Mitsubishi 2002 Annual Report Download - page 22

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20
NEW PRODUCTS
EK–WAGON
Designed to be a new standard model that would
draw support from a wide variety of customers span-
ning traditional generation and gender boundaries,
the
EK-WAGON
mini car grew out of three elements
of the new MMC development philosophy. First, the
car needed to set a new, next-generation standard for
mini cars with trans-generational appeal. Second, its
development was to be guided by a strict customer
focus. Third, its design should be simple yet new, stay
fresh for a long period of time and not be shaped by
swift-changing fashions.
The
EK-WAGON
delivers a combination of easy
handling and top-level collision safety within its class,
all at a reasonable price. Starting in January 2000,
EK-WAGON
’s extremely efficient development (tak-
ing just 21 months in total) under the eK-project (ex-
cellent-Mini-car project) from where it gets its name,
marked a number of achievements. First, design of the
styling and features was guided from the concept sketch
stage by the results of mini car user surveys conducted
around Japan. Second, development of the vehicle us-
ing computer graphics-based 3-D digital-data modeling
resulted in dramatic improvements in the quality of the
design as many problems could be solved prior to pro-
totype construction. Third, the successful collaborative
integration of all departments and related parties from
the earliest development stages—including procure-
Developing cars at MMC is guided by the concept of making “Spirited Cars for Spirited People.” More than
in the past, Mitsubishi cars are designed and developed from the customer viewpoint, to be practical,
attractive, high-quality vehicles.
20