1985 Mitsubishi Starion Reviews

Nissan made an impact at the Shanghai motor show with the surprise reveal of the new HiLux-sized plug-in hybrid Frontier Pro ute.

There are some states where the very existence of unmarked police cars seems almost as illogical as it is cruel, while in others, like Victoria, it’s a surprise that every second vehicle isn’t a cop car in disguise.

In 2025 branding means way more than a hot iron mark scorched into a steer’s backside.It’s about a brand’s personality, reputation and your interactions with it. What it says about you. What it delivers. How it makes you feel. A visual identity, a design style… and a million other things.   And there are automotive brands in the Australian new-car market that have strategically built solid brand equity over many decades.Current market leader, Toyota began dipping its corporate toe into global export waters by shipping cars here in the late 1950s. And other Japanese makers like Honda, Mazda and Nissan followed it in conquering initial hesitancy by steadily investing in strong retail networks, pushing product improvement and focusing on a positive customer experience.Ford has built its global brand around everything from the Model T and its revolutionary assembly line to pumped up muscle cars and victory at Le Mans. While here it embedded itself in the local landscape via a manufacturing presence spanning close to a century and regular victory at Mount Panorama.And more recently, relative newcomers like Hyundai and Kia have moved rapidly from cheap and (mostly) cheerful to innovators that repositioned the concept of value and quality in the local market.All of which led to large pockets of ‘rusted on’ brand loyalty. The concept of ‘Ford and Holden families’ started to diminish from the moment the latter departed the scene in 2020 (if not before), but Toyota’s reputation for value, durability and affordable ownership has seen it maintain a legion of never-say-die fans.Same for Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi and others. But I'd argue a turning point was when, after an initial false start through a private importer in 2013, MG set up as a direct subsidiary in 2017.Great Wall had landed as the first Chinese car brand in the Aussie market in 2009, but MG 2.0 was different. Even if its ‘Since 1924’ positioning stretched credulity, its products were better than expected and pricing was ultra sharp.Sharp enough to encourage budget-focused new-car buyers, even used-car prospects, to give the brand a go.With the introduction of new-generation products in the early 2020s sales took off like a rocket, and it’s here that my ‘That’s a good idea’ theory kicks in.I reckon executives at rival Chinese car brands, keeping an eye on MG’s increasing success Down Under, all had the same ‘good idea’ at the same time. Namely, let’s get into Australia and grab a piece of that action. Hence the subsequent arrival of Chery in 2023, itself a factory-backed restart after an initial import-distribution arrangement broke down back in 2011. Followed by the flood gates opening, with BYD, Deepal, Geely, a ramped up GWM, JAC, LDV, Leapmotor, Smart, Jaecoo, XPeng and Zeekr all jumping in with Aion, Avatar, Jetour, Lynk & Co, Skyworth and others waiting in the wings.Doesn’t matter which category you’re talking about - white goods, sporting equipment, hi-fi - if one fresh competitor enters a mature market, it’s likely to be met with reluctance, even contempt by existing brand loyalists.But if near enough to 20 newcomers blaze into market at the same time, clearly something seismic is going on and it feels like you’d be missing a trick if you didn’t at least investigate the rapidly changing competitive landscape.Give them the benefit of 20/20 hindsight as well as a time machine and it’s not certain all the new brands above would currently be making an Aussie entrance.But multiple triggers have been pulled with retail network deals done, head office staff recruited, parts warehousing set up, service and sales training completed and marketing campaigns launched. So, in a mature market, early movers like MG, Chery and GWM have the advantage and more recent arrivals will need to find a way to win over buyers… fast. And it’s a fair bet the ever-impactful lever marked price will be pulled on a regular basis.Some of the newcomers as well as more than a few existing legacy brands will be forced into a price war. Like it or not, loyalty comes under pressure when the incentive is enticing enough and with a cut-price cage fight likely to take place sooner rather than later not everyone will leave the octagon alive.Stand by for new-car buyers tempted en masse into ‘unbeatable deals’ that mean brand loyalties will be stretched beyond breaking point. The shake out from this looming war of attrition will be huge. 

