By Ryan Beene of AutoWeekMitsubishi says its new Mirage minicar will get 40 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
Mitsubishi estimates that the Mirage, which is roughly the size of a Chevrolet Spark, will get 37 mpg city/44 mpg highway when equipped with a continuously variable transmission. The five-door hatchback will be powered by 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine producing 74 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque.
Mitsubishi unveiled the Mirage Thursday at the New York Auto Show.
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The Mirage's fuel economy figures await U.S. EPA approval. If approved, they should help Mitsubishi in its quest to refashion itself as an eco-friendly auto brand.
The Thailand-built Mirage will be the first all-new vehicle added to Mitsubishi's lineup since the 2011 debut of the Outlander Sport small crossover. In 2012, Mitsubishi posted a 27 percent decline in U.S. sales — the largest decline for any automaker in the United States — reflecting the cancellation of the Endeavor crossover, Eclipse coupe, Spyder convertible and Galant sedan.
Standard features on the Mirage include seven airbags, tire pressure monitoring system and a hill-start assist function on models with a CVT.
Mirage pricing will be announced later. The Mirage is sold for the equivalent of about $12,500 in Japan.
