda is likely to return to a classic two-door coupe body style rather than continue the RX-8’s four-door configuration. Discontinued in 2010, the RX-8 tipped the scales at around 1,310 kg (2,888 lbs), 120 kg (264.5 lbs) more than a current Toyota GT 86. Naturally, Mazda’s upcoming sports car will stick to rear-wheel drive, especially since the car is said to be based on an extended version of the new MX-5’s platform, modified to support the more potent powertrain.

It is unclear yet whether Mazda will use the RX-7 or RX-8 nameplates once again or resort to a new RX-9 moniker.