One of the country’s most popular mid-size SUVs, the Mitsubishi Outlander, has come in for a substantial update including extra in-cabin tech, upgraded multimedia (including audio) and an Australia-specific suspension and steering tune.Scheduled to arrive here in the third quarter of this year, the 2025 model year Outlander’s exterior design has been tweaked around the lower part of the front grille and rear diffuser panel while new alloy wheel designs have also been introduced.The five- and '5+2'-seater’s interior now includes a 12.3-inch multimedia display managing multiple functions including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and in the top-spec Exceed Tourer, a new ‘Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium’ audio system.But arguably the biggest change is an Australian-specific suspension and steering tune, which according to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited is part of a collaborative program which has elevated it to ‘core market’ status with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.Feedback from Australian customers and media fed into the process as well as “early local development drives on-road and at Victoria’s Lang Lang proving ground”.Mitsubishi Australia R&D Engineer Tony Dorrington subsequently spent several weeks on the ground in Japan to finalise the set-up with the MMC team at its Okazaki proving ground. According to Mitsubishi, the aim is “a greater connection for the driver and greater occupant comfort”.MMAL GM of Product Strategy Bruce Hampel said, “As a core market for Mitsubishi Motors globally, Australian market feedback played a significant role in further improving the updated Outlander’s steering, ride and handling, tuning it to further suit Australian conditions and buyer requirements with a new tyre specification.”So far in 2025 the Outlander is running second in medium SUV sales to the all-conquering Toyota RAV4, with the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 in hot pursuit.Mitsubishi says further detail on pricing and final specification will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

In nearly 140 years of the motor vehicle, history records only two Australian cars that truly left their mark on the world – even to this day.

Can you have too much of a good thing? Australians love utes and in recent years we’ve seen more and more brands look to capitalise on that, but it may not be a case of the more the merrier.

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

Polestar Australia and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) have slammed the Coalition’s proposed plan to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) if it wins the federal election in May.

Taiwanese iPhone-maker Foxconn has reportedly secured a deal with Mitsubishi to supply its electric cars for the Australian and New Zealand markets.Sources told British-based publication Reuters the two companies had agreed to partner together without confirming further details, aside from the fact Mitsubishi was looking to outsource EV production to Foxconn for the Australian and New Zealand markets.A further article published by Japanese daily newspaper Mainichi said the cars will be rolled out to Australia next year, with Foxconn’s Chief Strategy Officer for EVs, John Seki, stating its Model B small SUV will serve as the basis for the upcoming Mitsubishi electric car.CarsGuide contacted Mitsubishi Australia’s local operations for confirmation on the plans to which it did not confirm nor deny.Foxconn, which is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and is known largely for producing Apple products, plans to build at least six electric models in the short-term, including SUVs, sedans, pickups and buses.The Pininfarina-designed Model B debuted in production guise at the Geneva Motor Show last year, where it was positioned as a competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3, Jeep Avenger and Kia Niro. Full-scale production is slated for the middle half of this year, though a location remains unconfirmed.We do know, however, the Model B will line up at 4320mm long, 1865mm wide and 1530mm tall, putting it roughly on par with the current Mitsubishi ASX.It will share its basic powertrain components with a Luxgen n7, another Taiwanese EV. That suggests both single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive offerings.Driving range is expected to peak at about 500km under the NEDC cycle thanks to a 60kWh traction battery.Mitsubishi doesn’t currently offer an electric vehicle in its Australian line-up, putting the brand in a precarious position as the New Vehicle Emission Standards moves to penalise car brands that breach carbon emissions targets.The Foxconn line-up serves as a viable solution, particularly after Foxconn’s Seki stressed the brand wants to maintain its positioning as an electronics supplier, rather than selling its products directly to the public.Foxconn has also expressed interest in acquiring a stake in ailing Japanese automaker Nissan, though the company has said its aim would be "cooperation" rather than a fully fledged takeover.

