Mitsubishi Motors Increases Exposure at ArenaBowl XXII

Mitsubishi Motors took over New Orleans during ArenaBowl XXII Championship Weekend on July 26-27, increasing fan interaction through various events and promotions, and handing out the keys to three new vehicles in the process.

Mitsubishi Motors presented Philadelphia Soul QB and ArenaBowl MVP Matt D’Orazio with the keys to a 2009 Solar Yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT after he led his team to a 59-56 victory over the defending champion San Jose SaberCats, completing 26 of 43 pass attempts for 302 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing for a score.

Watching the game from the stands was 25-year-old Minnesota resident Ryan Boen, who received a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart after winning the Grand Prize of the Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl Sweepstakes. Meanwhile, local Louisiana resident Robbie Rhodes won the Hole-in-One challenge at the ArenaBowl Golf Invitational, taking home a 2009 Solar Yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT as well.

On July 26th, fans rocked out in the French Quarter at the Mitsubishi Motors ArenaBowl Extravaganza concert, as local musicians opened up the show for two-time Grammy winner Huey Lewis and The News. Mitsubishi Motors also held a child booster seat awareness event in conjunction with non-profit organization Kids Safety First at the AFL Kid Zone, offering parents important safety information and distributing coupons redeemable for free booster seats at local Mitsubishi car dealerships.

Mitsubishi Celebrates Owners Day

Mitsubishi Motors North America held its fourth annual Mitsubishi Owners Day celebration (MOD) at its Cypress Headquarters on July 19. It was a “do not miss” day packed with more than 1,500 people and 750 Mitsubishi cars, ranging from Eclipses, to Evolutions, to Lancers and everything in between.

There was more than enough to do and see for people of all ages, including the introduction of the 2009 Lancer Ralliart, which captivated event attendees and was coined as the highlight of the day. Other attractions included the Dyno Challenge, won by Ka Wong with his 2006 Evo MR with 482 WHP @31 psi, and the Best of Show competition, won by Archie Concon with his 2000 Mirage/Evo conversion.

The day also contributed to some positive causes. Working in conjunction with national non-profit organization Kids Safety First, and with the help of a certified child safety seat technician from the California Highway Patrol, MMNA donated 100 booster seats to families that participated in a safety demonstration. MOD also generated $2,300 in proceeds that were donated to the Cypress Police Department’s DARE program.

Lancer Wins 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award

Owners praise the 2008 Lancer! Based on approval ratings ranging from vehicle operation, comfort, and safety to overall experience, Owners have recognized the 2008 Lancerwith the Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the compact segment, as surveyed by AutoPacific®. Scored entirely by Owner feedback, the '08 Lancer was accredited with high ratings from recent Lancer Owners.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Named One Of Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 By Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

The Mitsubishi Lancer has been named a 2008 Coolest New Car Under $18,000 by the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. With versatility and technology becoming growing trends in the under-$18,000 segment, the next-generation 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer offers consumers an economic entry-level package that combines rally-inspired performance and handling features with cutting-edge in-car technology.

In choosing the 2008 list of Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000, the kbb.com editors used the same set of criteria that many consumers use in examining this category: safety, fuel economy, interior size, comfort, technology, the vehicle's fun-to-drive-factor, as well as the decidedly subjective "cool" factor. Kbb.com's editorial staff commented:

"The Mitsubishi Lancer's aggressive, rally-inspired looks belie a starting price of less than $15,000. The low cost of entry will leave many buyers with enough extra cash to add cool options like a hard-drive navigation system, an impressive premium audio system or perhaps a stylish spoiler."

The Mitsubishi Lancer is available in three levels of trim and driving dynamics - DE, ES and the sport-tuned GTS - starting at a price of $13,990. For the 2009 model year, the GTS is equipped with a new 2.4-liter 168-hp aluminum DOHC MIVEC 4-cylinder engine. For more information about the Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000, visit www.kbb.com/coolcars08.

Mitsubishi Motors Announces U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet Test

Tetsuro Aikawa, Managing Director in charge of Product Development Group Headquarters, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, announced at the New York International Auto Show that fleet testing of the zero-emissions i MiEV electric vehicle would begin in the U.S. this fall.

The i MiEV electric prototype vehicle is powered by a durable 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck that is linked to a 47-kW permanent-magnet electric motor, promising up to 80 miles of driving on a single charge.

