The new Mitsubishi Mirage sub-compact model has been officially confirmed for Canada while the Japanese automaker is also contemplating the launch of the five-door hatchback in the U.S.
According to Mitsubishi’s annual presentation on full-year sales and financial results for the fiscal year 2011 that ended on March 31, 2012, the Mirage will go on sale in North America in the first quarter of 2013 (FY2012/4Q).
Mitsubishi spokesperson Roger Yasukawa told Autonews that the Mirage will be sold in Canada but noted that U.S. sales are still “under consideration” and that “it’s still 50-50 right now”.
There are a couple of reasons why Mitsubishi is holding back on its decision over the U.S. launch of the Mirage, the first being its tight marketing budget as the company plans to introduce the new Outlander.
“Our concern from a timing standpoint is that with the Outlander coming out next year, not too far from a possible launch of the Mirage, we have to really think about resources,” Yasukawa told the news site.
The second issue has to do with the Mirage itself as the five-door model was designed as an affordable city car primarily for emerging markets.
“There are competitors out there that are still new and most of them have just launched or are coming out soon,” said Yasukawa. “It’s still a young segment that’s growing in the U.S., and we have to account for that in our decision.”
The Mirage is closer in size to the Chevrolet Spark than to the Ford Fiesta as it measures 146-inches (3,710mm) long, 65.5 inches (1,665 mm) wide and 58.7 inches (1,490 mm) tall. In other markets it’s offered with a choice of two three-cylinder gasoline engines with a displacement of 1.0-liter and 1.2-liters.
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