Japan Quake Has Minimal Impact on March Sales

Tales of shortages of Japanese imports might have sent customers running to snap up Toyota Prius hybrids, but buyers of almost every brand were signing up for new cars in March.

Japanese automakers hit hard by the quake, such as Nissan, actually turned around a record-setting March. It was Nissan’s best sales month in history, climbing 27% from March 2010.

Other Japanese automakers saw significant increases in overall sales:

• Mitsubishi +39%
• Mazda +33%
• Nissan +27%
• Honda +19%
• Subaru +13%

Toyota was one of the lone brands and the only automaker to see sales decrease versus March 2010. The dip of more than 9.2% for the company is especially severe because last March the company was caught up in a scandal that involved high-profile recalls for stuck accelerator pedals.

Toyota, Nissan Extend Delays on Japanese-Built Vehicles

As Japanese automakers continue to ascertain whether they can resume vehicle production in Japan or not, we get word today that Toyota and Nissan will both extend plant shutdowns.

Toyota has decided to extend the closure of its vehicle-producing plants in Japan until Tuesday; we reported on Monday that the automaker originally planned to keep its plants closed through today. Toyota will, however, reopen seven plants Thursday that build replacement parts. On Monday, the automaker will begin to build parts that will be exported to Toyota assembly plants outside Japan.

Nissan will resume production of vehicles, like the Nissan Murano, for a few days starting Thursday to clear supplies at the assembly plant, but it’s uncertain if it can keep those plants open due to Japan’s damaged transportation and energy networks.

Mitsubishi and tiremaker Bridgestone have reopened plants today, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Mitsubishi builds the Lancer, Outlander and Outlander Sport in Japan.

Below are some important bulletins from each automaker, along with the vehicles they produce in Japan:

Mitsubishi to Kill Eclipse, Galant, Endeavor

Mitsubishi has been foundering in the U.S. for some time. It hasn’t fielded competitive products in many segments for years. The initial success of the redesigned Lancer compact car notwithstanding, the company hasn’t generated much interest from consumers.

That’s led the automaker to make a drastic shift in its product planning. 

It announced yesterday that the Eclipse coupe, Galant sedan and Endeavor SUV would be phased out of the lineup by 2013. While the idea of killing those slow-selling products seems significant, 2013 is a long way away. It seems that these models will still be on sale as new units for the next two years. 

What’s Mitsubishi going to replace them with? Small cars as well as electric vehicles.

EV Startups Fail to Deliver on Promises

In 2007, the automotive industry was on the brink of a revolution. Large, established car companies were reeling from the gas price spike and, for the first time in decades, small startup automakers emerged, this time to build electric cars.

Some three years later, the major automakers have delivered on their promised electric vehicles, but most of the new automakers have run into trouble.

The Wheego — a Chinese-sourced, California-assembled electric car that can go 100 miles on a charge — has been delayed, according to AllCarsElectric.com. The Wheego LiFe was supposed to go on sale (with a starting price $32,995) in December, but it's held up because it's awaiting final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The automaker already has 500 orders and 32 dealerships lined up, but if there are more delays, will the interest in this EV remain?

Mitsubishi to Unveil Small-Car Concept in March

Mitsubishi will unveil a concept vehicle at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show in March that could point toward a new small car for the brand.

The Mitsubishi Concept Global Small will be an affordable and highly fuel-efficient offering, the automaker says. The concept will sport a 1.0-liter and 1.2-liter engine and feature regenerative braking, an idling stop mechanism and a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Judging from the one rendering the company provided, the concept looks pretty polished – almost ready for production. Mitsubishi says we will see something like this in its global lineup by March 2012. No word yet if it’s coming to the U.S.

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 BMW 335is, 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 2011 Honda Accord

Editors Kelsey Mays and David Thomas discuss the three distinct models listed above in the first official podcast of 2011. Start the new year off right by learning what these vehicles do well and what they don’t do so well. And yes, even the Accord has its flaws.

Download via iTunes
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Cars.com Reviews 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Mitsubishi’s 2011 Outlander Sport is yet another entry into the booming small-crossover segment that includes the Nissan Rogue and Hyundai Tucson. The Outlander Sport has distinctive-enough styling, is reasonably equipped and pretty sporty, too, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. But it has one major Achilles' heel: an atrociously loud and sluggish powertrain. Is that a deal breaker? Continue reading to find out.

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review 

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Video

We’ve already seen and tested the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, but that was the Japanese version of the electric vehicle. The U.S. version is slightly larger, comes with more safety features and obviously puts the steering wheel on the left side of the car. While these changes allow the car to be sold on in the U.S., the EV will compete against a similarly priced Nissan Leaf when it gets here, according to Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder.

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV: Up Close

A few months ago we evaluated a Japanese-spec version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and now Mitsubishi has introduced a version modified for the U.S. market. How different are they?

More L.A. Auto Show Coverage

On the inside, they look the same. The materials are of decent quality but won’t win any awards. The dimensions are mostly the same, too, with the same seat track and snug but usable dimensions. The main difference is a width increase of about 4.3 inches, both to the track – the distance between left and right wheels – and the body. It might not sound like much, but geometrically speaking, this is a lot for axle length, and it should make for a more stable car. The Japanese version definitely felt top-heavy.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV: First Look

• Competes with: 2011 Nissan Leaf 
• Looks like: A Tata Nano  
• Drivetrain: 63-hp, permanent magnet synchronous motor with a single-speed reduction gear transmission 
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2011 

As Mitsubishi prepares for the launch of its electric i-MiEV in America, the automaker finally unveiled some photos of the U.S. version. The only major difference between the U.S. and Japanese electric vehicle is the added safety features.

The American i-MiEV features new front and rear bumpers that meet federal safety standards. Two front and four rear reflectors are also new.

Bolstered fender flares and new wheel designs give the i-MiEV a larger appearance to help persuade “bigger-is-better” American car buyers into the driver’s seat. Dual-stage air bags, which can control deployment force, a tire pressure monitoring system and electronic stability control also come standard to meet federal mandates.