The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) of Australia has condemned a rumoured plan by the Coalition to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions targets under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) scheme, should Opposition Leader Peter Dutton win the federal election in May.According to a report by The Australian, Coalition sources said they have secured the support of the automotive sector in a move that is aimed at undermining Labor’s claims that the cost of petrol and diesel cars would not increase under NVES. The full policy is expected to be detailed closer to election day.EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said the potential policy shift would give manufacturers a free pass to continue selling more pollutive cars, while failing to bring the cost of electric cars and hybrids down for consumers.“Removing penalties in the efficiency standard will mean one thing: Australians will be locked out of the savings that come from switching to an EV - up to $3000 a year that could be in their pocket - simply because the most fuel-efficient vehicles will never reach our shores,” said Delvecchio.The EVC has maintained that the NVES has delivered lower costs for consumers since it was implemented on January 1, with the number of EVs and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models on sale in Australia now exceeding 120 models, including Australia’s first EV priced under $30,000 – the BYD Dolphin.“No penalties means fewer fuel-efficient vehicles and higher running costs," Delvecchio added.“While it's still early days, the NVES is already proving essential in expanding consumer choice, lowering fuel bills and driving competitive pricing for EVs and fuel-efficient cars.”The NVES was devised with the aim of encouraging car brands to progressively sell more fuel-efficient vehicles in Australia or face a $100 fine for every gram of carbon they exceed over the limit for each vehicle sold. Australia is often cited as one of the last developed nations globally – alongside Russia – to adopt a vehicle emissions standard.Emissions targets are set at 143g/km for passenger vehicles and a more lenient 210g/km for light commercial vehicles, which includes Australia’s popular ute segment. Fines aren’t enacted until 2028, with the emissions threshold lowering each year.Despite demand for EVs falling 19.9 per cent in March compared to the same time last year, PHEV sales increased by a staggering 380 per cent off the back of the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption concluding on April 1.Demand for petrol-hybrids, meanwhile, has climbed by 34.8 per cent compared to March last year, while petrol and diesel sales have fallen by 9.8 per over the same period.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which represents several of Australia’s top-selling car brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi and Ford, has been critical of the NVES from its inception.CEO Tony Weber said that falling consumer demand for EVs this year reflected the government’s failure to account for consumer demands when devising the scheme.“We are at a critical point in transitioning to a lower-emission vehicle fleet. But the reality is clear: Australian families and businesses are not shifting in large numbers to EVs,” Weber said.“The Australian automotive industry has long advocated for an ambitious and achievable emissions standard. Once again, questions must be asked about the Government’s modelling and in particular their assumptions about consumer acceptance of new low-emissions technologies.”In a statement on the NVES, Sean Hanley, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations for Toyota, Australia’s top-selling car brand, said it supported the NVES but that the targets would be difficult for manufacturers to meet.“The targets within the NVES are very challenging, particularly for commercial vehicles,” said Hanley.“We have no intention of discontinuing vehicles popular with the Australian public. We also recognise we have a duty to customers who need 'tool of trade' vehicles.”Despite its passenger line-up only consisting of hybrid powertrains, the majority of which sit under the first phase of the NVES’ emission targets, Toyota sells several best-selling SUV and ute models that breach the targets, such as the HiLux, LandCruiser and Prado.Its 22-model rich line-up also only includes one EV, compared to several other Chinese brands that have arrived in Australia more recently and only carry EVs or PHEVs, such as BYD.Mitsubishi Australia, whose President and CEO Shaun Wescott serves as Deputy Chair of the FCAI, echoed support for the NVES but said that consumers would benefit from its reform.The brand sells one of the country’s most popular PHEVs – the Outlander PHEV – but is yet to offer an EV in Australia.“There are notable challenges in aligning the policy’s ambition with market realities and practical constraints. Automotive manufacturers face several hurdles, including market gaps in certain vehicle segments, constraints of designing and bringing new cars to the Australian market, and a slowing consumer uptake of EVs due to concerns about limited charging infrastructure,” said Mitsubishi's Government Relations Manager, Yarik Turianskyi.Ford Australia, which generated 89 per cent of its sales last year from the diesel-powered Ranger ute and Everest SUV, said it would work with whichever government won the election on the NVES, but voiced similar concerns to Toyota and Mitsubishi.“We recognise the importance of an emissions scheme for the country, and we continue to engage with industry and the government to make sure our voice is heard when it comes to creating a supportive ecosystem, and other measures,” said a Ford spokesperson.“We know that NVES will be a challenging transition for the industry and for us. We will do the same with whomever forms the government after the upcoming election.”The Albanese government has said it plans on reviewing the NVES periodically from 2026.For Julie Delvecchio, ensuring penalties remain for car brands who breach the targets is integral to Australians realising long-term cost-of-living relief, while ensuring the transport sector meets its government-mandated targets of net zero by 2050.“Without a strong fuel efficiency standard, Australia risks once again becoming the world's dumping ground for fuel-guzzling, polluting vehicles. Some manufacturers may prefer a toothless policy, but Australians would pay the price for such short-sighted changes.”