Many automakers are busy delving into their archives and digging grand names for the previous, attaching them to new automobiles, and tapping into our sepia-tinged reminiscences.
Mitsubishi isn’t any completely different, with the Grandis the newest nameplate to be exhumed and repurposed. Whereas the unique automotive was a mid-size individuals mover that, in Australia not less than, changed the Nimbus, the brand new model is an SUV.
In contrast to the primary technology automotive, which was very a lot a Mitsubishi designed and constructed product, the brand new one is a repurposed Renault Symbioz (backside).
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The Symbioz sits above the Captur in Renault’s SUV vary. The 2 share the identical wheelbase, and are virtually an identical from the B-pillar ahead, however the Symbioz has redesigned rear doorways, an extended rear overhang, and sharper rear-end styling.
All of that is carried over to the Grandis, however the Mitsubishi model has a singular fornt bumper that includes a gloss black single-frame grille design with chrome slats up prime.
Squint and the grille silhouette, if not the detailing, is bit like Lexus’s spindle grille. Headlights and the distinctive S-shaped driving lights are all carried over from the Symbioz.
Across the aspect Mitsubishi has fitted its personal Hybrid EV badges to the door, and the alloy wheels appear to be distinctive too.
On the again there’s a modified tailgate with flatter surfacing, and wider tail-lights incorporating modified graphics. The bumper has been tweaked ever-so-slightly to include faux vents.
Mitsubishi has changed the entire chromed decrease physique highlights with gloss black counterparts to provide the Grandis a barely sportier look than the Renault.
Inside, the one change of be aware is the airbag cowl on the steering wheel, which now has a round design with a three-diamond badge within the center. Forward of this can be a 7.0- or 10.0-inch instrumentation show.
A ten.4-inch portrait touchscreen show sits in the midst of the dashboard. It runs Android Automotive, and comes with Google Maps, the Play Retailer and different companies inbuilt.
The drivetrain vary has been narrowed down for the Grandis. The bottom providing is a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol with 103kW, and the selection of a six-speed handbook or seven-speed automated dual-clutch transmission.
For these wanting a bit extra energy and effectivity, there’s a 1.8-litre hybrid with 115kW and a ‘multi-mode’ transmission. Pedal to the steel it’s able to finishing the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
Following on from the Clio-based Colt, and Captur-based ASX, the Grandis is the third thinly-disguised Renault-based mannequin Mitsubishi has launched in Europe over the previous few years.
As a part of reworked Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance introduced in 2020, Mitsubishi had initially deliberate to withdraw utterly from Europe to concentrate on its core markets of the Asia and Oceania.
Not lengthy later, although, the automaker modified course, deciding to remain on the Continent, and use rebadged Renault fashions to flesh out its vary of fashions.
Up to now the one rebadged Renault to be bought in Australia as a Mitsubishi was the short-lived Specific. The Renault Trafic-based Specific debuted in 2020, and was axed in 2022.
Mitsubishi Australia has confirmed it should deliver the Captur-based ASX to those shores later this 12 months as a alternative for the ASX that was launched in 2010, and axed domestically initially of the 12 months resulting from native security requirements.
This marks a reversal of roles for the ASX, which in its first technology was restyled, and bought because the Peugeot 4008 and Citroen C4 Aircross as a part of a take care of French rivals the PSA Group, which is now a part of Stellantis.
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