Also unveiled at the show was the i MiEV Sport concept. The i MiEV Sport concept is a coupe variation on the i MiEV with a 'fastback' roofline, maximizing the sporty possibilities of the electric vehicle package.

Mitsubishi Motors Presents New 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse to Winner of Champs Sports “Bowl Bingo” Promotion

Mitsubishi Motors North America and Ocala Mitsubishi handed the keys to a new 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse over to Florida resident Maryann Goniea, after she was selected as the winner of the Champs Sports “Bowl Bingo” promotion, held during the Champs Sports Bowl last December.

News of the prize couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Goniea family is still recovering from losing their home and vehicle to last February’s deadly Central Florida tornadoes that slammed into their hometown of The Villages.

Ocala Mitsubishi General Manager Steve Lightbody and Randy Sterling, Regional Dealer Advertising Manager, MMNA, greeted the Goniea’s as they arrived to pick up their new vehicle. In addition to the Grand Prize Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Goniea’s also received a $250 gift card redeemable for apparel from Champs Sports retail stores.

The Champs Sports “Bowl Bingo” interactive promotion gave football fans a chance to fill out Bingo Cards that featured boxes with specific plays and happenings from the Champs Sports Bowl.

New Mitsubishi Motors Production and Concept Vehicles on Display at 2008 Auto Shows

Mitsubishi Motors introduced two new vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the reveal of the Lancer Ralliart, the latest addition to the Lancer family lineup of production vehicles, and the Concept-RA, a new sports coupe concept vehicle.

Powered by a new 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC intercooled and turbocharged engine that boosts an estimated 235 horsepower, the Lancer Ralliart offers a medium between the Lancer GTS and the Lancer Evolution. Set to arrive at dealerships in the summer of 2008, the Lancer Ralliart will also feature a Twin Clutch-SST gearbox and a fulltime 4WD driveline with Active Center Differential (ACD).

The futuristic Concept-RA combines the performance features of a Lancer Evolution, such as Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) with new Active Steering and added Active Suspension Control, with the environmentally friendly technology of a clean diesel engine. The Concept-RA is also equipped with a Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission and is supplemented by muscular wheel arches that house 21-inch wheels and an exposed engine cover that highlights the presence of the new powerful, clean diesel engine.

Mitsubishi Motors North America Donates D.A.R.E. Car to Local Police Department

Cypress, CA-based Mitsubishi Motors North America continued its collaboration with the Cypress Police Department with a donation of a 2008 Lancer at the Cypress City Council Meeting on January 28th.

The Lancer will be used as a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) vehicle to help supplement the police department's educational programs and community efforts to keep kids off illegal drugs, decrease membership in gangs, and detour violent behavior in kids. The D.A.R.E. Lancer will be used in various programs in the Cypress/Savannah Elementary School District, including the spring D.A.R.E. graduations and the Cypress Community Festival 5 & 10 K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 26th.

Over the course of its 15-year relationship with the Cypress Police Department, MMNA has made several vehicle- and proceed-donations in support of various community initiatives.

Mitsubishi Motors and Kids Safety First Extend National Booster Seat Awareness Initiative to Various Auto Shows

On January 13, Mitsubishi Motors North America kicked off its 2008 support of the Kids Safety First child booster seat awareness program with a demonstration and free booster seat certificate giveaway at the Silicon Valley Auto Show in San Jose, California.

Certified car seat technicians from the San Jose Police Department were on hand to conduct demonstrations, while Arena Football League MVP and San Jose SaberCats QB Mark Grieb contributed to the effort by signing autographs. Auto show attendees that participated in the demonstrations received free booster seat certificates redeemable at three local Mitsubishi dealerships.

MMNA and Kids Safety First will continue this effort and hold similar events in upcoming 2008 auto shows in Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and other markets.

Mitsubishi Motors Renews Sponsorship with the Arena Football League; Presents San Jose QB Grieb with New Outlander

Mitsubishi Motors North America has renewed as the Official Automobile Manufacturer of the Arena Football League's 2008 regular season and will become the Exclusive Automobile Manufacturer of the 2008 AFL playoffs.

