Mitsubishi 2000 Annual Report Download - page 33

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31
Operational review
31
earners, these were: a fully-redesigned Pajero (Montero) se-
ries; the brand-new Dion −following the Dingo, the second
in the SUW concept series; Proudia and Dignity luxury
models; and the Townbox minicar which sports three rows of
seats. Some of these new models are introduced on pages 26
and 27.
Undergoing the first full redesign in eight years and with
an eye on the North American, European and other major
world markets, the new Pajero is bigger and more luxurious.
The new series is offered with a new 3-liter Direct Injection
diesel engine in addition to the proven 3.5-liter GDI power
unit. A fleet of the new Pajeros competed convincingly in the
2000 Paris-Dakar rally.
Targeting the family user, the new Dion delivers out-
standing value-for-money with a very friendly price tag, pro-
viding superior utility and convenience as it seats 7 in three
rows of seats. Launched in January, this new-concept wagon
is selling above target levels.
■GDI technology
After 20 years of development, the revolutionary MMC GDI
engine made its debut powering the Galant and Legnum
models in July 1997. Today the GDI is the core engine fami-
ly for MMC gasoline cars. Widely acclaimed for its superior
fuel efficiency and eco-friendly qualities, production of this
dream engine is expected to top 900,000 units by the end of
2000. Today, GDI engines power 70 percent of the MMC
lineup in Japan and several models in ecology-conscious
Europe.
In March 1999, MMC announced the GDI Sigma power-
train series that mates the GDI engine to CVT and a number
of other driveline components to further exploit the low-con-
sumption and eco-friendly benefits of GDI technology. At
the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, MMC exhibited three SUW
concept models featuring different GDI Sigma powertrain
combinations: GDI+HEV in the SUW advance; GDI+ASG
in the SUW compact; and GDI+Turbo in the SUW active.
These technologies are now being phased into production
models.
In October 1999, the Company launched the new
Pistachio model with GDI+ASG powertrain, which uses
Automatic Stop & Go idling technology to further improve
GDI fuel consumption around town by cutting the engine off
at traffic lights and other times the car is stationary. To
Fuso Aero touring bus
Fuso Super Great heavy truck