Mitsubishi swaps Mirage for Attrage

MITSUBISHI has confirmed that the long-rumoured Mirage sedan will go into production, but when it launches in Thailand mid-year it will have a new name – the Attrage.

Mitsubishi will produce the Attrage, a combination of the words attractive and Mirage, at its Laem Chabang plant in Thailand alongside the Mirage hatch that went on sale in Australia in January.

The tiny Mirage-based sedan will go on sale in Thailand in July before any other global market, with a likely Australian berth in the first quarter of 2014.

It is unclear whether Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMA) will keep the new name or if it will revert to the Mirage nameplate when it eventually launches locally.

Powering the Attrage is the same 1.2-litre MIVEC engine as found in the Mirage with a choice of five-speed manual gearbox or CVT and fuel use in the range of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

Based on the G4 sedan concept that was revealed at the Shanghai motor show last month, the Attrage is clearly linked to the Mirage in design, but features a redesigned nose with a larger grille, bigger head-lights and restyled front bumper.

Mitsubishi said in a statement that the Attrage features a class-leading turning circle of 4.8 metres and “sleek aerodynamics, with a dynamic character line which kicks up towards the rear.”

It won’t be the first time a car-maker changes the name of the sedan version of a popular hatch in the sub-compact class, with Honda naming its Jazz-based sedan the City and Nissan going with Almera for its Micra-based offering.

Several car-makers currently offer a sub-compact sedan at a premium over the hatch on which it is based.

Holden’s Barina CD sedan is $500 more than the hatch as is Honda’s City VTi over its Jazz donor car, and Nissan’s Almera ST is $3500 dearer than the Micra ST on which it is based.

Not all manufacturers charge more for a boot in this class with Ford’s Fiesta LX hatch and sedan costing exactly the same price.

MMA manager of corporate communications Caitlin Beale said it was too early to confirm pricing and specifications for the Attrage, but added that “it will be competitive for its segment.”

Sales of the Mirage have picked up since it launched in January and it was the fourth best-selling light car under $25,000 in Australia last month, beating the popular Holden Barina and Suzuki Swift.

Ms Beale said that the local arm of Mistubishi is more than happy with the sales of the re-born hatch so far.

“Mirage is a great little car for its price bracket offering high levels of spec for very affordable pricing,” she said.