Celebrates with release of a special edition Lancer and a new, all-electric vehicle
While quietly making cars to be rebranded in North America for decades, Mitsubishi is now celebrating ten years in Canada under its own banner, and things have never looked better for the company.
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN) has enjoyed increasing sales since its 2002 debut, thanks in part to its unprecedented warranty – 10 years or 160,000 km powertrain coverage – and to its steady release of new vehicles. In keeping with that, to help celebrate its tenth year in Canada, Mitsubishi is now unveiling two new vehicles. The first is a 10th Anniversary Lancer which comes standard with no-charge power sunroof, rear spoiler, fog lights, 5-spoked alloy wheels, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, all which are normally upgrades. The second new release may may be the most forward-looking of Mitsubishi’s growing line-up thus far: the all-electric i-MiEV.
A 5-door hatchback, the i-MiEV (MiEV is an acronym for Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) has been produced in Japan since 2009, introduced in other countries since then, and finally arrived in Canada this year. While Toronto was one of Mitsubishi’s targeted cities for the first wave of sales of the i-MiEV, the second wave is expanding the scope to include more dealerships in other regions. Newmarket Mitsubishi is one of the dealerships now offering this all-electric option.
“Not just any Mitsubishi dealership can sell them,” explains Newmarket Mitsubishi GM and Operating Partner Ron Turcotte. “You have to have the right facilities and training.”
With a range of 155 km – effectively making it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in Canada – the i-MiEV is the perfect commuter car: take it to work and back, charge it up while you sleep, and you’re set. You can even set a timer to charge it during the lowest rate times in order to make the vehicle an even cheaper alternative to something you’d have to fill up at the gas station.
Mitsubishi has made impressive enough headway with this electric technology that they’re already working to apply it to their existing family of vehicles in order to offer hybrid options in coming years.
The i-MiEV is currently being offered in two trim levels: $32,500 gets you the base model, and the premium model is $35,900, adding such perks as touch-screen HDD navigation, alloy wheels, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, premium audio system, Bluetooth 2.0 hands-free cell phone interface, streaming audio, USB input with voice control, and an upgraded interior. And if all of that wasn’t enough, you also get $8221 back in rebates from the government for buying either of these all-electric car; a fee that can be taken off immediately at the dealership, which puts either option well within an affordable range for both new and experienced car buyers.
Newmarket Mitsubishi knows that all-electric cars are still a new phenomenon; that people are just starting to become informed about them and experienced with them. To help spread the word about just how impressive these vehicles are, Ron and his team are planning an upcoming blitz of public spaces – malls, grocery stores, fitness places, etc. – in order to invite people to take no obligation, on-site test drives for themselves. Keep an eye out for a demonstration near you, or call Newmarket Mitsubishi today at 905-853-0099 to arrange an i-MiEV test drive and see for yourself what you’ve been missing.
Written by Reay Jespersen
