News just came in from Mitsubishi Motors North America that the reskinned 2021 Mirage and Mirage G4 will be coming to the U.S. and Canada. Despite the company talking about pulling back in certain markets, Mitsubishi has plans for North America and it includes the strong-selling Mirage.
Twelve years ago when we started Subcompact Culture on January 23, 2008, we were witnessing the growth of the small car segment in the U.S.—something that many thought would never happen. After all, it was long thought that Americans didn't buy small cars. But 12 years, 5 months, and 27 days after starting Subcompact Culture, we're witnessing the segment's extinction. As much as I try not to sound fatalist here, we are witnessing the small car die-off.
There's just something about getting out there with the car you got, having a blast, and going racing! As you may have seen with the recent Fiat 126p post, you don't have to be fast to slide it into the corners and go rallying.
The Great Recession of 2007–2009 changed the automotive landscape. For a time, people's cash flow was lower and many traded in their big SUVs and trucks for smaller, more compact cars. Although the true impact the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be seen on North American economies, it's not looking great.
We love rally cars. But I have to say that my favorite rally car in the world may be the little Fiat 126p. These were produced under licence by Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) under Polski Fiat (Polish Fiat) from 1973 to 2000—yes, nearly 30 years.
As you might guess, they were slow (24 hp from the larger 652cc engine), basic, and by the way, rear engined. Global production of the car was 4,673,655 units: 1,352,912 in Italy, 2,069 in Austria by Fiat-Steyr and 3,318,674 in Poland, so to say there are a few around would be a gross understatement.
As you well know, people will race anything, and that is doubly true with regards to rally. And sure enough, the 126p has become a great little (and slow) rally car, but it is my favorite rally car. They can be driven flat out, can be easily flung around, and you know they can't be terribly cheap. They all seem to sound identical. In the video below, I'm certain you could just have one audio track that goes nonstop. They are so entertaining to watch.
I completely and utterly love these. Have you ever owned one? We'd love to hear about it in the comments section.
There's been a long discussion about how small car sales are waning and how larger vehicle sales are gaining in popularity in the U.S. Heck, many thought 2019 would not be a strong car sales year for all cars. Well, the U.S. sales were down, but there were still 17 million vehicles sold (that five years with more than 17 million car sold, FYI). Pretty dang good. How'd the smaller cars do? Let's look.
I was having lunch with a good friend yesterday and we got talking about Suzuki cars. He told me how much he liked the new Ignis which he saw in Mexico. I told him I saw them in Iceland last summer. I then told him I am in love with the Suzuki Hustler, a small, tall kei car. He said, you know you can buy one in the U.S. right? Wait, what?
Mitsubishi Motors debuted its Thai-made 2021 Mirage (aka Space Star) and Mirage G4 (aka Attrage) in Thailand yesterday. The new subcompact hatchback and sedan receive an exterior and interior refresh, and how feature the company's Dynamic Shield front end. Both cars will be on display at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2019 on November, 28.
Honda has unveiled its redesigned 2020 Fit at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019. According to Honda, without compromising its spacious cabin and excellent visibility, the fourth-gen Fit was developed with the intention of becoming the globally accepted standard for compact cars suited to this new era.