New this year is the AFL-themed interactive display being showcased at select auto shows in 2008, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland and Dallas, and AFL player appearances at select shows. The display will allow visitors to pose for a picture as if they were an AFL player or with a specific team jersey, and give consumers a chance to download their photo at www.MitsubishiFans.com.

MMNA will again present the ArenaBowl Most Valuable Player with a new Mitsubishi automobile. After leading his team to a 55-33 over the Columbus Destroyers and being named MVP last July, San Jose SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb was presented with a new Outlander at Serramonte Mitsubishi in Colma, CA.

THE 2008 DAKAR CANCELLED BY THE ORGANISERS FOR SECURITY-RELATED REASONS

The organisers of the 2008 Dakar, Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), today confirmed at a press conference in Lisbon that the decision had been taken to cancel this year's rally which was due to start from the Portuguese capital tomorrow morning, Saturday, January 5.

An official statement issued by A.S.O. stated that: "After different exchanges with the French government - in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - , and based on their firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally..."

The statement referred to "direct threats launched directly against the race", saying that "no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.".

"A.S.O.'s first responsibility," it continued, "is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators. A.S.O. therefore reaffirms that the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally."

The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team, Valeo, BFGoodrich and all its partners fully respect the decision announced today by A.S.O. "It goes without saying that it is a huge shame that the 30th edition of the Dakar will not take place," declared Team Director Dominique Serieys. "After months of hard work and preparation, we were obviously looking forward to the challenge of building on our record of 13 Dakar victories with the Pajero/Montero which has won the last seven events. We also trust that the support for Africa initiatives in which we first became involved last year will continue to bear fruit. We had the privilege of making a financial contribution to SOS Sahel International yesterday here in Lisbon, and we were also due to present a cheque to the Dakar Solidario Fundation. This ceremony will go ahead as planned."

Mitsubishi Outlander Recognized by DogCars.com

DogCars.com has named the Mitsubishi Outlander winner of the 2007 DogCar of the Year Award for Best Small-Sized SUV.

Created by Good Morning America veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and syndicated columnist Gina Spadafori to offer a car-buying resource for dog-lovers, DogCars.com made the announcement as part of its first-ever DogCars of the Year awards. The "ample, well-designed dog space", "Labrador Black Pearl color", and "fun and comfortable" features secured the victory for the Outlander.

Based on DogCars.com's rating system that accounts for elements such as cargo space, off-road performance and easily removable seats, the Mitsubishi Outlander received a five-paw rating.

Mitsubishi Raider Finishes Third in Grueling 2007 SCORE Baja 1000

Mitsubishi Motorsports driver Dan Fresh and the Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider completed yet another impressive performance at the prestigious 2007 SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race in November, finishing third in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In its 40th year, the Baja 1000 saw a near-record 424 vehicles compete in 34 Pro and Sportsman classes, ranging from cars and trucks to motorcycles and ATVs.

Fresh, winner of the 2006 Baja 1000 in the Stock Mini class, was the only solo driver in his class this year, completing a grueling 1,296-mile course that began in Ensenada on November 13th over an exhausting 42.5 hours. In a course that proved to be more difficult than last year's 1,047-mile excursion, the Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider unofficially crossed the finish line at 7:21:05 AM on November 15th.

As a testament to the Raider's toughness, the only major service required throughout the two days was changing out a ball joint as a precaution.

Legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Wins Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award in the Fun to Drive Category

Popular Mechanics announced the winners of its 2008 Automotive Excellence Awards in its December '07 issue, naming the all-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution the most fun to drive vehicle on the road. The magazine's automotive editors selected the Evolution for the Fun to Drive award based on its "sporty, fast and agile" nature with a "refined, more sophisticated look," dubbing the vehicle "a thrill to drive."

The next-generation Lancer Evolution features several new updates that set it apart from its predecessors, including an all-new 295-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and new six-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission. The Evolution also comes available with the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) dynamic handling system, which regulates drive torque at each wheel by controlling a network of dynamic technologies: Active Center Differential (ACD) 4-wheel drive, Active Yaw Control (AYC) rear differential, Active Stability Control (ASC) and Sport ABS brakes.

Each year, Popular Mechanics' automotive editors drive more than 100 new cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles to nominate the top new models in ten specific categories. The award was presented to Mike Evanoff, Manager of Product Strategy for Mitsubishi Motors North America during a ceremony at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 14th.