The front-end design of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander will be mimicked on a range of the brand’s other models over the next 12 months.
CarAdvice has learned the new ‘dynamic shield’ style language that debuted on the Outlander medium SUV at the 2015 New York auto show will find its way to the Mirage, ASX and Lancer over the coming year.
The news of the facelift to the Mirage isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s the first we’ve heard of a styling change for the Lancer, and it also suggests the much-anticipated replacement for the ASX may actually be a heavy facelift instead of an all-new car (as the XR-PHEV II concept (pictured below) and all the information around that car would have you believe).
Mitsubishi Motors North America executive vice president, Don Swearingen, confirmed the plans to expand the new family face across the model range.
“This new brand identity that you see on this car will carry over. In the US, after this vehicle we’re going to first go with the Outlander Sport (ASX),” he said.
“So, later this year – production begins in October, it’ll be in the stores in November/December – and you will see a similar front design change,” Swearingen confirmed.
“Then for us in the States, in the February/March timeframe, it will come to the Mirage. So you will see it. We don’t offer the [Mirage] sedan model here, but we will be offering that starting next year. And you’ll see the new styling elements carry over to those models.”
As for Lancer – the small sedan and hatch which has been on sale since 2007 – the model will soldier on for some time yet. As we reported last month, Mitsubishi’s global chief has confirmed that development of a new model has been indefinitely shelved.
“We have a Lancer, which is of course different to the Mirage,” Swearingen said. “We still plan to have the Lancer here in the US – we are going to make modifications and changes to it.
“We’re making some front-end changes this year on that – not as drastic as this, but we are making modifications,” he said.
Swearingen confirmed that there are still plans to offer a replacement for the Lancer, but admitted that previous talks with Renault and Nissan over a joint-venture small model have ceased.
“I know we’re working on it. As many people have discussed, we were in a partnership discussion with another OEM. Those talks broke down,” Swearingen said.
“We’re still looking for a strategic partner to work with on that.
“But it’s a big part of our sales in the US, and we’re committed to keeping the car here. We understand it’s long in the tooth, but clearly it’s a great seller for us, and continues to be,” he said.
