IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, MITSUBISHI HAS PRODUCED MANY LEGENDARY CARS
In 2020 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1970, MMC was founded by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. which later changed its automotive division to MMC at the start of its operations. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also moved part of its factory to MMC.
“In the past 50 years, Mitsubishi Motors has produced various legendary cars as well as high-tech cars in its era,” said Ryoichi Inaba, Director of Product Strategy Division of PT Mitsubishi Motor Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) in his official statement.
1970s decade
Not many know that Mitsubishi Motors has participated in Formula racing events. Even though in the 1970s, Mitsubishi had participated in the inaugural race for the Japan Grand Prix with the Colt F2000 car. At that time, Formula racing was very competitive in Japan, and the Mitsubishi Colt F2000 which applied aircraft technology to the F2000 managed to become champion five times.
This era started Mitsubishi’s history in racing until now. Not only in Formula racing, but also in the rally arena through the Mitsubishi Galant GTO and also the Lancer 1600GSR, who won the Southern Cross Rally and WRC Safari Rally. This was the forerunner to the birth of Mitsubishi’s most phenomenal sedans, namely the Galant and Lancer.
1980s decade
In this era, Mitsubishi Motors began developing SUVs. Initially, Mitsubishi Motors itself already had an agreement with an American manufacturer, namely Willys. However, this agreement prevents Mitsubishi Motors from exporting four-wheel drive cars, while the demand for these cars is increasing.
Finally, from here, Mitsubishi Motors gave birth to its legendary SUV, the Pajero with its self-developed four-wheel drive. Initially this Pajero came with a short body version with 3 doors and a canvas and metal roof. It was only in 1983 that the long-bodied Pajero was born and was well received by Mitsubishi consumers.
The toughness of the Mitsubishi Pajero was tested at the Paris-Dakar rally, which is the toughest race in the world. In 1985, Pajero won the world title at Paris-Dakar up to 12 times thereafter. Since then, the Mitsubishi Pajero has become a legendary SUV around the world.
1990s decade
In this era of the 1990s, Mitsubishi Motors gave birth to many quite phenomenal cars. Starting from sports coupes, such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which is produced by the left wheel for the American market, to the Mitsubishi GTO, which has four wheels.
Not to forget, in the 1990s Mitsubishi also gave birth to a rally car that rocked the WRC event, namely the Lancer Evolution. This four-door sedan was produced as a mass vehicle as a condition for participating in the WRC rally. Until the late 1990s, there were six generations of Lancer Evolution produced by MMC.
2000s decade
Welcoming the era of the millennium or the era of the 2000s, Mitsubishi Motors is still struggling with the Lancer Evolution sedan to the Evo X which is its final edition. But behind that, Mitsubishi Motors has also spawned several passenger cars that are sold in other countries.
Like the family car or the Mitsubishi Grandis MPV which was also present in Indonesia. This Grandis is an advanced MPV from the Mitsubishi Chariot which was present in the era of the 1990s. Then in the 2000s Mitsubishi Motors also started producing the second generation Mitsubishi Triton in Thailand.
Where the Mitsubishi Triton this generation was also presented to Indonesia, and then the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV was born which took the base of the Triton. Since then the second-generation Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has become Mitsubishi Motors’ flagship SUV in Indonesia.
2010s decade
This is an era in which Mitsubishi Motors also made a lot of history, especially in the passenger vehicle segment. Because in this era, Mitsubishi Motors succeeded and succeeded in giving birth to the Mitsubishi Xpander and also the Xpander Cross.
The Mitsubishi Xpander is a phenomenal vehicle in Indonesia and also in other ASEAN countries. Besides selling well, the Mitsubishi Xpander is also the highest contributor to Mitsubishi Motors’ coffers in history.
In addition, in this era, Mitsubishi Motors presents the world’s first SUV-based environmentally friendly car, the Outlander PHEV. This plug-in hybrid car also received a good reception in Europe. Then also born Mitsubishi Motors’ first crossover car, the Eclipse Cross, which has advanced technology from Mitsubishi.